The selkie king dropped his fork, and it clattered off his plate onto the white linen cloth. “Why didn’t you say so sooner? Of course, you must go.” He waved his hands as if to shoo us away. “Leave now!”

The knot of tension in my chest released, and relief washed through me. “Thank you, sir.”

We rose from the table, and Rage grabbed my hand. We turned to leave, but after a few steps, Rage stopped and faced the selkie king. “One more question, if I may?”

The king nodded and waved off the servant topping off his wine.

“When will our magic abilities return? The powder you used—”

Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Jakko created it—quite by accident, and we’re still testing it. I’m afraid we don’t know the duration of its effects. It is the best defense my people have against those with magic.”

Anxiety rolled through me, churning my insides and making me nauseated. I probably could’ve done without those last six buttered rolls.

“Of course, there is an antidote. Jakko might struggle with perspective, but he’s quite brilliant. One moment.” He stood and stared at the wall for several seconds, and then a young woman scurried in holding a tray with two pale pink flowers.

Hive mind. That was 1000.6% freaky.

“Thank you, Marsa darling.” He took the flowers from the plate before walking around the table to us and then lowered his voice. “Eat these, and your powers will return within minutes. But a word of warning—Jakko said the hastama blossom gave him a significant headache. It may have the same effect on you, so I suggest you take it before you reach the island.” He glanced to the young woman. “Please pack them some water and dried fruits.” Then he turned back to us. “I wish you nothing but success on your journey.”

Sweet relief! I mean, I wasn’t keen on eating a random flower and getting a headache, but it’d be nice to have my magic back. Also, it didn’t go unnoticed that the king didn’t tell us what was in the powder, but at least we knew the antidote. Mental note: hastama blossom.

We bowed again, and then two male armed guards came to escort us away.

“And give them a speedboat,” the king ordered.

“Thank you!” I waved one final time as we made our way past the smiling and laughing children and back through town.

‘That was interesting,’ Rage told me as the moon shone over the village and people started to pack up and head into their houses, probably to finally sleep.

I nodded. ‘But now, we have an ally, and I have a favor with the selkie king.’

He smiled and then sobered, the smile sliding from his face. ‘How are we going to get my brothers back and kill Surlama with just the two of us?’

I was silent a moment, pursing my lips. ‘I have an idea.’

He looked at me, waiting for me to tell him, but the moment stretched on. ‘Are you going to keep me in suspense?’ he asked.

My idea was so crazy I wasn’t sure I could wrap my head around it yet.

I looked sideways at him. ‘I’ll tell you on the boat.’

He frowned but kept quiet.

Rage sped us out of selkie territory and went south, the silvery moonlight reflecting off the dark water. Once we were out of the cove and on open water, Rage slowed the boat to a crawl and then cut the engine. “Now, tell me your plan.” He stared at me with wide eyes.

“If I go into the spirit plane, I can talk to people in their mind.” It sounded a lot crazier coming out of my mouth. “I think.”

“You think?” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You mean talk telepathically like me and my brothers?”

I nodded. “But I can see whoever I’m talking to. I had a … a dream … er, vision of Kaja, when they first knocked us out with the powder. I called to her, and she heard me … like sat up in bed and stared at me.” Rage’s wide-eyed stare made me nervous, but I pressed on. “I think I can reach Kaja again and ask for help.”

“Holy mage.” Rage blew air through his teeth as he gripped the edges of the boat. “Nai, you’re not trained in the arts of a high mage yet. This could be dangerous.”

He was right, but what other choice did we have? We needed help. My insides twisted, and I took a deep breath.

“Do you have any better ideas?” I asked. He frowned, which I took for a no, and I continued. “If I ask Kaja and her sisters to create a distraction inside, they can lure away the guards—which makes it easier for us, right?”

He pursed his lips, seeming to mull over what I’d said.

“That’s kind of genius,” Rage muttered. “I mean, if the beach is clear, then we could sneak into the castle, no problem.”

I nodded because it would help, but his frown deepened as he stared at me.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look grumpy? Isn’t it a good plan?”

“You’ve never done this before, right? What if you link up with the wrong mind and send the message to the wrong person instead?”

I blanched. “Like the king?”

Rage nodded. “Yeah—or Surlama.”

“Crap.” I swallowed hard, my mind racing. “I think I just need to concentrate.”

We’d eaten our pink flowers just before getting on the boat, and thankfully the king’s predicted crazy headache lasted only a few moments before I felt some of my power return.

The boat rocked gently as the water lapped against the sides.

“I could try…” I shrugged, not knowing what more to offer. Truly, this was my only idea.

“Well, maybe I can help you focus. You know, I’m kind of a big deal.” Rage winked and tugged me closer.

I grinned, leaning into him as the heat of his body pressed against mine. “I thought I was kind of a big deal? Ya know, high crime and all.”

Rage’s gaze hooded. “You’re more than ‘kind of’ a big deal to me.”

I’d been joking, but his sincerity sent butterflies flitting around in my stomach. Reaching out, he stroked his thumb over my bottom lip. “Nai … I’m sorry for rejecting you when I realized we were mates in the garden. When those butterflies descended on you, I…” He looked like he was in pain at the memory. “I’m so sorry for hiding … for not trusting you when you obviously deserved it.”

Guilt twisted his features, and my heart pinched at his confession.

I leaned forward and gave him a lingering kiss. “All is forgiven,” I said with a wave of my hand. “I’ve decided to completely wipe douchebag Rage from my memory.”

“Hey!” He grimaced, grabbing at his heart.

I smirked and leaned forward once more to pull his bottom lip into my mouth. He sucked in a sharp intake of breath and then brought his hands up to cup my cheeks after he pulled me closer to him.

I’d heard from a woman in my pack that once you met your fated mate, there was this pull to be intimate, to be closer and closer each time until you sealed the mate bond. I’d been twelve at the time and had no idea what “sealing” the mate bond meant. Now I did. Now I could feel the heat travel down my core, and my body ached to be closer to Rage, to come together as one and share something so special, something no one—