“I wouldn’t call it that.” Arenn folded his arms, huffing. “It’s barely a wet snake.”
“It’s definitely a dragon,” Adriana smirked before turning back to me. “When we were little, Lyssandra would summon hers whenever the palace kitchen staff had baked a fresh batch of crab cakes. As soon as the cakes were ready, she’d bring out her dragon and all the staff would run off, screaming. Then we could eat as much as we wanted, and no one could stop us!”
While she cackled, I shuddered. The memory of the giant serpent-like beast that Lyssandra had summoned to murder King Ikelos was still fresh in my mind. It was hard to believe a beast like that could be summoned by a child.
And that Lukas had one too… Did he know?
Shaking my head, I softened my tone. “How many others have the Gift?”
“It’s rare,” she continued. “After Ikelos forced Aunt Erissa to drink that potion and lose her Gift to Lyssandra, I know of only two others who carry it.”
Two others? Lukas, and… who else? Before I could ask her, my gaze caught on something twinkling by the floor of the cave. A gasp flew from my lips.
Tiny green creatures now covered the sandy floor, swirling and clumping together like tufts of grass. There were so many, and with more twinkling into existence every few seconds, the entire cave now pulsed with vibrant green light. No one would ever believe that this cave had once been so dark you couldn’t see your fingers through the gloom.
“The cure.” Adriana gasped at the glowing clouds.
“It must’ve been so concentrated on the child’s woundthat there wasn’t any left to light up the cave before.” I glanced at the pair of giant orange sea creatures, still absorbed in their reunion. “Poor things.” My chest ached as I tried not to think about just how long they’d been stuck here.
“You still have your net?” Adriana’s question tore my focus away. Plucking hers from the sash around her waist, she eyed the nearest cloud hungrily.
“Of course.” I grasped my net with a smile. Prince Raphael would be cured by noon, and maybe, just maybe, Lukas would forgive me enough to still let me marry him this evening.
CHAPTER 31
Once again, the ocean magic poured off me the moment my head broke through the crashing waves. As my vision cleared, my muscles ached, and everything felt far too heavy. I’d barely made it five steps onto the beach before I collapsed against the warm sand.
Although any rest I could’ve enjoyed was snatched away from me by a looming shadow that now blocked the sun. Heavy boots dug into the sand by my head.
“Care to explain why I just watched my bride crawl out of the ocean when she’s supposed to be dressing for our wedding?”
Blinking the salt from my eyes, I peered up to seeLukas’s stormy expression bearing down on me. “I can explain.” I rolled over to push myself up.
“Can you?” He stepped back, scoffing.
Another splash sounded from the waves behind me followed by a cheerful, “Cousin!”
“I should’ve known you’d be involved with this,” Lukas grumbled at Adriana. “Oh, there’s more I see.” He scowled as she helped Raena break the surface before shooting me another glare. “You know Erik’s been looking for her all morning. I won’t be protecting you once he realises what you’ve done. Unless he draws his sword you’re on your own, forest princess.”
“She won’t be.” Arenn marched out of the water.
A knot formed in my throat as I watched Lukas’s gaze harden like steel. “You,” he seethed. Without another word, he charged towards him.
Rage became flying fists. Raena screamed. I barely had time to scramble to my feet before a loud crack echoed across the beach, and Arenn crashed down against the waves, clutching a now-bloody nose.
“Stop!” I lunged forwards, planting myself between them.
“I should’ve thrown you in the dungeons when you first arrived on this damned beach,” Lukas snarled over my shoulder while I struggled to hold him back.
“But I’ve made your visit here so much fun,” Arenn taunted.
“Enough please,” I scolded them both. Tipping my head back, I met Lukas’s intense gaze. “Calm yourself. Arenn didn’t do anything to hurt me today. He was actually quite helpful with distracting the sea monster.”
“Sea monster?” Lukas almost choked. “Was that what you were fighting when I felt you calling out to me?”
I didn’t remember calling out to him, but then again, I did almost die.
Hesitantly, I nodded before Adriana added, “And there were two of them!”
