Ten.
Unleashing the Whale
I searched for more jeans in the dresser that had been stocked for me, but found only various pairs of leggings in different patterns. No doubt Mariang owned limited jeans and shopped for me according to her tastes. I was just grateful Mariang and Ezra had stocked my dresser with clothes that fit me without too much hassle, though I usually didn’t wear a ton of clothing that showed off my shape.
I changed my shirt into a fitted long-sleeved deep purple blouse that was light-years more elegant than what I was used to throwing on. It framed my breasts with gentle ruffles and showed off about an inch of cleavage, which was about three inches more than I ever displayed.
I pulled my hair up into a bun and checked myself in the mirror. I couldn’t believe the transformation that happened when Mariang picked out my clothes. I went from looking like a college kid in resale digs to standing out like a legit woman. I could see every curve I usually tried to conceal for modesty’s sake, and debated throwing on a sweatshirt so I didn’t look so strange. Mariang’s form-fitting clothes weren’t nearly as scandalous because she was a dainty size two. I had a healthy portion of breasts and a lower half that had an obvious curve of I’m-not-a-teenager-anymore to it. I bit my lip and decided to scrap the whole outfit. I didn’t like the idea of showing strangers the shape of my body, and I could see every curve in the black leggings that were meant to be stared at. I was the dude friend, but now I looked like the girl you hold doors open for.
“October Grace, Captain Finn is here,” Ezra called up the stairs.
I didn’t have time to second-guess the outfit anymore, and jogged down the stairs in my bare feet to greet Finn and see Alton and Graham off.
Finn gave me a smile that had a hint of charm to it. “Lady October. You’re looking lovely as always.” His eyes fell to my legs and I saw the familiar flare of lust rising in them. His job was overseeing the Mermaid harem for the King of Dagat. The only female legs he saw were when the jackhole King Banak used his enchanted conch shell to give the Mermaid he chose to defile for the night legs. Finn mentioned the Mermaid’s legs were apparently lifeless, useless, green and misshapen. Consequently, Finn had a bit of a foot fetish. I may or may not have let him suck on my toes and massage my legs a little in the privacy of our hotel room in Silo. Though I knew Finn was the one who signed Von into the harem as a slave for King Banak’s son, we’d had a bit of a makeout and a few heated moments I’d decided to keep to myself.
Things were complicated.
“Hey, Finn. You ready to kick some Ekek and Manas butt?”
He lowered his voice, though the others had meandered back into the conference room. “I’m ready for whatever you need me to do.”
My eyes darted around. “We don’t need to talk about any of what didn’t happen between us, do we?”
Finn cleared his throat when Ezra came around the corner. “I need to speak with the two of you in private before I go.”
Ezra nodded in full business mode and led us upstairs to one of the many guest bedrooms I had yet to visit. He shut the door and turned to us, giving Finn the floor. “Whatever you’ve got, let’s be quick about it. I don’t fancy letting my fiancé and my son wander through Lumipad without ample protection a second longer than they have to.”
Finn shot me a look of apology that made me panic at what was about to tumble out of his mouth. “Something happened to me, and you two are the only ones who will know it. My curse was broken. Completely severed. Banak doesn’t know. No one knows except the two of you.”
Ezra and I both gasped in unison. “That’s amazing!” I was elated for him, so glad he didn’t have to be ordered around by that pervert posing as a king.
“I’m keeping it secret because Banak trusts me to run his kingdom. Believe me, you don’t want him in charge. The more he’s distracted, the more I can do to keep Dagat afloat. I just wanted you to know in case there’s anything you need done that Banak wouldn’t approve of. I’m free now, and I’m pledging my allegiance to you, Ezra.” He got down on his knee like he was about to be knighted, bowing his head to my dad. “Now I can confess things Banak ordered me to do and keep secret from you, Ezra. The human man murdered in the hospital? The note written in blood warning the Omens more humans would be killed if they didn’t meet their quota? Banak ordered me to do that to inspire the Omens to work harder.”
The muscles in Ezra’s jaw tensed while my jaw dropped. Ezra was controlled in his response. “I suspected as much. It’s nice to have it confirmed, though.”
