My retracted tusk dips.Yet the twins are Glacin…
There’s much trade between the kingdoms. A Lucin ship must’ve docked in Glace and spread the word. But that’s beside the point…
“Can we be included in your little aside?” Agrippina sweeps a piece of flatbread in the bowl of curd, then tosses it into her mouth.
“I don’t think the three of you realize how many people lust for magic,” he says.
“You’re wr-wrong,” Enzo counters. “I kn-know. I was human b-before. I kn-know.”
“Then you know that the majority of people who will apply are humans. Even though we’ve opened countless schools since our return, like Agrippina pointed out, almost all are illiterate. Which means they’d have to be interviewed in person.”
Enzo musses his green hair that now curls around his ears. “Then Asha c-can conduct the interviews.”
“We cannot spare her, Enzo,” I say calmly, sensing his mounting agitation.
We cannot spare her, or you’re siding with Cathal?
I bristle.We cannotspareher.
Enzo stews in silence, gaze affixed to his empty plate.
“I could do it,” Ceres offers. “I could be your envoy.”
Enzo spins in his seat to gape at her. I try to read from his posture whether he’s pleased or horrified, considering his complicated past with Faeries.
“Mamma!” Agrippina adds nothing else but a wide grin, which makes Ceres’s green eyes beam with gladness to have her daughter look upon her with such admiration.
Enzo? Would you be on board with Ceres interviewing future candidates?
Yes!He spins back toward me, his expression brimming with renewed excitement.Please say yes. Please?
How could I say no to something that makes you so happy?
Because your mate probably hates that we’ve found a solution,he mumbles.
Enzo, just because I welcome and value my mate’s opinions on matters of state, he’s not a Serpent nor does he have the responsibility of a pack.I give Cathal’s hand a squeeze before letting go and sitting upright in my chair. “Ceres, we would be honored and grateful to let you be the judge of our future denmates.”
Ceres glows, and so do my Serpents. If only every challenge we face could be so easily resolved.
“Could we please get a pen and paper?” she asks one of the attendants waiting on us.
“Right away, Shrima Rossi.”
As Enzo and Agrippina begin to throw out conditions, Aoife mentions how serpent killings may dissuade people from wanting to be transformed, while Reid reminds her that serpents were already considered homicidal beasts, so he disagrees.
A shadow blunts the sun over our heads as a Crow circles. My first thought is that another survivor has been pulled from the ocean and brought to me for healing. Though the Crow does have a rider, she’s not a contender for my magic, only for my throne.
Chapter 63
Zendaya
“Good morning, chacha!” Kanti’s voice trills with false cheer.
Itwasa good morning until she showed up. “Hello, Kanti.”
“I’m ravenous.” Aodhan comes up behind Aoife, leans over, and nicks one of the flatbreads.
“To what do we owe the displeasure of your visit?” Agrippina asks, never one to conceal her feelings.
