“Oh, yes, Reed’s got rage problems,” Lirin says blandly, giving me up without hesitation.
“We should start a support group for carers.”
Lirin claps his hands. “That is a brilliant idea, Hartley. We could have cake and wallow.”
“Discuss strategies for calming them down. Chamomile tea, soothing music, hypnosis.”
The two look at each other.
“Are you done bonding yet?” I snarl.
Canto has circled the room to stand with Ronit on the opposite side of Leaf. Oh, god, what a stupid fucking name for a dragon. I can’t even say it in my head without cringing.
Leaf just watches me with a curious blend of rage and amusement. I glare back at him, because at least I’m not named after a sea horse.
The witch cocks her head to the side and inhales deeply before she shoves our pet off her. Her sudden movement catches him by surprise.
“You tried to eat me.” The quivering anger in her voice as she finally recognises him makes me much happier. “How dare you!”
“Oh, now this is a familiar song,” Diablos says with interest, sitting up and staring at the two of them.
Leaf growls at everyone, his scales flashing azure and shifting in an almost silent rustle.
“Change back,” Ronit snaps, “and stay in human form.”
The dragon hesitates, but then he does as he’s told, which is downright alarming. He never does as he’s told. Canto and I exchange unhappy looks, and I adjust my stance, ready to react to his next attempt.
Leaf turns to the witch, but she slams a rune to his chest and sends him across the room.
“You tried to eat me!” she says in a louder and more strident voice.
“Oh, wow, I can see why it was entertaining,” Becky murmurs.
Puppy stalks our pet, but he is oblivious to the Grim, or he simply doesn’t care. Leaf gets up, his eyes fixed on her. He really does make our toned bodies look small. His skin shimmers with the blues and greens of the ocean.
I glare at him, my fingers twitching with the need to pull him up.
The air crackles around her, and she turns, inhaling deeply. I abruptly forget the dragon and focus on the witch. Her hair floats out behind her in long, silver-blond wisps that make her look like someone who comes from my world, not the monster one she was born from. It takes a moment too long. I get the slow blooming realisation that she’s about to run again.
“Nope! None of that.”
Diablos takes hold of her wrist; a massive gold circlet glows there before it disappears. I hiss at a burning sensation in my wrist and look down to find I’ve got one, too, right behind the black tattoo that I hate so much. It throbs painfully and then eases. But my gaze is caught because the intricate knots of the black tattoo are more vibrant now, and I can see the outline of a skull. The deal we made to be able to walk this Earth is running out of time. Soon, we’ll have to return to the Black Death Oceans as slaves.
I look up, stricken, as Canto slides his large hand up and wraps long fingers over the tattoo we all wear, hiding it from sight. He’s silent.Not here, not nowwhispers across our bond.
“What did you just do?” Ronit growls.
“I stopped her from disappearing,” Diablos says and walks to the painting on the wall. It’s of home. Canto did it. I hate it. I hate the forests and the villages. I hated the courts and meadows. Every time I look at the painting I want to break it into a million pieces.
“How?” Canto speaks slowly, as if he’s speaking to a child.
Diablos blinks. “Well, that’s the fun part. The Queen and I discussed it.”
“Did we? I don’t remember that conversation,” Becky whispers to Stix.
“Don’t worry, Poppet, I can kill him for you later,” Stix soothes and strokes abnormally long fingers down her brown hair.
“And we’ve decided,” Diablos continues as if the pack that is bristling are nothing but harmless birds. “That you’re going to work together.”
