“She nearly passed out from the spell. And your essence was all over it.”
“You attacked the Death Blood building?” Kols asked, his tone holding a touch of that arrogant annoyance he favored.
Zakkai ignored him in favor of me. “Drop the rock in our usual place. I want to review the magic.”
“Sure. I’ll just add it to my growing to-do list,” I drawled.
The Quandary Blood arched a haughty white brow. “Today.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Why not?” I had no intention of sleeping, anyway. I shifted my focus to Aflora, her cerulean gaze guarded. “Is he treating you all right?”
“Do you care?” she countered.
“You know I do, little rose.” I reached out to tug on one of her loose strands of hair and gave her a half smile. It’s okay, Aflora. I can take your hatred.
I don’t hate you, Shade, she whispered back. But I’m not happy with you.
I can take that, too, I replied, my heart skipping a beat at the softness in her voice. I expected her ire, not her understanding.
She stepped away from Zakkai to wrap her arms around me. I’m still mad, she warned as I returned the hug. But you’re still my mate, Shade.
I kissed the top of her head and met Zeph’s surprised gaze. He clearly hadn’t expected this. And he confirmed that by narrowing his eyes at Zakkai. “Okay, now I know this is all bullshit. Why have you brought us here? To lull us into a false sense of comfort?”
Zakkai merely looked at him and walked over to slide down a tree trunk. A hum of energy told me he’d whispered something into Aflora’s mind. Whatever it was had her glancing over her shoulder at him.
Silence fell as they communicated, then she nodded slowly and turned in my arms to face Zeph.
“Kai wants to teach me more about Quandary magic,” she said slowly. “In exchange for my willing cooperation, he’ll let me dream of you all.”
Kai, I repeated to myself, glancing at the Quandary Blood. He’d worked much faster to unravel her reservations this time. Because I’d given her to him? Or because he was playing a new game?
He smirked at me, then closed his eyes as though to take a nap.
“I’m supposed to believe that?” Zeph asked, drawing my attention back to him. “Try again, Aflora.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she replied. “He wants me to cooperate. I demanded access to my mates in return for that cooperation. Is this really that hard to believe, Zeph? He won’t let me leave. You can’t visit. So I’m doing what I can to see you.”
“I’m finding it hard to believe that he would allow you to see us without a catch,” Zeph replied.
“There’s absolutely a catch,” I agreed. “But I suspect we don’t know what it is yet.”
Zakkai’s lips quirked up in response, his eyes still closed.
“He wants to kill Kols,” Zeph stressed.
“And the entire Nacht line,” Zakkai agreed, his tone soft and lazy. “Maybe I want to give Aflora the chance to say goodbye to her mate.”
“You’re not killing Kols,” she snapped.
Zakkai just spread his hands in response as though to say, It is what it is.
“As much fun as it is to discuss my impending doom—an experience I will be declining—I have a suggestion.” Kols had remained uncharacteristically quiet throughout the exchange.
I suspected it was because of the power circling around him in a cloud of protection, one meant to retaliate the moment Zakkai attempted anything. He was the future king, after all. The source naturally guarded him.
However, the source wasn’t actually his to command—a lesson he would eventually learn from Zakkai. Assuming it came to that. Again.
The Quandary Blood opened his eyes. “I enjoy suggestions.”