Page 42 of Duncan

She thought of what she had sacrificed so she could have a safe life—the life she had left behind in the future. That life was still waiting for her to come back to it. A father in danger, a brother who belonged in prison. Her cousin, who would always be her best friend no matter how much Maxwell interfered. Now somehow she had to tell Duncan about the hardest thing she would have to do, and very soon.

I can’t ever stay. No matter what we want, I have to leave him.

SPEAL SENT a half-dozen Cait Sith to the docks to keep watch for Duxor and his promised army of monsters, but after a second day passed with no sighting, she recalled her sisters to the merchant trader. Sailing from Insii Orc to the mainland cove where the aquatic immortal had first met the enchantress took another day. The minimal crew she took with her seemed almost happy to be at sea again, which she understood. With Derdrui’s behavior of late, putting anything between the Cait Sith and their sovereign gave them all much-needed respite.

“I shall go and parlay with Fiacail,” she told her sisters before taking the skiff. “Rest while you may, for when I return we must sail back at once.”

No one emerged from the waters when Speal reached the small dock beside the cove, so she moored the skiff and climbed out to make her way to the rocky shore. The shallows appeared empty, but when she caught sight of an agile dark shape hovering at the very edge, she bent down and placed her hand in the water.

’Tis how we may smell and ken ’tis you, Fiacail had told her during their last meeting.

This time it wasn’t their former leader who came out of the sea, but Tiene, one of the other Cait Sith saved from death by Duxor’s transformation. In her halfling state she had been badly maimed in battle with the MacMar, who had left her crippled and half-blinded. Since being changed by the aquatic’s infernal magic she could shift back into her human form, but one eye remained that of a shark. Seeing the flat, cold death in that black eye made Speal conceal a shudder.

“What want you?” Tiene asked after she spewed some sea water from her mouth.

Speal glanced down at her belly, expecting to see it flattened after the hideous birthing in the hold, and then gasped, for it bulged as if whatever lay within desired to rend Tiene apart and escape.

“I’m no’ carrying pups again yet,” the shark shifter told her. “I only just ate.” She patted her undulating belly. “’Twill cease by nightfall.”

The fact that she now devoured prey alive didn’t disgust Speal; it was the pleasure in her voice that made her own stomach heave.

“Our sovereign awaits your master on Insii Orc,” she said. “Why does he delay?”

“Duxor’s no longer our master. Fia decided we should rule ourselves and serve no one, especially air breathers like you lot, and then she ran him off.” Tiene’s smile widened. “You may tell your sovereign go fack herself.”

Before she could reply the shark shifter dove into the water and streaked off.

Speal slowly trudged back to the skiff, but instead of casting off and sailing back to the trader she sat on the seat board and considered what Tiene’s news would do once she passed it along to the enchantress. After so many disappointments Derdrui would likely murder them all. Exhausted tears welled up in her eyes, and she covered her face with her hands as huge sobs tore from her throat.

A splash came, and the skiff rocked as someone joined her.

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve before she beheld Fiacail. Her sister had changed into the mortal form she’d always worn before she had been stabbed and thrown into the sea. When the shark shifter looked into her eyes, a glimmer of sympathy showed.

“Dinnae you pity me,” Speal said, snarling the words. “You’re as cold as a fish now, and never again shall you care for me or our sisters.”

“True, but that doesnae mean I hate you. I’ve still some memories of my life before I became as I am now. I possessed much affection for you, Sister.” Fia pursed her lips. “You shouldnae heed all that Tiene claimed. She’s gone bitter after so many birthings. Dearg’s abandoned us now. Soon I expect we’ll lose the last of our Cait Sith sentiments.”

“Why did you chase away Duxor?” she demanded. “Once we found the MacMar, Derdrui would free us all, and heal you.”

“We dinnae wish for such mercy.” Fiacail reached out and clasped Speal’s hand between her cold, wet fingers. “We’ve accepted what Duxor made of us. We shall mate and breed as we never could as Cait Sith. Soon all mortals shall tremble when we emerge and hunt them on land. The world, ’twill become ours.”

Speal hunched her shoulders, as if all the fight drained out of her, and slipped her fingers into her sleeve. “Shall you slay me, and our sisters then?”

Fiacail lifted a piece of twisted, violet-gold metal dangling from the gold chain around her neck. “When we wield the magic of the king of the aquatics, then we shall change you–”

She coughed, and glanced down at the blade Speal had buried in her ribs as dark blood dripped from her lips.

“We dinnae desire change, Sister.” She yanked out the dagger, driving it in higher with her second blow so that it would pierce her lung. She leaned in, putting her mouth next to the choking hybrid’s ear. “I doubt my blade shall end you soon. Go back to the others while you live and warn them they may expect the same if you dinnae lead us to the island of the MacMar.”

Biting the side of the shifter’s neck and drinking her blood gave Speal almost as much pleasure as shoving her over the side of the skiff. A moment later a flood of memories came into her mind, and then she smiled.

“Fack me,” she murmured. “I dinnae need you tell me another word, Fia.”

Chapter Eleven

“Jamaran said none of the Selseus have spotted another hybrid anywhere near the bay,” Caroline said when she walked into the garrison hall common room. “Jules and I have been patrolling the caves and shallows every day, but we’ve had no luck, either. Unless that changes I doubt we’ll be able to try another healing.”

“’Tis been but a week.” Nyall set aside the map scroll he had been studying and went to embrace his wife, and nuzzled her damp hair. “Mmmmm. You smell of the hot spring.”