“You’ve always acted in the best interest of Terraway, so my sword belongs to you, if you’ll have it.”
Ezra blinked away his shock as best he could before he placed his hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Captain, welcome home. How did you come about this miracle? I assumed your curse was permanent.”
“So did I.” Finn shot me a look of apology and lowered his head further, as if he was expecting Ezra to turn on a dime and cut it off his shoulders. “I kissed a fair maiden, and something happened to me. From that moment, I could feel the curse broken. I’ve tried in secret doing a few things Banak’s always forbidden, and it worked. He’s got stores of buhay shoots that grow in our land. He keeps cellars of it and shares only the bare minimum with his harem and the Kataw soldiers. I’ve started feeding some of the buhay to the starving civilians in secret, and that usual tug that’s kept me from acting on my own is gone! My curse didn’t stop me.”
Ezra’s happiness clashed with the blood that ran cold in my veins. “That’s incredible! How free you must feel. Yes, we can keep your secret, even from the council. Tell me, who is this fair maiden who can break curses with a single kiss?”
Finn kept his head bowed and placed his hands on the carpet to kneel on all fours for mercy. “I kissed October, sir. It’s what made me have that fit in her bedroom, and why I disappeared so quickly.”
I groaned and covered my face with my hands. “Is that never talking about it again? That was private, Finn!”
“He needs to hear this, and so do you. Did you know you could do that?”
“Break curses? Of course not! You’re like, the third guy I’ve ever kissed in my life, and as far as I know, Beto and Mason weren’t cursed.”
Ezra’s look of shock took a few seconds to focus into disdain. His hand flung out and gripped the back of Finn’s neck, slowly burying the military captain’s face into the carpet. Though I was pretty sure Finn could win in a throwdown, he submitted to Ezra and let himself be lowered to the floor. Ezra’s grip on the nape of Finn’s neck was trembling with barely controlled rage. Trepidation made the hairs on the backs of my arms stand up as I covered my mouth. Ezra squeezed Finn’s neck, speaking through gritted teeth in a low, angry voice I didn’t recognize. “Glad as I am that you’re free, my daughter is not yours for the taking. I know your quality on the battlefield, and that is the use you have for my family. Nothing else. You’ll stay out of October’s bedroom. Am I clear?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“You’re free now, so I’ll be watching to see who you really are. Choose wisely, Captain. You’ve been forced to carry out a great many sins in Banak’s name. From here on out, any further transgressions will be on your head alone.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“You have too much blood on your hands to kiss my daughter ever again. You’ll stay away from October. Do you understand?”
My heart was pounding, my mouth dry and my palms sweaty.
Finn hesitated, and then answered with a steady, “No, Ezra. I can’t promise you that.”
I swore into my hands, backing up from the men who looked about a breath away from killing each other. Ezra’s fingers shook on Finn’s neck, his grip tightening around the gills. “You’re trying my patience, Captain. I’m this close to transitioning, so I can tear your head clean off!” Ezra didn’t look up at me when he worked out a low and deadly, “October Grace, go downstairs and wait for me there.”
Having a dad was a bit more like getting a whale than having the pretty goldfish I’d been hoping for, and thought Ezra to be. “Ezra, it’s alright. I can handle myself. You don’t need to do this. It’s really not all that big a deal.”
“Go on, October,” Finn urged, his face still buried in the carpet, his backside up in the air like a dog digging for a bone.
I started clawing at my hands, taking my anxiety out on my skin. “Ezra, please! Let him go. It was only those couple times, and that’s it! It didn’t go any farther than that.” Finn most certainly didn’t see me in a towel. I didn’t let him suck on my toes, nor did I think about it in detail every now and then when I wished for just a little more time with him in Silo.
Ezra’s head whipped toward me. “Couple of times? Not just the one that happened under my roof? Go downstairs!” he barked, making me jump.
Something in me rose up at being bossed for something I had every right to have done. “Let’s all take a breath and be cool. I’m allowed to kiss a guy, Ezra. I’m even allowed to not have to explain myself. I’m twenty-two.”
