Page 77 of Catastrophe

“You dare to speak to our king in such a manner?” A shadow from the crowd called.

I turned in a circle to eye the people. “I’ll speak to him however I please, and if you’d like to contest that, you can feel my wrath in his steed.” But none stepped forward to fight on his behalf.

“Kill me? Fight my people?” Kaatu laughed so long and hard that a tiny inky tear ran from his eye and my patience, like a stringed instrument, snapped. “You are a child. You couldn’t defend yourself against me before. Why are you so confident now?”

“Because I know you now. You might have been in my mind, but your actions spoke volumes.”

I wasn’t sure if I could touch him at all, but my confidence seemed to make him hesitate. He assessed me and I stared him down. I had plenty of experience in staring down kings and gods, so I raised a brow and stayed silent, waiting for his reply.

“I don’t think you could harm me, but my realm is recovering from a millennium of decline. My rule has been questioned and I’m working to repair the trust of my people. It wouldn’t do if an akari titan godling harmed their king, so I will not fight you or offer you the revenge you so obviously desire.”

“If I wanted revenge, I wouldn’t wait for you to offer it. You would already be dead,” I sneered. “As I said, I’m here for my ring.”

There was another long pause as he stared at me before finally stating with a smirk, “You are going to be an interesting creature when you grow up.”

Immortals are a patronizing lot.

“Fine. Take it.” He tossed the ring at me and I caught it, sliding it back onto my finger, where it belonged. “As much as you might hate me for what I did and as much as it must have pained you to ask me for your ring, your soul mates are worth it. And you are lucky to have found them so young.”

It was an oddly vulnerable sentiment and completely surprised me. Being stuck here and never finding your soul mate, or even daring to hope to find one, must have been hard.

I replied, “You will find your soul mate now, too. They are out in the realms somewhere.”

He shook his head and shrugged off my words, his body seeming to inflate with pride, which made me regret my sympathy.

“I’m more concerned about rebuilding my kingdom and my people. However, I could have use for two otherworlders who are so widely traveled to gently introduce the concept of inter-dimensional travel to the youths.” He looked to Daithi and Savida, who stepped to my side again. “What say you?”

“You want to take these two?” I asked incredulously. Did he have no shame? To poach my company right in front of me?

“I’m old. I take what I want and I care little for your thoughts on propriety.” He smirked. “Well?”

“We’d love to-” Daithi exclaimed in a show of enthusiasm that I didn’t think him capable of.

“But we can’t right now,” Savida interrupted, putting an arm across his mate to calm him down.

“Savida, this is a fantastic opportunity,” Daithi hissed, anger darkening his eyes.

“Yes, it is—”

Daithi continued as though Savida hadn’t spoken, “What can we do there? Tell me. We are of more use here. Where it is safer.”

Aghast, I shook my head. “You would leave before you know your friend is safe? You wouldn’t even say goodbye?”

“You are his soul mate. It’s up to you to see him safe now. We trust you and we can visit when this has all passed,” Daithi argued.

He is a coward. My lips curled and I couldn’t disguise my disgust, but Daithi wasn’t looking at me. He stared at Savida with pleading eyes.

With more patience than I believed he deserved, Savida asked, “Have you seen something, love?”

“Visions are always a valuable asset for a king,” Kaatu muttered, and when I glared at him, he waggled his smokey brows, which only infuriated me more.

Daithi shook his head. “I haven’t.”

“Then we cannot leave Zaide and the others again or we lose him forever.” Savida replied sternly and turned to the shadow king. “We would be happy to accept your offer once things in the human realm have settled down.”

I cheered internally at Savida’s directness and support of his friend. He was the better part of their duo, for sure.

“Then I look forward to your arrival. Baelen, should you need that favor, you know where to find me.”

---