Page 95 of The Princesses of Ruin
“The ga’hanoi steal thoughts by eating a living being,” Jasper says, his voice loaded with loosely tethered rage. “They would keep us alive and eat us for days at a time. They would find out where we were hiding and raid our homes.”
“That is true of long ago, more tide-cycles than either you or I were alive.” Vek’ihr shifts away, his outer limbs encasing his body structure. “We do not eat your kind anymore.”
“That’s yet to be seen,” Jasper murmurs.
“You will eat the heart of a living being to gain its form, will you not?”
Jasper goes deathly still, his spines fully flexed.
“Are my sources incorrect?” Vek’ihr asks.
He already knows, so there’s no point in hiding Jasper’s magus ability. Honesty will win us more trust, and I fear we’re in great need of it right now.
“It’s true,” I say. “And I can harness the sun.”
Vek’ihr’s protection peels away. “I recall the warmth. The light. Being in the shallows was a blessing, but being in your presence…it is sacred.”
Jasper pulls me against his side.
“Mymate,” he snarls in the selkie tongue.
Vek’ihr makes a tittering sound. “Yes, selkie mating bonds. So wonderous you found it in Ki’ah Ohn. Could it extend to other creatures? Basilksi? Dragon?”
He pauses, looking at me. “Ga’hanoi?”
A deep click rips from Jasper’s throat and the water trembles. The vibration hurts my fingers and eyes, making me ball my hands. Vek’ihr wraps himself tightly in all his limbs, becoming a small oval of pulsing light.
Ga’hanoi emerge from the surrounding buildings, encircling us with tentacles raised menacingly.
“You mistake me for a gentler creature,il’anka Vek’ihr.” Jasper spits the word I’ve never heard before with malice.
My fingers tingle with numbness as I grip his arm. “Jasper, your actions are putting us at risk.”
His lips are fully stretched across his face, revealing sharp teeth. All at once, the realization dawns on him, and his features turn from hatred to fear. His eyes dart around, taking in the mass of ga’hanoi readyto strangle us.
Vek’ihr unfurls himself slowly, like a flower in bloom. His colors shift and pulse. He points here and there, and the crowd of ga’hanoi disperse.
“My apologies, Jasper of the Opal Isle,” Vek’ihr says, bowing deeply. “I overstepped.”
The silence drags on, so I jab Jasper in the ribs, hard. He glares at me, jaw flexing.
“Your apology will be considered over the next several hours,” Jasper finally says, and I growl at him.
“I’m pleased it will be considered. I would not want to spoil our negotiations.”
Tension looms between us and fear spikes through me.
What if they’re already spoiled?
Vek’ihr comes out of the bow and turns to the opening of the large tower. “Please, follow me. Dinner awaits us.”
Chapter thirty-five
Jasper
Anxiety pulses through my body like an electric current, leaving me jumpy and on edge. Reina looks at the ga’hanoi stronghold as if it’s a beautiful, wondrous place. I see a looming tower of pain and death.
I hadn’t wanted to tell her about the creature’s vile ways. I hadn’t wanted to scare her, but she doesn’t seem scared. She’s curious. It’s…
