Page 78 of Untamed

He leaned closer again and cradled my head with his strong hands. “I love you, and I need you to trust me.”

Those blasted tears spilled down my cheeks. I hated how helpless I was to do anything without someone else’s help. At least if I could be there, I could change Minerva’s mind and make her feel what I felt. But those tears turned into rivers because I would never force sentiment into a person. Not with my gift.

“You promise to wake me up.”

“I promise.” He wiped my tears with his thumbs and took me into his arms, wrapping me in a hug.

“Zichri? Beatriz?” Minerva’s timid voice cut into our moment and separated us. “Let me show you to your rooms and get you a dry dress.”

“Actually, I need a word with you.” Zichri weaved his hand with mine and gave a gentle squeeze.

Chapter 32

Laude

Where was Jaime? Myfingers curled around a pewter mug of watered-down wine, and my elbows dug into the dining table. Lamps lit the big empty room in the dark of night. I was alone, save Ignacio and another man, who stood guard at the door, keeping me from wanderingLa Lavia’scorridors.

The galleon swayed in a way that made me want to spew my supper, but I held it in because bargaining with this Whyzer Patro might be a bit more difficult with my vomit rolling back and forth over our boots. The nightmare of a man said we’d have a civilized conversation in here because obviously, we couldn’t have stayed on deck to talk about what he wanted from me. At first, I thought it a mistake that he’d left with the others still in the palace of Aracibel, but over an hour had passed, and PrinceHugo’s words about the whyzer knowing me nailed into my heart.

Someone stomped outside the empty dining room, and Whyzer Patro entered. He whispered something to the two men in hushed tones. Ignacio smirked in my direction with his foul little face and giant ears that made him look more like a rat than a mouse. My tongue poked out of my mouth.

Ignacio chuckled, which got the other two men’s attention, whipping their heads toward me. I reeled in my tongue so quickly you’d have thought I’d caught a fly. Although the backstabbing fake Dotado didn’t take offense to my childish antics, I had a suspicion that the whyzer wouldn’t be so amused.

“Laude, have you had time to consider my request?” Whyzer Patro removed his hood, giving me a full view of his peppered hair, more black than gray.

“I’m not sure I can think without knowing that Jaime’s safe.”

“You mean your betrothed?” The way the black pools of his eyes glistened with amusement didn’t do anything to settle my nausea.

“Well, are you going to bring him up here?”

“You’ll see him soon enough.”

A long string of seconds passed as the sea pounded against the sides of the ship. I hadn’t a thing to say to this fellow, so I prayed.Ancient One, please give me another word because I have no idea what I’m doing.

Whyzer Patro broke the silence. “You’ve got your father’s eyes and your mother’s fiery hair.”

I watched him, too unsure of what he could want to open my mouth.

“You know, your mother was nothing but a passingdiversionfor the king?”

The languid way he said diversion, like he meant something fouler than rotten toast chewed over by mice with cockroach droppings on top, thickened a knot in my throat.

And I was right. Whyzer Patro continued to speak. Mamá hadn’t fallen in love with a knight despite rigid rules. She’d been used because some evil king wanted someone he could never keep.

“You mean he was a liar like you.” Sickness hit me in the gut. I wretched all over the floor, dripping the contents of my stomach on the hem of my dress. When my gag reflex stopped and all I could do was wipe my lips with my sleeve, I turned my teary eyes toward the whyzer. He wrinkled his nose at me, disgusted more at my reaction than at my words. Tears welled in my eyes along with a million unanswered questions. Why didn’t my mother explode into a fireball, burning the scoundrel who sired me? How did this whyzer come to know the truth?

Whyzer Patro’s thick eyebrows furrowed as if he’d read my thoughts. “The elder king of Pedroz was unaffected by giftings and even blocked those in his presence from being able to use their abilities. I’ve heard you have fire, but what else can you do?”

Without a thought, I lit my finger and pushed, with all my might, the heat to the ends of my markings. The weak flame grew only the smallest fraction. In my mind, I imagined the flame engulfing the wooden table and chairs and catching light on the walls and ceilings until this galleon was no more.

“You descend from two powerful parents. What else can you do?”

“I showed you. What do you want from me?” I swallowed the lingering taste of vomit.

He lifted a glowing palm of orange and yellow light and reached for my wrist.

On instinct, I yanked myself away, stepping even further into my mess on the floor.

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