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Chapter Seventy: Bahira

“Kane,” Tua responds coldly, not even bothering to look his son’s way. Instead, he keeps his eyes on me, taking another step forward. “I’m sure you have questions.” His voice burns like the poison did, and I wish more than anything that I could drive my spear into his black fucking heart. “Go ahead and ask.”

He’s so calm, reserved even, that if it weren’t for the abominable glint in his eye, he would be the Tua I thought I knew. The one who explained the island’s people to me on the ship. Who said he wanted Kai to appear in a better light. The one who checked in on me when I was ravaged with seasickness.

“How could you do this to him?” It’s a stupid question, one that betrays the emotion in my voice.

“Easily,” Tua answers, his gaze finally lifting off of me as his face turns pensive. To my utter horror , one of the shifters hanging from the wall groans out in pain. Steps sound, the female rebel going to them before there is a grunt, and then it falls uncomfortably silent again. “But, to understand why, you need to understand our history. My brother, Noa, was reckless even as a young child. Impulsive. Stupid . He used me as his crutch to make his way through schooling and whatever lessons our father would plan.”

Breathe .

I carefully test out the shackles again, noticing that the cold metal encircling my wrist is only barely smaller than the widest part of my hand. I might be able to force it off of me, though I suspect I’ll have to dislocate my thumbs in order to do it. My stomach grows nauseous at the thought.

“And I’ll admit, in the early days, I was fine with that,” Tua continues, his lips twitching with the memory. “I was content to help my brother rule. To make the best of it all. Our father officially abdicated his throne, and my brother stepped in. He enjoyed the benefits of calling himself king, even if it was at the detriment of everyone else. As long as he held the power, held the riches and everything that went along with it, he didn’t care who he trampled on. Who he destroyed to get what he wanted or how his kingdom suffered because of it.”

I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth, my head swimming from the blood loss or the hits or, fuck, maybe I’ve been down here for longer than I realized. I begin to tug against the restraint, fighting to keep my face neutral as the metal digs into my skin.

“Noa got married because it was expected of him, to the daughter of one of the high-ranking nobles at the time. But he was never faithful to her. As the years passed, each one without a pregnancy to name his heir, he came to resent her.”

I pretend to lose my balance and flop forward, enough to yank on the shackle. Discomfort flares as the constraint wedges a small amount down my hand. My heart thunders in my head, dizziness once more threatening the edges of my mind.

I need a distraction, a reason to try to yank myself forward again. “You truly relish the sound of your own fucking voice.” I snap.

Tua growls, but it’s the female who lunges towards me. Her fist hits my cheek, and I tug on my hand at the same time, a scream ripping from me as my thumb dislocates and sends a wave of agony through my hand and up my arm. I manage to catch the shackle in my shaking fingers before it falls, gripping on to it while my upper body wobbles until I’m forced to lean back against the wall.

“I’ve been waiting to do that,” she growls as she stands, stepping back behind Tua.

“You hit like a bitch ,” I seethe.

When Niko steps forward this time, I brace myself for the assault to come, but Tua extends his hand out to stop him. “She’ll be dead soon enough.”

I shut my eyes, inhaling through my nose and swallowing down the dread that rises at that statement.

“I had approached my brother about Kane being the next to inherit the throne. Whether it be due to the gods or something else, Noa wasn’t able to sire a child, but he had a willing and able nephew who could step into the role. He was reluctant at first, but I eventually convinced him to agree, and Kane, though only ten, began the duties of the heir apparent. Then Noa met a peasant woman from the small village of Honna.”

I begin to tug on the other restraint, leaning my body forward again in an attempt to look off balance. Bile burns up my throat, threatening to spill from my mouth.

“Kai’s mother was meek and mild. For a shifter, she might as well have been nothing but a worm under my boot. But she was pretty and clearly wanted him, so he took advantage. Though I will admit, I underestimated my brother. He kept many secrets about this kingdom and what he did to ensure Kai would be the strongest among us. To tempt the fates with magic”—his cold eyes find mine, holding them captive—“and blood.”

I draw my brows together, icy awareness of his words prickling my neck as I halt my attempt to free myself. “What do you mean?”

He gives a short laugh, shaking his head as he does. “It’s funny what people will keep a record of, what secrets they will spill onto paper when they think they will be the only consumer of that knowledge. That’s the thing about the written word—the right information in the wrong hands can be deadlier than any sword or dagger. Noa discovered a secret and used it to test on Kai’s mother while she was pregnant with him.”

“Test what ?” I clench my teeth together so hard that I expect to hear a cracking noise as I return to pulling against the restraint. It slowly—so slowly—moves, my thumb straining to stay in its socket as tears fill my eyes.

