In this moment, she saw the future of the world, and it terrified her. No wonder Thorn had been willing to barter with the devil himself to bring the Deadmen back to fight. This was too horrifying to contemplate.
She pressed her fist to her lips as she bit back a scream. How could this have happened? She hadn’t been gone that long.
Chthamalus slid in by her side and patted her back with two tentacles. “I know, my lady. I know. The sight of my prince’s skills are a bit overwhelming.”
Cameron froze at those unexpected words. Stunned, she turned toward him to make sure she’d heard that correctly. “P-p-pardon?”
He looked at her blankly. “This mess… he’s not a tidy one when he gets busy in battle. You should have seen him in his younger days. He was much worse.”
She blinked and blinked again. “Are you saying he’s not dead?”
Now it was Chthamalus who appeared shocked. “I should think not.” He blinked and glanced about. “Nay. Not over these paltry few.”
Cameron forced herself to stand on shaking legs. “Kalder?” she called out.
Their answer came as a bright flash and a brilliant explosion that shook the ground under them.
Then Cameron saw a small glimmer in the water that she recognized. Chthamalus was right! It was him.
Tears filled her eyes.
But her relief was short-lived.
Something seemed to be wrong.…
Her heart pounding, she took flight and headed for him. Sure enough, it was Kalder, and for reasons she couldn’t fathom, he was struggling to remain afloat. There was no mistaking the panic in his eyes that were once again their beautiful pewter color.
Cameron dove for him. “Kalder!” She held her hands out.
Without hesitation, he reached up for her.
She grabbed hold, and though she lacked the strength to lift him from the water, she was able to keep him afloat with her wings until they reached the shore.
There, Bart and Will, along with the captain, helped to pull him onto the beach. Cameron fell to her knees, by his side.
He was terribly wounded. But what shocked her the most was that he didn’t have any fins or markings. He appeared to be human.
Confused, she rubbed at his back. “Kalder?”
Choking, he wheezed and coughed. “Never piss off a Malachai.”
Devyl pounded on his back. “What happened?”
“Not sure.” He stared at his hands. “But I think he sucked me powers out.” Scowling, he looked up at Thorn. “Can he do that?”
“I have no idea. Honestly. I would say no, but he’s the Malachai. Older than shit and with the memories of a creature a lot older than any I know. Even Savitar or Acheron.” He looked up as Savitar joined them. “What do you know about him?”
Savitar didn’t speak.
A bad feeling went through Cameron at the way he stood there, staring at them with eyes that said he carried a deep, dark secret.
“What is it?” Cameron asked.
“As Thorn said, the Malachai isn’t like any other. Adarian is crazier, and more powerful, than all who’ve come before him.” He sighed heavily. “To answer your question, kid, yes, he can take your powers if you get close enough to him. I didn’t know he’d mastered that little skill set. But…”
“What?”
Acheron moved to stand beside Savitar. “While we weren’t paying attention, Adarian’s demons snuck around us.”
