Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (8 page)

I’d tried my best to make the necklaces and bracelets like Grandfather did. At first, beading was just a way to clear my mind of the past. It gave me focus. The more I learned about the art of beading, the further I fell in love with the craft. I’d even begun choosing my own shells along the shoreline. Now, I spent my free time searching for the perfect shells and beading them into beautiful gifts.

My technique had improved, and Grandfather spoke of letting me wrap a few gemstones—none of the precious ones, of course—but he had a few rough gems I could practice with. Wrapping the gems in thin metal seemed simple enough, and my time watching Derrick work the forge had taught me a little about bending metal.

The weight of Lucino’s emerald locket pressed against my skin. Many times, I’d thought of selling the necklace, but I couldn’t. It had one of the most beautiful gems I’d ever seen. If Grandfather ever saw the size of the emerald, he would ask who gave it to me—a conversation that would create too many questions. For now, I hid the locket beneath my dress.

Grandfather and Ms. Gen talked about the sailors and latest ships arriving at the harbor. Even though my family was back in Lakewood, I felt at home here with these two wonderful people in this lively place. Everything was perfect. I knew Grandfather wanted to find the blue eye, but was it worth the risk of losing this? Watching them smile and laugh, I realized no treasure was.

hen I entered Romulus’s gurgling workshop, I threw the head of the mother and her eggs on the floor. They rolled, landing by his feet, and I smiled when the old man’s pudgy jaw dropped in shock. My body still ached from the poison released when the wenlo’s tail shredded my side, but the biocide I had injected already removed the infection.

“Find out where she is.” I straightened, holding my dizzy head high. “And do it quickly.”

“Yes, my prince.”

Romulus had responded to me with respect in his voice. Pride blossomed in my chest. Even Father wouldn’t be able to deny me now. They’d all remember why they chose me to control Daath.

I didn’t have time to sit and listen to Romulus grovel or ask a long array of questions about the nest and the fight. Krischa had sent word to meet her under the red crystal bridge. As the Royal Seer, she spent most of her time in the castle. Requesting to meet in the city meant she had very delicate information to share, and it wasn’t for The Council’s ears.

I left Romulus’ lab. He would call as soon as he found Jeslyn’s location.

Once I was far enough away, I leaned against the wall, catching my breath. It had been decades since I last fought a creature as deadly as the wenlo, and while I survived the fight, the exertion had weakened me.

Weakness was not a trait I handled well, justified or not.

In the dark hallway of my castle, I slid down the wall and sat on the ground, unable to stand any longer.

The alley bent around the smooth structures of the court promenade, buildings that held the officials of Reptilian City and the main branches of science and research. Reptilians rushed past, heading off to their morning duties. With a hooded cloak hiding my identity, I slipped around the back of the third building and walked down the stone hill.

If the hour was correct, Krischa would have been waiting for quite some time.

Our cities were tightly structured with a giant fortified wall protecting each one. The Royal Red City, where I lived, was the most exquisite of all. Made from the red crystals mined in the wastelands, it kept us safe from harsh weather and acidic storms. Neither acid nor hail could penetrate the hard crystal dome. It was one of our most prized minerals and one our brethren most sought.

The other cities were made of varying metals and stone, each designed to withstand the specific weather changes of their lands, and each uniquely beautiful: The Stone City of Atla, The Blue Hive of Doniva, and The Yellow Forge of Rluskina.

This stone pathway led to the lower levels of the city, a place full of refuse and cleaner beetles, a place only Romulus would find enjoyable. A large black beetle skittered past. While the beetles did an excellent job of eating the garbage left by the city residents, they were still a nuisance. They reminded me of the small dogs people kept as pets in Tarrtainya.

Round, silver disks transported Reptilians back and forth across the red crystal bridge that arced over the lower city. The disks sped across the different bridges and walkways that connected to various buildings that provided living quarters, the functioning groups of the city, and the arena, our city’s main form of entertainment.

A lone hooded figure stood beneath the bridge.

Krischa’s deep violet cloak covered everything but her pale green face. She bowed her head. “My prince.”

“I assume you have something important to tell me?”

“I do.”

Her golden eyes held many secrets, and I waited for her to share them. “I had a vision about the Kuuni.”

“Why did you not report it?” All of Krischa’s visions were recorded by The Council, and with the Kuuni being our largest threat, she should have gone directly there.

“Because the vision contained your human girl.”

“The human is of no interest to anyone.”

“But you.”

Arguing with Krischa was difficult when she possessed the gift of foresight. While her visions were a version of future events, they were not complete. Although, few of her foresights had ever been wrong.

“The Kuuni are planning an attack.”

“When?”

“The vision was unclear, but I saw when our people were fighting, you were with her.”

“Impossible. I would never abandon my people.”

“You will.”

“You speak treason,” I growled, grabbing the front of her cloak.

Krischa did not waver. “I speak
truth
. Your feelings for her will distract you during our greatest need. If I file this report, The Council will learn about her and you will be executed.”

“What do you want?” I released my hold on her and she stepped back, hiding in the cowl of her cape.

“When you become king, you will need a queen.”

“And who better than you?”

“Our people would never accept a human as our ruler. With our combined power we can lead our people into a new era.”

She moved closer, but kept her head slightly bowed. What she spoke was true. I may be part human, but I was still a Reptilian prince, and Jeslyn could never be a Reptilian queen.

“What do I get in return?”

“My silence.”

“I don’t need a proposal for that.” I snatched her neck and lifted her onto her toes.

Her gaze never wavered, fearless and unafraid, even as my fingers tightened around her windpipe.

“You won’t,” she whispered.

I released her slender neck and pushed her away from me. “No, you are too valuable.” Even if I had stayed in Daath, when the time had come, and our presence known, Jeslyn would’ve been replaced. Krischa was a beautiful savage and a powerful ally. “Report the Kuuni’s intentions. The guard needs to prepare for an attack.”

“And the rest?”

“The rest keep silent.”

“While I trust your verbal oaths, I want a soul oath.”

I grunted. A soul oath would fuse our auras to our words, making the promise impossible to break.

I held out my palms and she placed hers on top. “I, Lucino Baphum, Prince of the Reptilian Court, swear to marry, you, Krischa Lonias, when I become king.”

Red mist covered our hands as our auras fused together, siphoning into one another. The bond burned, a reminder of the penalty of trying to break the oath—death.

A smile formed on Krischa’s perfect red lips. She bowed, then turned to leave. Bargaining for queen was not like her; she preferred the quiet background of politics, which meant only one thing.

She’d seen much more than she described.