Page 90 of Shifter King
"If this doesn't work—" AaQar started.
Naatos started back toward the bunker, his chest and shoulders burning and tight. He knew exactly what to do now. "If this doesn't work, then you will figure something out. But if my wife is to be condemned to an abyss of torment and nightmares, I am going with her."
INJURY
Naatos spent the rest of the morning in the bunker preparing the pearl the Bealorn leaders had given them. They feared him? Good. They should. But if this worked, he would never forget what they had done.
And he would get answers. Answers for why Zorna was so intent upon this. It smelled off to him.
But that would be dealt with later.
WroOth stopped working on his own project to channel his energy into the final pearl. The pearl looked almost exactly as before. A little bluer in its iridescent sheen perhaps. "Hopefully when they search me, they won't begrudge me my jewels," he said. "I'll ensure I have a few other things they can take. It doesn't look especially valuable. Nor is it of anything they seem to prize." He tucked it into his dark-red doublet.
"To guarantee that it works, you must convince her to reach me through the mindreading. That way the bond will be freshly joined once more."
"And if she can't?"
"She has to at least try. Even just an effort could work, but it will work far better if we can actually connect."
"All right. I will remember. And I will bring her back."
Those words stung now. They were like curses, looming over them. "If she dies—" Naatos started.
"Why would she die? She loves spiting people. We know this. And nothing is as bad as death."
"WroOth—"
"No, you listen to me. If she drinks this psychic wine, yes, she will suffer, but she will not be gone. Not completely. And as long as she isn't completely gone, she can come back. I refuse to believe that in all of these worlds, in all of this grand creation, with all of the wondrous glorious things that exist within it that that would be her end. And as long as there is breath in that woman's lungs, you know she will fight however she can. So. As long as she breathes, hope. All right?"
Naatos shook his head. There were worse things than death. Far worse.
"And she might not even have to do it," WroOth continued. "You know that once I am in there, I will do everything I can for her. And there is one thing you have forgotten. One thing that you have on your side and that will ensure she makes it back."
"And what's that?" Naatos asked. That playful note had returned to his brother's voice. What could he possibly be about to say?
"I look incredible in eye liner." WroOth flashed him a big grin.
A small bubble of laughter rose within him. He shook his head as he stepped back. "Don't try to make me laugh right now, brother."
"Oh, you're going to hurt my feelings. I do look incredible, and all wedding attendants wear it at Bealorn weddings. No woman has ever refused me when I do. Truly, I should have tried it on Amelia to get her to cooperate with the Tue-Rah. But—well, she was too busy pretending to be a Machat and being generally infuriating. Perhaps you should try it with her once she gets back. It can help romantically too. Gold was Mara's favorite. Made her melt. But you would probably use black, wouldn't you? Not that it's bad. Though if you are open to suggestions, indigo or copper would serve you well. A dark brown might also work."
"You cannot seriously be planning to use their paints. Just change the pigment around your eyes. It's easier," he said testily.
WroOth shrugged. "Yes, well, if Chiriese is right that they're going to be routinely sticking me with bits of venom and poison, I probably should keep all changes minimal. Especially since we don't know which poisons they're using. Runny eyeliner is one thing. Smudged another. Distorted and etching up the eye of twisting down the cheek like some botched painting just takes it to a new dimension. I'd rather not have to worry about details like that. Besides, I'm going to be channeling a fair bit of my remaining energy into finalizing a gift for the most wondrous queen that will be sure to put us in her good graces. Chiriese mentioned Zorna has sent expeditions out to find gryphon eggs in the hopes of bonding with one."
Soft voices sounded in the hall along with footsteps. QueQoa appeared with Eskiatlo, speaking with her in hushed tones. She smiled a little, a grey blanket draped over her shoulders and hiding most of the dress and Choe in her arms, the baby swaddled and sleeping comfortably. Already Eskiatlo's face had taken on much greater health and her russet-brown eyes sparkled with new strength.
She paused when she saw Naatos, then dipped her head forward. "I wanted to thank you again before I leave."
"You're going?" WroOth tilted his head, glancing between her and QueQoa.
"I'm going to take her to the meeting place AaQar mentioned." QueQoa placed his hand on her shoulder. "It will be safer for her and the little one with the Golden Foxes."
It would. His brothers were going to chain him up in the back room, just in case Amelia did have to drink the psychic wine. It wasn't guaranteed he wouldn't get out.
"And I know of the Golden Foxes," Eskiatlo said. "Before I was taken, I had heard of them. They helped many. If not within their cadre, they helped them find other cadres that could."
"Eskiatlo," Naatos said, choosing his words with care. It was hard to look at her still, but that didn't mean that she should be abandoned without this wrong righted. "The father of that child is Bealorn. Is there someone that we should spare so that you can decide what is to be done with him?"
