“I can’t…I can’t leave her. I promised her…I promised my father that I’d?—”
“Shabbins don’t have mates, so I don’t know what the loss of one feels like, but I hear it’s akin to parting with a piece of your soul.”
“But if the two souls never collide?—”
“Is that what you want, child? Never to meet your mate?”
I roll my lips, because, no, that isn’t what I want. “Tell me something.” I sit back on my heels. “Why would my parents keep me from him?”
“Because they don’t want to lose you.”
“Lose me? They could never lose me. And besides that, they’d be gaining a son.” Under my breath, I add, “Not to mention, they’d probably be better off without me.”
Behati skims my wrist. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because I ruin everything I touch.” I swallow as I sweep my somber gaze over Shoshair.
“Isla, Isla, Isla, you are your parents’ pride and joy. As for your mishaps, you will get better at it all. You’re only twenty-four. Trust me, after a century of life, your bloodcasting and reading will be impeccable. Now, please go. I don’t want to vex the Mahananda.”
I pick at the fresh scab on my index finger
Behati must sense my reticence, because she gives my wrist a squeeze. “I’ll look after Arin. She’ll be fully recovered by the time you return. This, I swear to you.”
Even though I’m not discarding the possibility that Behati is delusional, I reason that joining my friends and family in Glace isn’t the greatest hardship. Especially if it can save a man from perishing and the Cauldron from sulking.
After pressing a kiss to my grandmother’s cheek and making sure her pulse is strong, I take off for the land of ice and Faeries, where a mate waits for me.
A mate.Skies, am I even ready for a mate? Here I was, hoping I’d get tolivea little more before settling down.
Halfway to Glace, I consider turning back. But turning back meansneverhaving a mate, so I forge ahead on the path the Cauldron has drawn for me.
2
ISLA
Iknew Glace was far, but for some reason, I didn’t realize justhow far.
I’ve been traveling for hours, and still, there’s no shadow of land on the horizon. Although I love flying, I don’t love doing it alone. What I wouldn’t give for Lachlano’s company.
Not only is Agrippina and Reid’s son my best friend—along with Naeva and Elio—but he’s also the most entertaining person I know. One who never runs out of stories, since he loves adventure just as fervently as I do.
Multicolored scales shred the surface of the ocean beneath me. I drift lower to see whether the serpents are tardy partygoers like myself or true water beasts. Unlike us Crows, Serpent shifters are barely distinguishable from their beastly counterparts. Well, female Serpents. Male Serpents are so large, there’s no mistaking them.
After surfing over them for a while, I deduce they’re animals. I’m still well and truly alone on this journey.
Lach?I call out through the mind link, just in case he’s in feathers.
He mustn’t be, because I get no reply. Another hour slinks by in silence. Fatigue nibbles on my muscles and slows my pace. Did I start off too strong? Probably.
I peer ahead of me, my heart pouncing when I spot a speck of white on the horizon. Unfortunately, it’s not attached to any landmass. However, the free-floating iceberg injects me with renewed vigor since it’s not the sort of thing that bobs in our warm oceans.
Over the next hour, I call out to Lachlano a handful of times.
Finally, his voice echoes between my temples.Isla?
I need a dress.
Did you undergo a dramatic growth spurt overnight, or are we just listing random wishlist items? ’Cause if we are, I need better gloves.
