‘I’m merely observing that you still carry a tinge of the Fogoyan King’s scent. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?’
It must have lingered after our hug when I returned from the Cave City, or from the moment he needed to drown me in his essence to mask my pheromones. But I wasn’t about to explain myself to him.
‘What is it to you?’ I hissed, barely keeping my temper in check. My newfound vortex of power was as volatile as it was useful.
‘And just as short-tempered as he is. Interesting.’
It was a game to him, but I refused to play. ‘I’m not… You know what, you’re just trying to get a reaction, and I’m not giving you one.’
‘Wow, it only took her minutes to figure you out, Alec.’ The younger-looking man beside him chuckled. ‘I’m Timothy, by the way. Your cousin.’
Flames raged under my skin, but I gave him a curt nod before turning my focus inward to rein in my essence before I burned the room down.
Not wanting to delay what mattered most, I finally asked, ‘Why can’t I feel my dragon here?’
Most of the dinner companions stared at me in disbelief, except Miriam’s fiancé, who remained completely unfazed.
‘That’s the thing about the Isles,’ the lord explained. ‘Your bonds won’t carry weight here unless the land accepts you as its rightful inhabitant. Think of it as a time-out. It’ll return to normal once you wield shadows.’
I swallowed hard. Another test. Another cage to earn my freedom.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Avari
Before the dinner had come to an end, after surviving copious sardonic asides originating from my supposed half-brother, his polite polar opposite, Miriam, invited me on a walk in hopes of showing me around the compound.
‘I know it’s probably very weird for you. Father cherishes familial ties very much. He sensed the second your foot reached Fogoya’s threshold and sent Alec to fetch you since he and your king go way back.’
‘What do you mean? It’s been a month…’
The wordyourstung more than it should have. It meant people really viewed me as his subject now. I wasn’t sure what I preferred, since both of my lieges were traitors.
Before my newfound half-sister could respond, an irk given flesh stepped out of the disguise of shadows, hiding him behind a nearby tree.
Dark mist in the vague shape of a dog trailed behind him, followed by a ferret and a jumping frog that kept leaping for his shoulder. ‘You’re talking aboutme?’
His voice resembled a scratchy purr as he watched us, looking utterly convinced of his own charm.
‘Yes, I was just asking Miriam why you always have a zoo behind you.’ I aimed for a snarky retort, but it came out too intrigued. My thirst for understanding them triumphed over logic.
‘You’re one to talk. You’ve already got a shadow pet of your own and can’t even command shadows,’ he snorted. ‘I hear you’re curious about your little king?’
Hand on my hip, I stared him down, ignoring his snide remark about my and River’s… friendship. ‘How exactly did you even meet?’
‘University.’
That seemed awfully mundane. ‘Really?’
Eyebrow shooting up, he eyed me head to toe. ‘Why, don’t I seem like the type?’
Miriam butted in, ‘You’re the type to attend university just so you can get in as many girls’ beds as you can…’
‘Precisely.’ Alec chuckled, eyes vibrant as if he were reminiscing. ‘And it’s also why we fell out too.’
Interesting. ‘Do explain.’
The frog finally reached him as he sighed before continuing, ‘We both thought the air councilman’s daughter was our mate. Spoiler alert—she wasn’t. It’s difficult to differentiate between your heart’s and dick’s desires as a young lad. As far as I know, the wicked temptress is still unmated, too. The things she could do with her—’
