Page 53 of Last Resort

Breen grinned. “It was more efficient. Your description led to several specific names in our heads.”

“A lot of scary guys who look like they are cannibals?”

Myro shrugged. “We were confined for a very long time. Everyone had thoughts.”

Breen laughed at the shock in her mind. “He’s kidding. We had enforcers and assassins just like any other court. The physique she was describing was the enforcers. They also tended to have the sigils.”

“Oh, the vines.”

“Yes, Poppy, the vines.” Myro chuckled. They went back and forth for a few minutes, and then someone said,I know her. What is the message?

Breen looked. “Oh. Him. Well, that explains a few things.A wildling in the islands needs a mentor.”

Poppy leaned over and read,She’s the mentor? Fucking hell. I will pass on the message.

Breen smiled. “There. Message sent. Your friend will be pissed, but she will get the message.”

Myro muttered, “And probably have a heart attack.”

Poppy shrugged. “She’s made of stern stuff. She tore the throats out of three of the Elite during the attack. She was the first wave, and she was fucking effective.”

The guys looked at her and blinked. “Oh, right.” Myro said, “So, when you said you wanted a mentor for Mickey, you wanted a mentor for Mickey.”

“Yeah. She’s really young, and her powers are still growing. Exposure to a mentor would help stabilize her. Her shapeshifting is a little concerning.”

“The other woman is older?”

“By five years and a thousand all at once. She has the wisdom of the earth in her eyes and the soul of an imp. Hence the pole dancing.” She smiled. “We only shared basic information so that someone could find our families if we died in the Stronghold. Just in case.”

Breen asked, “Why not her name?”

“Because names could be used by the Elite. They were looking for some of our group, and a name on the wind would come to them. So, by telling us where she worked, she knew we would get the notification where it needed to be.” Poppy smiled. “We all did it for each other. Sityr would have gotten the notification, and there was no next of kin for me.”

Myro nodded and rubbed her shoulder. “But you were successful as you were always destined to be, and now the twelve, the guardian, and the queen all have destinies.”

Poppy blinked. “Wow. Was your incarceration just one big gossip session?”

Breen smiled. “When we weren’t considering cannibalism, yes.”

She chuckled and watched more of the clips from the other teams. She looked at her cuff. “So, shall we grab some dessert and head to the bed and breakfast? There are plenty of little shops around.”

“Well then, Poppy. Please show us what you like.” Myro grinned.

She stood up, paid for the meal, and walked toward the little stands and kiosks that had plenty of snacks specific to the island.

Breen murmured, “We would have paid for the meal.”

“I am used to taking care of myself. You know, before I had perpetual shadows with me.”

Myro snorted. He asked, “What kind of an adjustment will it be for you to let us take care of you a little?”

“That is going to be a very difficult task. If you ever manage it, you should get extra points.”

Breen snorted. “We will manage it. Promise.”

They walked to the row of snack stalls, and she said, “Fine, you guys are on your own here. I am getting my favourites and heading back to the bed and breakfast for a snack orgy.”

Myro called out, “Just snacks?”

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