He drops back down to the sofa and leans so close that his mouth brushes my lobe. “Meriam can use Agrippina’s eyes to see.” He pulls in a quivering breath. “And she can murmur words inside her mind. I was afraid that when you turned my daughter, it had shattered their bond.” He swallows, or rather, gulps. “She cast her spell the day you entrusted your daughter to mine. It was her way of keeping watch over Fallon. Over you. She used to be able to tap into Bronwen’s eyes because of a deal the latter struck with the Cauldron, but every member of the Akwale could use your sister-in-law’s eyes. Only Meriam could use Agrippina’s.” After a beat, he says, “Canuse.”
What is it? Why is Mamma fuming and Pappa weepy?Agrippina asks, her gaze swinging between her parents.
I impart Justus’s confession through our bond, then scrutinize her expression, wondering which side of the emotional pendulum she will swing.
After a stretch of silence that feels endless, Agrippina finally reclines in her seat with a snort.At this point, I should earn a spot inyourfamily tree.
Ceres says something to her daughter that has Agrippina shaking her head and Justus hissing words in Lucin that all elude me.
What’s happening?I ask, mind reeling.
Mamma wants us to leave Shabbe immediately. She says my gift will get me slaughtered. She says that we should never have come back. Pappa tells her that Luce isn’t safe for Serpents.
Thereisone place you’ll be safe. Inside the Sky Castle.I ask Justus if he has any way of contacting a Crow.
He taps his arm and mentions that one of them owes him a bargain that he will claim. An hour later, Imogen flies a reluctant Agrippina and a fear-ravaged Ceres out of Shabbe.
“What now?” I ask Justus as Enzo wanders over, stabbing his messy hair.
Justus stares in the direction of the Mahananda, his eyes glittering as wildly as the Amkhuti. “Now, we set her free.”
My blood cools and thickens like sludge as I calculate the cost of setting my mother free—my grandmother’s trust and love.
“Is this truly what you desire, Mahananda?”
I will it to sayyes, but instead it asks: “Is immortality for all shifters whatyoudesire?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must set your mother free.”
Chapter 44
Zendaya
The queen leans back in her chair as the platters of sweets are swept off the dining table. She strokes the curve of her wine goblet as though it were a lover’s jaw. The thought has my stomach churning and my gaze cutting to Enzo, who’s barely spoken a word, out loud or through the bond.
“Tell me, Justus, why are you still here?”
“Am I not allowed to revitalize myself in your lovely queendom, Sumaca?”
Her polished, pointy nails scrape up the sculpted gold. “You told me you came to visit your daughter.” Down. Up. Down. “The same daughter who left with your wife in haste. Yet, you remain.”
“I actually came to inform them that their house in Tarelexo was ready. You should’ve seen how excited my wife was.”
“I hear Agrippina didn’t seem all that excited to depart.”
The guard beside Abrax shifts from one foot to the other.
“Naturally,” Justus says calmly. “Agrippina doesn’t remember that house since she moved in after her mind was damaged. Not to mention that her packmates remain in Shabbe.She didn’t particularly want to leave, but Fallon promised to carry her back in the morning.”
The queen’s eyes remain fastened to the general, who sits there, perfectly unperturbed.
Before she can succeed at perturbing him, I change the topic. “Taytah, when were you going to tell me about your tryst with Enzo?”
Her pupils flare wide as she pivots toward me.
Enzo slumps in his chair, muttering,Did you really have to bring it up in front of everyone, Day?