“Then you should know better. If you knew what he’s done, the role he’s played in ruining Von’s life, you wouldn’t give him the time of day.”
I kept my voice steady. “I know all about Von’s time in the harem. I also know Finn couldn’t refuse Banak when he was given an order, so I don’t hold that against him. I saw who Finn was beneath the curse, and that’s who I kissed.” I shook my head in dismay. “Don’t you want me to be the kind of woman who can see past the worst part of someone to who they really are? Isn’t that exactly what you did with Bev? Are you really telling me not to be like you?”
Ezra’s grip began to slacken, but he held his position of dominance as he mulled over my words. “I don’t like it. He’s not right for you, or any man’s daughter.”
“You don’t even know who he is now. Neither of us do. And no offense to you, Finn, but I wasn’t about to jump into anything serious anyway.” I kept my words quiet to calm Ezra. “Finn and I haven’t even spoken since I apparently broke his curse. This is all an overreaction. How did it even happen?”
“It wasn’t the first kiss, but the second one.” He gripped the carpet as if preparing for the worst. “When your tongue touched mine, I felt the shift in me.”
Ezra lowered his face to speak a low threat to Finn. “I would like nothing more than your head mounted on my wall right now. Don’t test my patience. Despite what everyone may think, it has its limits.”
I tried to keep my voice even. “Dad, I’m an adult, and I can kiss who I’d like.”
Ezra narrowed his eyes at me. “Be that as it may, I’m allowed to protect my household. I don’t want you alone with him. He’s yet to prove his quality.”
I held up my hands. “Fine by me. If it’ll get you to let him up off the floor, then I can deal with that. Mason’s my shadow anyway, and I promised I wouldn’t run off without him anymore. Built-in chaperone.”
Ezra backed away, but Finn only rose to sitting, leaning back to perch on his heels with his head down. “Very well, dear. Finn, you have much to prove, and make no mistake, I’ll be watching.” Ezra opened the door and snapped his fingers for Finn to move it.
“Yes, your majesty.” Finn stood, keeping his chin lowered to give me a secret wink on his way out.
Eleven.
Kabayo’s Token
Alton stood when I entered the conference room, his ears turning pink again. “Lady October, there aren’t enough apologies for my behavior. I’m so very sorry.”
I was so turned around that I couldn’t remember what his apology was for. “Huh? Oh, right. The chili thing.” I waved off his sincerity. “It’s fine. No big deal.”
Mariang’s smile brightened when she saw that I was wearing one of the more feminine outfits she’d bought me. “You look lovely.”
“Thanks. Where are we with Lumipad?”
Ezra took the floor, his spine stiff with concealed anger. “Alton, Graham, you haven’t been back to Terraway in a while, so prepare yourself for a change. The famine’s deadly in Lumipad, so make sure you fill your packs with food and eat well before you go. Captain Finn can refill your canteens as needed.”
Ezra motioned to Finn, who shook hands with Graham and Alton over the table, but disregarded his chair and stood behind mine as a sentry of sorts. I didn’t know what to make of that, but I guessed it might keep any more food from spilling on me at random, so I was grateful.
Ezra was not. He pointed to the far corner contemptuously. “You’ll stand right there, where I can keep an eye on you. Not an inch closer, or your king will be hearing from me on your disobedience.”
Mason raised an eyebrow to Ezra, but said nothing to the sharpness radiating from the usually composed man.
Finn obeyed, and I prayed everyone else in the room wouldn’t read my blush for the crime it was.
Ezra continued on with a tightness to his jaw and an edge to his tone. “My hope is that Captain Finn can get you through Lumipad without incident. They’ll recognize him, and hopefully won't attack you on your journey. But just in case, make sure you’re heavily armed. You know where Danny keeps the weapons. Stock up before you leave.” While Ezra was speaking, the back of his hand started glowing in the shape of a blackish-blue X, letting him know he was getting a summons. “Excuse me.” He pointed to Mason, who straightened. “October’s not to be out of your sight. Not even for a second. Understand?”
Mason examined me curiously, wondering what it was I’d done this time. “Of course.”
