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“That makes sense,” Kimi agrees in a reasonable tone, which throws me even more.

“Perhaps communication needs more practice,” King suggests. “Beatrice, I know we have all had our…differences, but that does not mean we would harm you foryour gifts. If anything, they make it more important to keep you safe.”

Keep safe, imprison. What’s the difference?

“We see the Artificer,” Mal changes the subject awkwardly. “He’ll know what the ring is. We need a list of the missing people to work through, figure out what we can from anyone left, and get them together.”

“Town hall meeting,” Kimi mumbles. “There should be free beer there.”

“We have a list,” Ben admits, shoulders loosening slightly. “Bees has them all memorized by now.”

“Good,” Mal nods once slowly. “Mitri, do you want to question the delegates you mentioned?”

“They are all ancients. Torture would prove unsuccessful in this case.”

“No one listed as a current Delegate is registered as an ancient,” King argues as if he’s studied the roster and memorized it.

“They are not listed at all,” Mitri agrees.

“Then how the fuck doyouknow about it?” Mal’s voice begins to rise again, and his fingers tense before he forces himself to relax.

Everyone is trying to maintain some kind of calm and relaxed facade, which is helping, just not enough.

It isn’t until Kimi leans down to continue eating without his hands and a tiny bit of egg overflows off the plate that my shoulders start to relax.

Am I overreacting? Is the whole fountain of youth crap ok on this side of the Divide or something? Maybe someone else out there can do this, too?

“I make a study of people,” Mitri says slowly as he watches me. “It is more effective to have prior knowledge of any situation.”

“He’s a people watcher,” Kimi’s muffled voice comes from where he’s buried his head in his plate.

Mal cautiously begins eating, using the utensils as he eyes Kimi with disgust.

“So, who are they?” King asks impatiently. Apparently, he’s upset he doesn’t have this information or that Mitri does and didn’t share.

“The Dragon-Mage, a Vampire, and the Russian,” his voice drops on the last one, and his brows furrow slightly.

“Aren’t you the Russian?” Ben asks with an eyebrow quirk.

“No,” he says darkly, turning towards Ben with a slight frown. “I am not like this one.”

“So they’re an angel?” King chuckles lightly.

“A dragon-mage crossbreed? It wasn’t killed at its hatching?” Mal asks in surprise.

“His birth was a tightly held secret when it occurred. Who would spread rumors in the Antarctic?”

“That’s called bestiality,” Kimi informs them, then continues, “Can’t he just go home and eat polar bears?”

“How is he still living? Sure, our race has extended life spans, but if you’re claiming he’s an ancient, it just isn’t possible,” Mal sets his utensils down and peers at Mitri.

“Half mage,” Mitri reminds him. “He has found a portal to a land of youth.”

“And told no one?” King scoffs.

“Precisely.”

“Then how do you know?” Mal growls out.