“She’s fine, sir. Sariah said Nai will need rest as the spirit power settles into her … or something like that.” Rage spoke in a hushed tone that was conciliatory but firm.
“Now, listen, Courage. I need to see that my daughter’s okay.” My dad’s voice trembled, but the words came out with sharp edges that brooked no argument. I knew that tone.
More importantly, I didn’t want the two most important men in my life to argue. Not now. Not ever. But especially not at a time like this when so much was at stake.
“Dad? Rage?” I called out as I scooted to the edge of the cot.
Whoa. I had no idea how long I’d been out, but my voice was still weak and crackly.
The flaps pulled to the side, and my father and Rage both stepped inside, looking down at me with twin expressions of concern.
I peered past them, and my mouth popped open at the sight of hundreds of tents shoved in the alleyways and open spaces of…
“We’re in the selkie village?” I asked, struggling to stand. My legs nearly gave out on me. I swayed before I stood firm.
My dad burst into the tent, knocking into me as he pulled me into a tight hug. “You scared the crap out of me, kiddo.”
I squeezed him back as tears fell down my cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
He pulled back, and my attention jumped to Rage as he drew near.
“Kaja and the Harvest sisters?” I asked him.
“All fine.” Rage nodded. “We got everyone off before…”
Rage and his dad shared a look, and the hairs on my arms stood up. “Before what?”
My dad sighed. “The blood mages broke through the portal. They’ve taken over the entire island.”
Anger flooded my system, and I stiffened. How dare they!
“How did they get through the first portal? And how are there so many of them?” I seethed. My head started to throb. “I … I think I need to sit.”
Rage helped me back onto the cot and then knelt before me. “Kian. We saw him as we fled on the boats.” Rage shook his head, his jaw tightening. “Kian’s working with them.”
That rat bastard!
I knew he was upset at the way things were going, but to turn against his own people … and for what? “Do they have demands? I mean, besides taking over the island … what more could they want?” I growled.
Rage shook his head. “No demands. At least, not yet. Obviously, they want the power of the island.”
“I can’t believe Kian—”
“That high master of water looked a bit shaken,” my father said, his eyes wide.
“I don’t think he expected that many blood mages,” Rage responded. “I don’t think any of us did.”
“They must’ve been growing their race this entire time,” my dad mused. “Twenty years ago, there were stories of the blood mages, but we envisioned the queen and her two heirs hiding in cliffs near Dark Row with a few survivors. And by few, I mean five of them, tops. I never thought there were hundreds of them.”
Rage nodded. “That was a total ambush.”
Something about what my father said triggered something in my mind. “Queen and hertwo heirs?”
My dad nodded. “The blood mage queen had twin daughters.”
Rage blanched, and my jaw gaped. Why didn’t we see it before? Right under our noses!
“Surlama and Kalama?” I asked, hoping I was wrong.
