I uncork the bottle and peer inside. Mr. Tick promised the enchanted potion would cling to skin and not float away. I upturn it, and the purple liquid spills over my fingers before I shove them into his mouth.
“Suck,” I demand. His lips close around my fingers, and he ingests the potion. At first, nothing happens, then his dickdroops like a sad wilted flower, plucked before it can bloom. Next, his limbs go slack, and he releases my fingers and slumps onto the bed.
Perfect. No one got stabbed. Look at me go.
I hurry off the bed and crack the door open. The mysterious crocodile emerges from the shadows and hurries toward me. His eyes go wide at my clothing.
“What happened?”
“I don’t wish to discuss it,” I say, closing the door. “Let’s just get out of here before it wears off and I have to finish what I started.”
Mr. Tick nods at the trident and the discarded sword. “Pick up your sword.”
I snatch it up, noting its shock has worn off and we are back to judgy amusement. “Now what?”
“Pick up the trident.”
I arch a brow. “I thought you said it would kill me?”
“It would kill anyone else. Excalibur is a derivative of the trident, as the power comes from the same source. The trident wouldn’t risk hurting what is essentially its offspring. The sword and the trident are a pairing, and you are an extension of them.”
“So they are a giant cutlery set meant to be used together?” I beam.
Mr. Tick stares at me for half a tempo before shaking his head. I tentatively clasp my hand around the trident and lift it. I rock back, my eyes widening as the power almost brings me to my knees.
“Good. I will touch you to make sure I too can leave, but I will not appear in the same place as you.”
That’s good. I am already going to face more questions than I can cope with. I don’t want to explain my alliance with the crocodile.
“Repeat these words, and think of your knights while doing so,” Mr. Tick says.
“Got it.” I picture my knights and wait.
“Power of ocean and blue, release me from this curse is what I ask of you. Return me to what my heart holds true.”
I say the words and feel his tail wrap around my ankle just as power blasts through my body. I hurtle through the darkness before coming to a crashing stop. Deep coughs rack my chest as I take in a lungful of air. My eyes blink open, and I jerk my head up to find three sets of eyes staring at me in shock. I drop the sword and the trident to the floor.
Nash blinks as he sweeps his gaze from my head to my toes. “What the fuck are you wearing and why?”
“That’s hardly a hello,” I grumble.
“You both owe me two silver coins,” Theo declares. “I told you she’d get herself back here before we could rescue her.”
I grin at him. “Aww, you believe in me.”
He drags his bottom lip between his teeth. “I do, but I was assuming I was getting the virginal white dress Daphne.”
“Things happened, and I do not wish to discuss it.”
“It suits you.”
“Not discussing it. What does a maiden need to do to get a hug around here?”
Two arms sweep in behind me, causing me to squeak in surprise. I’m spun around, and mischievous green eyes dance at me from Malachi’s face before his lips crash down onto mine.
Now that’s a greeting.
Chapter
