Page 52 of The Blind Hordesman

Dad chuckles. “Ordering me around already?”

“I’m going down. Hurry up.” I enter the housing and collapse on the floor. My legs lock at the knees, and I can’t even crawl. Well, fuck. I went into transition facedown and in the middle of the room.

The nest rustles. Kiki’s up.

“Seer,” she screeches, and my ears ring. She’s by my side in a second, tapping my head, back, and legs. “Where are you hurt?”

“Transition.”

“Oh,” she says. “Let’s get you to the nest.” She tries grabbing my arms but they’re locked in place. She moves to my ankles, leaves, and then I feel rope. She’s tying me up. Oh Serpent, grant me mercy and not let my dad come in and see.

Kiki’s got the rope around my ankles and starts dragging me. I hear she’s dragging me because of her breathing pattern, namely straining and huffing.

Ayo sniffs my face, whines, then licks me. “Go away,” I tell him.

He licks my face again.

His breath offends my senses, and vomit rises. I clamp my mouth closed and swallow.

Footsteps sound. Great. Fucking great.

Dreikx walks in, and, seconds later, he deadpans, “You called, King?”

“Prince Dreikx,” I counter the smartass, “there’s something in the water.”

“There are many things in the water.”

“Something is vibrating in there.”

“Can you be more specific?”

“No, but he’s here.”

“Who?”

“The imposter.”

“I have secured the area. Scans are in loop mode, continuously scanning for anything out of place. I assure you, he isn’t here.”

“He’s here. He’s been following me. Every step, this entire mission.”

“He is not a fish. He cannot be in the water.”

“He’s in there. I can feel it.”

Kiki clears her throat. “The larval shells from which the hatchling Swarm males come need water or they dry up, killing the males inside.”

“Interesting,” Dreikx says. “The hive would have to be near a constant water source, then.”

“Like the sea,” I say.

“Excellent work, Seer.”

I roll my eyes.

“Let’s say I can detect the hive. We will need the human navy to push them out. I have sent for the Warlords, so you will have them if he attacks.”

“Negative.”

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