His form stiffens. “You understand nothing,” he spits over his shoulder before he walks to the head of our line.
I understand nothing? What am I supposed to understand? That the Otherworlders have resurfaced to abduct people for their Trade and sport. That they want every ruler in the Three Realms dead so there is no one to stop their tyranny?
But as I inhale and exhale labored breaths, forcing myself to stay calm as Caben’s hard chest presses against my back, a question breaks through my angered thoughts.
Why?
Why have the Otherworlders done this? If it were merely for mercury alone, then they’d have invaded our countries many times before now. They’ve been getting their mercury from somewhere, as their world doesn’t seem in want of it. And clearly they’ve been abducting people from lands outside of the Three Realms for their cage fights. I hardly think kidnapping the Nactue for their sport is worth the war they waged this past week against two countries.
So . . . why?
Before the full moon.
Lilly spoke the same words as Carina when she was explaining about the Otherworlders’ invasion. Still, I don’t have any idea what it means. But this must be the missing link stringing everything together. I have to find a way to talk to Lilly in private.
“Kal . . . ?” Caben breathes my name near my cheek, drawing me back to the now. “Are you here with me?” His arms loosen their tight embrace, but don’t release me completely.
I take in a deep, steadying breath. “I’m fine,” I say. And he finally removes his hold. The sweat-slickened skin of my arms, back, and waist are suddenly cold as the chilled air around me replaces his body heat. I shiver.
The sounds of the crowd—stomping and drumming and cheering—come flooding back. Then I’m acutely aware of the mercury swirling violently in my blood. When Caben attempts to turn me around to face him, I shrug off his hand. “Give me a minute.”
“Fine,” he says, exasperated.
“What would you have done if they were about to stun your best friend?” I ask him over my shoulder.
He’s quiet a moment, then says, “I didn’t realize she was your best friend. If I’d have known—I guess I would’ve held the brute while you wailed on his ugly face.”
The corner of my mouth twitches into a half-smile, and I chuckle. “Thanks.” The mercury slows in my bloodstream. My heart begins to beat at a normal rhythm. I check my wrist and watch the inky, tainted blood fade below my skin.
“Let’s go!” Bax shouts over the chaos of the city street.
The feather brothers move our line forward as the guards along the side of the road open the chain barricade. I walk steadily beside Caben, but glance once behind me to spot Lilly. She walks among her league, head held high. I smile, though I hope she doesn’t allow her attitude to get the best of her here. She needs to go along with things until we have a plan.
Before I turn around, I glimpse Kai walking in Lilly’s league. I say a silent prayer of thanks to the goddesses for keeping them together. I can’t find Willa or Van, so I assume they’re Collar’s contenders. With another prayer for their safety, I face forward and enter the narrow street with my league.
My heart aches for the fallen Nactue. Before my time expires down here, I’ll not let Missa’s, Carina’s, and the other former Nactue’s deaths go unavenged. We’ll find a way out. And we’ll stop the Otherworlders. Whatever their plans are, whatever their sick minds are plotting, we’ll end it.
My eyes flick over the prince’s form beside me. I think back on my initial impression of him, and though he’s still a spoiled heir, I admit he’s now surprised me a few times.
“You never answered,” I say to him.
He looks over and cranes an eyebrow. “Answered what?”
“Where is your best friend now?”
His full lips thin into a hard line, and his blue eyes deepen against the creases of his furrowed brow. He jerks his head forward. “I don’t have one.”
My lips part, but I decide against questioning him further. Maybe his friend was killed during the Otherworlder raid on Perinya. Or maybe he had to give up his friendships as part of his duty to his kingdom. Instead, I nod lightly, and let the heavy drumming solidify the wall between us.
Along the streets, Otherworlders dance and cheer as we walk past. It’s disturbing how young some are—just children. They wave as if we’re in a parade, and I suppose to them we are. Some pretend to fight each other with sticks and fake swords, mimicking their favorite sport. Their parents hold them on their shoulders, so they can get a better view of the doomed contenders.
A quarter of a mile into the inner city, Bax turns to us and glares. “Wave, you idiots.” He points his sword hilt toward me, the blade flat against his ripped, pale forearm, singling me out. His order is clear. And Crew was right. I’m his favored contender and he believes where I lead, the other contenders will follow.
Lifting my chin, I counter his command with a stubborn glare to match his own. His glowing eyes penetrate mine, and I decide to take my own advice. It won’t do me any good to anger him. I need to at least earn some semblance of trust in order to find privacy.
I plaster a smirk on my face and raise my hand to the bystanders and wave. Caben snaps his head in my direction and eyes me, suspicious. But he doesn’t ask. He simply copies my action and waves to the crowd. Even flexes his biceps a few times. He truly knows how to be on display.
A content Bax raises his arms and makes a “bring it on” motion with his hands, encouraging the gamblers to invest in his league.