Page 53 of Heart of Dawn
What an assbug.
“And then along came this miracle.” He pointed at Wendy collecting more pollen from the flowers. “Isn’t this wonderful, Orion? What an incredible sight. A true miracle.”
Taking a breath, I finally used my voice. “In what way is the honey a miracle to you?”
He cupped his chin, examining me with a curious gaze. “How informal of you.”
I didn’t throw in any royal title to correct myself. He didn’t deserve it.
Damien stood, clasping his hands together. “I may as well tell you, I suppose. I think you’ll like it. But then you must tell me what you mean to do with the honey. Because I fail to see how it can be as important as my plan.”
Didn’t the starfish spill all about Miko?
King Damien rocked on the heels of his expensive shoes. “I mean to replicate the Faery realm.”
His Majesty instantly earned gold in the What In The Name of the Stars Olympics.
“Replicate—”
“Ambitious, I know,” he interrupted me. “But with enough of the honey it can be done. Itmustbe done to save this realm. You see, it’s only a matter of time until Dawn enters our world. If we replicate Faery, we can evacuate and put enough distance between ourselves and that horror for a brighter future.”
Both guards nodded in agreement.
“Now, do you see how imperative it is for me to have this honey?”
Pardon me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.
“You’re a fool,” Wendy said, flying up to another cell.
Damien narrowed his eyes in her direction. “I am fighting for the future of my kind. Ofyourhome. I would think you would want a front seat in this plan.”
Wait. Wait. Wait. There were things to unpack here.
Firstly, was he blissfully unaware that Dawn was already here? Hadn’t he seen anything on his flight to this forest?
Secondly, this starfish told him Wendy would come home and wake up. Okay. But not in the correct context, the information he received was seemingly quite vague. I suppose that was enough to go on when you were terrified of what might come next. Especially with a zombie apocalypse on your doorstep.
“There is not enough honey in existence to make that possible,” Wendy replied.
The king strode to the water’s edge. “Why not?”
“Because there isn’t. Even if I could repopulate my colony to its glory days, it’s impossible.”
King Damien watched the water flow. “Your honey can replicate anything.”
“There are conditions, there are limitations. There is always a small difference to the replicated thing.”
“I see.” He came at me, taking me by surprise and twisted my arms behind my back, holding me with an iron grip.
“What—”
“Do not speak!” he spat into my ear. “I’ve had enough of your insolence. I did not come this far to be disrespected or told no. This affects all of us. This is for the greater good.”
Wendy filled a third chamber, then came to hover before us. “This brings back awful memories. You’re all the same with your greed, with your wants, with your self-centered attitudes.”
The king tightened his grip, huffing hot air at the back of my head. “Self-centered? For wanting to save my people from an Earthly curse? Please tell me how that makes me?—”
Scurrying came from the tunnel. The guards moved to the entrance, warning the king to stay back.
