Page 53 of Return of the Vengeful Quee

“Never?” She speared another bite of fish with so much force, it disintegrated onto the plate.

He leaned close again, his eyes finding hers. “The only information my father ever received from me had to do with understanding what kind of person you are and the best way to approach you and your mother to bring an end to the war. Every personal thing you ever shared with me is still with me and me alone. I swear.”

“And I’m supposed to take your word for it?”

“Are you ready to let me explain myself?”

Before she could respond, an unearthly wail tore through the corridor, rising to such a feverish pitch that Charis dropped her fork to cover her ears. Ayve collapsed to her knees, Grim stumbled into a wall, and Dec clapped one hand on his friend’s arm to steady him and the other over one of his own ears.

Tal and Holland each drew their swords as the Rakuuna cry grew louder. Someone shouted outside the cabin, and then the door was flung open.

A Rakuuna lurched into the cabin, oily black blood leaking from a hole in her throat, and headed straight for Charis.

Twenty

IN THREE STRIDES, the Rakuuna reached the center of the cabin, her black eyes glittering with fury as she lunged with outstretched claws.

Tal and Holland thrust themselves in front of Charis, their swords pointed at the creature.

Charis scrambled to her feet, her dagger already in her hands. If this Rakuuna was already wounded, surely they had a chance of finishing her off. She flexed her muscles, feet sliding into the first rathma position as though she’d never stopped practicing.

Too late, she realized she wasn’t the creature’s target.

The Rakuuna buried her fingers into Ayve’s hair, grabbed a fistful, and yanked the woman to her feet. The creature hissed, sending a spray of black blood out of her neck, and bared her double row of fangs. Her claws dug into Ayve’s head, and she shook the woman like a child’s rag doll.

“Hurts us.” A terrible choking sound issued from the Rakuuna’s throat, and more blood sprayed, hitting the side of Ayve’s face.

Holland, Dec, Lohan, and Grim rushed for the Rakuuna. She used her free arm to send them sprawling across the floor. Tal planted himself in front of Charis, sword held steady.

From behind the Rakuuna, Reuben staggered in, a cut in his head bleeding profusely. His sword shook as though he’d been injured too badly to hold it steady, but still he aimed it at the monster’s back.

Lohan was closest to the Rakuuna. He belly-crawled toward her, his dagger in his hand. The creature kicked him in the chest. He crashed into the wall, twitched once, and lay still.

Holland roared and sprang to his feet, sword ready.

He was going to die. They were all going to die if Charis couldn’t find a way to control this.

“Stop!” She used Mother’s most commanding tone.

Her people froze. The Rakuuna did not. Instead, the creature shook Ayve and howled as the hole in her neck slowly widened, as though the skin was continuously burning away, like thin paper held to a flame.

From the corridor came more wails, followed by the dry rattle of the Rakuuna’s language. The bearded Rakuuna who captained the ship burst into the room, followed by three others, including the female with bluish skin and a crown of braids. A long, charred opening from the base of her neck to the tip of her chin poured black blood, and she was supported by another Rakuuna.

“You did this.” The captain pointed at Charis.

She let her eyes widen and shook her head. “Please tell us what’s happening.”

He hissed, and the Rakuuna who held Ayve spat a few words to him. Her voice sounded weak, and her black eyes were glassy.

Good to know the poison was this effective. A larger dose might have killed her outright. If Charis could talk their way out of this, she’d have all the information she needed for Nalani.

She glanced once at Lohan’s body and looked away.

She’d feel the pain of losing one of her own for the sake of defeating her enemies, but not before she had the situation under control.

“This one in food room,” the captain said in halting Caleran as he pointed to Ayve. “Hurt.”

The bluish-skinned Rakuuna began shivering uncontrollably, and Tal stepped forward, his sword lowered. “She needs medical care.” When the captain said nothing, Tal tried again. “Help her. Wash the wound and bandage it. Don’t just let her bleed like this.”

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