Finn started giving the guys instructions on which parts of Lumipad they were going to travel through, letting them know that most of the journey would be spent jogging to make up for lost time.
A burn started making my right arm itch. I scratched the sting, but Mason quickly scooped up my hand to keep from letting my secret shame be made known to the room. “Something’s itching me,” I explained, though this did not force Mason to let go of my hand. “Oh, ow! Mason, it’s burning!” The fire twisted around my right forearm, drawing on my skin like a pen fueled by lightning. “Help!”
Ollie tore back my sleeve, letting out a noise of alarm. Finn crossed the room in a few steps, and pinned my shoulders to the back of my chair. They revealed the marks I’d given myself, sure, but beneath those were Kabayo’s loopy scar he’d given me when he’d wrapped a thick braid of his hair around my forearm. The design was an X on the inside of my forearm and one on the outside that were connected at the tops and bottoms. Usually the scar was a faded pink, but my eyes bulged when I saw it was black now with a blue glow on the edges of the design. The heat filled my arm as I squirmed.
Mason slammed my forearm on the table to show the brothers and Mariang, who all gasped. “King Kabayo’s token!” he shouted to the others. “They’re in danger. We’ve run out of time! Get your things and go!”
“This is good,” Finn said, staring with too much focus at my arm. “I can use her active link to Kabayo to locate him. Without that, we’ll be wandering around for who knows how long trying to find them.” He looked to the brothers. “You heard Mason. Get your things and meet me at the front door.”
“It’s burning! My arm feels like it’s on fire! Someone do something!” The room before me seemed to vanish, and all I saw was Kabayo with his sword and dagger, swinging at what seemed be a never-ending swarm of ravenously hungry Ekeks. Their yellowed elongated teeth were gnashing and their sharp claws were tearing at Kabayo’s arms. They had bird-like features and stood on painfully thin legs that didn’t seem to slow them down at all.
I saw Danny fighting next to him. He was glorying in the fight as he finally put muscles to use that had been fetching tea for Mariang for far too long. They were sweating and grunting as they fought, with Bev nowhere in sight. “Danny! Watch behind you!” I shouted.
Then Mason shook my shoulders, and the fight gave way to the conference room. The violence vanished as quickly as it came, though my a
rm still burned. “Danny’s in trouble! They’re fighting, and completely outnumbered.”
Mason’s voice was level but stern, carrying the authority of a man who had once run an entire country. “Ollie, go help the guys get packed. Mariang, tell Ezra we’re not to be disturbed.”
Mariang flew to me, gripping my face so I saw only her. “Is he alive? Is he safe? Where is he?”
I wanted to lie to her, but my mouth produced the truth without filter. “He’s alive, but he’s not safe.”
Mason gave Ollie a nod, and Ollie extracted Mariang from me and escorted her out of the room with the others, shutting me in the conference room with Mason and Finn.
“What’s happening to me? Was that real, what I saw?” My head whipped from Mason to Finn, taking in their dutiful looks that made it feel like the air was harder to breathe.
“It was real, yes.” Mason pointed to the floor behind the table. “Lie down here. This is going to hurt, and I don’t want you hitting your head on a chair or something if you pass out.”
“Pass out?”
Mason lowered me to the ground on my back and Finn rolled up his sleeves, looking down on me with a closed expression. In that moment, I saw why people feared his cold nature. Mason’s voice was gentle as he pressed my hands into the carpet on either side of my head, pinning me down slowly, so as not to spook me. “Your mark ties you and Kabayo together. When you’re in danger, he can see you, find you so he can help. It works the other way, too. That’s why Ezra hasn’t been as frantic. We would’ve known if something had gone south.”
“Well, it’s going south now, so hurry!”
“Shh. We will. You’ve never been to Lumipad, so Finn’s going to try and look through your eyes so he can use the landmarks to find Kabayo’s exact location. Then they can make a beeline for him to help.”
“Well, do it then! There were so many Ekeks. Do it, Finn!”
Finn locked the conference room door with an air of awful finality. “This is going to hurt, hani.”
Treat (Terraway Book 5) Page 6