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She’d passed me her dagger. I ran my finger over the swirling letters etched into the hilt, and when I tested the edge of the obsidian blade, my stinging thumb came back red.
Sisip’s eyes grew distant. “Her name is Courageous Heart, and she only strikes true for those who possess one. She’s from my mother’s line.”
I would not turn down one soldier’s offering to another. “Then I will strike true.”
“You don’t need any further instruction from me. Tern is in good hands.” She nodded solemnly before departing.
Sheathing the knife in my belt, I jogged through the long tunnel with wings on my feet. There was no room for failure. In moments, the cave I shared with Ginger appeared and I jumped inside.
“Thank you.” I tipped my head to Saluda, Efred, D’unter and Hill, who were sitting next to Ginger.
They leaned against the wall, chatting while creating chain mail, their metal sticks clacking a calm tune.
“I wish to be with Ginger, alone.”
Efred snickered, and smoke puffed from his nose. Saluda shook his head at Efred’s antics and hauled him out of the room. “May the goddess Sola walk with you tomorrow, Protector,” Saluda said. They tipped their scaled heads before departing.
“Oh my God, JayJay, that was so rude.” Ginger pushed off the wall with one hand and leaned out the door, about to call them back. Instead, she sucked in a gasp before plunging back into our room and lunging at me.
I walked toward the door with Ginger tucked to my side and looked out. What has Ginger so spooked? Outside the neighboring alcove—occupied by Shaheel until now—stood Devile.
Tinga juice dripped from his chin as he fanned his fingertips in a wave. “Found you.”
My chest rattled as I slammed the door shut.
Ginger’s fingers trembled. “Why is he still messing with you?”
I wanted to kill whoever had placed him so close to my female, despite knowing Devile would have manipulated them. “All Rock Dwellers covet females, but Devile has never attracted one. I’ve heard stories of his many failed attempts.”
Wide-eyed, she walked to me. “But he set you up to take the fall for the death of a female. Haven’t you ever wondered why?”
Every night until lack of sleep drove me mad. “The supreme rulers never pronounce a ruling without reason.”
“It must be a damn fine reason then.” She threw her hands up in the air.
As much as she tried to remain stoic, I sensed fear under her frustration, and I hated that with every part of me. Even though my mind understood her claim wasn’t real, my body carried on, fully committed. The mate bond had begun, and mates talked things out. Sully was TeyTey’s confidant, and she was his right back. So, it seemed just as natural for me to want Ginger’s thoughts and reassurance.
“You know how I told you about the hot pools and how I feel closer to my ancestors there?”
Ginger nodded and took my hand, easing the itch beneath my skin.
“Well, I had a vision I haven’t been able to figure out. In it, mates dressed in clothes from a time long past mingled, more Rock Dweller females than I’ve ever seen…and their skins shone like mine does now.”
She tugged me toward the bed and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, despite the cave’s humidity. But her skin glowed under her eyes, free of shadows. Healthy.
She must have seen something in my expression, because her small hand cupped my knee. “I’m fine. Tell me what else you think.”
“From the moment Devile saw me, he hasn’t been able to take his eyes off the change in my skin. It means something to him. He covets fame and prestige. I can only guess he wants his skin to change too, and he thinks you can do that for him.”
Ginger’s nose squished up like an angry jungle kitten’s.
“Also, D’irk really angered him when he mentioned Nebula. Devile’s not here to help us. He’s got something planned with Tuga tomorrow, but I don’t want you to worry about that. Tuga’s an old friend. He won’t betray me.”
She gripped my knee harder. Her gaze drifted toward the domed ceiling, and her other hand drummed against the shiny tight pants she wore under her dress.
Ginger snapped her fingers. “Remember what a moody dick Geo became around Makir when they first met? Also, he beefed up with, like, a hundred pounds of muscle, and Makir’s eyes changed color, and now they pretty much have conversations in their heads and can’t keep their hands off each other… Maybe it’s something like that? I read Dr. Ten’s medical report for Geo, and it said Makir’s presence triggered some kind of latent chromosome in Geo, and BAM! Soul-fated mates. Just like that.”
“True mates?” I repeated. That had to be it.
