We all stood, and I looked from Justice to Noble and back. “Ifanyonehearsanythingabout Nai—”
“We’ll let you know,” they both said in unison.
If Nai wasn’t in my bed tonight, I’d burn the entire realm down tomorrow.
Chapter Six
We stepped into the library,and my gut churned. Acrid smoke filled the air. Justice and I wound our way through the aisles to the back of the room. Alpha Academy classes were paused until the master mages returned. Shifting over to a new king was a process, but we’d be back up and running in no time. And I’d have Nai by my side.
Kalama stood in front of the onyx door, wearing a grease-stained apron over a fitted t-shirt and pants. The kitchen maid and sister of Surlama glared at the entrance to High Mage Island as if her fierce expression alone could make it pop open.
On either side of the door sat a shallow metal bowl, each of them filled with smoking herbs.
“How are things going?” I asked.
Kalama wheeled on me. “If things were going well, I’d have the damn door open.”
Okay.She obviously took after her sister in the personality department.
“So … not well,” Justice said.
“There are fifteen spells on this door, Prince. It’s not quite as easy as making pie in the kitchen.”
“Do you need anything from me?” I asked.
She grinned like a cat who’d just spotted prey. “Well, actually, I was telling Justice—”
Justice cleared his throat. “Is there anything thatImight be able to do to help you get through the protection enchantmentsfaster?”
I frowned; my brother was clearly hiding something from me.
She barked a hard laugh and then shook her head. “You can’t help me,Second.”
She spat his pack rank out like it was acid, and I caught a glimpse of what was going on. Maybe.
“You must not be a powerful enough witch, then,” Justice taunted, his expression hardening.
‘Justice, what does she need?’I asked.
He shook his head.‘I don’t trust her with what she claims she needs. Remember who her sister is.’
“Listen, Midnight Heir. I saidyoucan’t help me.” Then her gaze flicked to me. “Butyoucan.”
Pursing my lips, I shook my head. I knew where this was going. But, with any luck, I’d be wrong. “What do you want?” I growled.
She raised a well-manicured eyebrow. “Alpha blood would increase my odds of getting this open faster.”
Of course.Just like her sister, they always wanted blood.
“No,” Justice snarled and bared his teeth.
‘Brother, if she needs it—’
‘Look what happened with her sister. They cannot be trusted with blood.’Justice glared at her.
It was my brother’s job to protect me, so I wasn’t going to begrudge him for doing this, but if this would help her…
“I give you my blood, you’ll release the protection spells?”
