“And I’m going through with me promise. I will feast on your guts and eat your brains!”
“You can get another pet.”
“There’s only one Aclima and twice now you’ve taken her from me!”
Qeenan stumbled and fell as those words slammed into him and he understood exactly what he’d done. He tried to attack, but it was useless. Nibo brought his crook down on him over and over, the same way he’d once beaten him with his club. His wrath was absolute.
“Xuri, no!”
He froze as he heard the last voice he’d ever expected to hear again. Felt the most gentle touch on his arm.
Unable to believe it, he turned his head to see Valynda by his side. Fully restored.
“I don’t understand.”
Thorn gave him a droll stare before he used his thumb to indicate Acheron. “Atlantean god of creation. They tend to come in handy at times.”
Acheron jerked his chin at Valynda. “Thanks to Circe, she had a body this time for her soul to return to. Getting the two of them back together wasn’t that hard.”
Yet it still wasn’t over.
Nibo turned back toward Qeenan. “You owe my lady an apology.”
Bleeding and shaking, Qeenan pushed himself to his feet. “Our day is still coming, Xuri. If not now, it will. There is only so long you can keep anger contained when you step on people and treat them unfairly.”
“You don’t correct things by destroying everything. You correct it by working together to make it better for all. For it is better to build than to destroy.”
And that had always been the difference between the twins.
Qeenan sighed as he gathered his men and left.
Nibo turned toward the others. “How do we find Adarian?”
“We’re tracking him.”
“What about Barnet and Rafe?” Valynda held her hand to her forehead to shield her eyes as she scanned the empty ships. “What do you think happened to their crews?”
Bane let out an elongated breath. “That’s a question I’m afraid to ask. But we will find out.”
Thorn clapped Bane on his back. “For now, let’s get this gate resealed.”
“Aye to that.”
New Orleans
“Is the captain sure about this?” Valynda stared at the bustling port city in the newly established country. She’d never understand why Cameron was so fond of this place.
Even though New Orleans wasn’t Cameron’s home, she and Kalder were already off the ship and exploring. Along with Sancha, who’d suddenly taken up with Jake Devereaux. Those two had become very close lately. …
Valynda was a bit more hesitant, especially since this was where Madoc had told them he’d found Adarian hiding. “Why would he pick this place?”
“Lots of hatred and resentment for him to feed on.” Bane pointed to the encampments that dotted the other side of the river. “They have factions from a lot of different nations thrown in together. So much so that they have areas of town they’ve been forced to designate as neutral zones.”
In that moment, she could feel him here. Deep in her stomach.
“Now that we’ve found him, what are we to do?”
Acheron, Savitar, and Thorn turned to Bane.