“The details don’t matter, at least not to you. The point is, I discovered the same information Noa had, and I also found his own personal documentation of what he did to Kai’s mother. Kai has no idea that his father altered him before he was even born. Or that Jahlee’s inability to shift is a direct consequence of what was done. But I know the truth, just as I also learned your kingdom’s secret. One that you’ve kept since The War Of Five Kingdoms.”

“Passing through the Spell,” I seethe in answer.

Tua nods his head, squatting down on the balls of his feet until he is at eye level with me. “What a curious thing, isn’t it? While every other realm is trapped within their own borders, mages are able to roam free.”

“Fuck you,” I snap, earning a kick to my ribs from the female. It’s enough of a distraction to yank my hand through the shackle with another yelp. Hands freed, I grip on to the metal with the tips of my fingers as I fight to stay conscious.

“We need to make our next move. Kai should be looking for her now,” Niko says.

I laugh, a maniacal trill that shakes my entire body as I throw my head back against the damp stone, trying to hide the pulsing waves of pain that now make up my body. “Kai doesn’t give a shit about me.”

Both rebels begin to argue, but Tua simply lifts his hand to silence them. “You told him, didn’t you? That you don’t have magic?”

I say nothing, my glower fixed directly on the traitorous bastard.

“It’s why, in the six hours since the rebel attack, he hasn’t once mentioned to me that you are missing.”

Six hours?

Tua nods at the shock in my eyes, the quick slackening of my jaw that I’m unable to stop. “That poison is quite nasty.”

“Father, what are you doing ?” Kane asks, fear and confusion evident in his voice. “You’re working for the rebels?”

“I am leading the rebels!” Tua’s calm facade finally falters as he stares at where his son is chained against the wall. “You’ve been a disappointment ever since you allowed Kai to live—”

“He was a fucking child !”

Tua bolts towards Kane, reaching him in a few strides and slamming him against the wall. Kane’s groan of pain reverberates out into the chamber, and I watch the female and Niko’s grins widen.

“Exactly,” Tua seethes. “All you had to do was eliminate the only threat to a future where you ruled, and you couldn’t even do that right.” Tua slowly exhales, leaving Kane to come back and stand in front of me. “It doesn’t matter, however, because in the end, your life as well as Bahira’s will still serve a purpose to our cause.”

“Whatever you’re thinking, it won’t work. You might as well kill me because Kai will not care either way. You can’t use me as leverage against him.” The confession stings, and I squeeze my eyes shut to hide the gathering tears.

“That’s the plan,” Tua says softly, having the audacity to look regretful about it when I glance up. “Though you are a hard woman to kill, Bahira. I’ve tried three times now, and you’ve managed to evade them all. I imagine that this time, however, will stick.” He sends me a wink as he gestures with both arms to the rebels on either side of him. Fuck, I need more time.

“Three?” I question, keeping hold of the shackles as I draw my heels back and force myself to slide against the wall and come to a stand, my thighs burning with the movement. All three shifters watch me, Niko stepping closer and lifting his sword.

Breathe .

Tua takes the bait. “Well, there was the attack in the forest, during which you stopped these two and their friend quite easily,” Tua sneers, looking from Niko to the female. “Then there was the attempted ambush in your room. Killing that male for his failure was a personal joy of mine.” Of course. It had been Tua who offered to bring my attacker to the dungeons. “There was also the poisoning on the ship.”

“What poisoning—” My mouth snaps shut. Kai had remarked that he didn’t know I was sick, that Tua never told him. I only started feeling better once Kai began taking over.

“You didn’t think you were merely seasick , did you?”

I growl as I slump against the wall, the chains rattling in my grip. “Why bring me aboard the ship if your plan was simply to kill me?”

Tua smiles, his hands clasping behind his back. “Who do you think gave Kai the idea to bring a mage onto our island to help? I don’t want my people to suffer—a kingdom is no good without people to protect it. But my brother’s notes and the magic experiments he did intrigued me. The plan was simple: get a mage and have them try healing the shifters before forcing them to recreate what my brother had done. I wanted to make a son worthy of ruling over this kingdom. I had heard rumblings from my informants of the Daxel siblings—a son more powerful than all other mages and his magicless sister. I hadn’t dared to dream that we’d get your brother, but I hoped a mage with enough magic would suffice. Yet, when you were chosen, the timeline to kill you moved up. You were worthless to us without magic, so there was no point in keeping you alive. But I underestimated you, Your Highness. You managed to survive all three attempts. You convinced Kai to listen to the people, to try and be a better ruler. It was all in vain, of course, but impressive nonetheless.”

“You murdered a mother. A child! How do their deaths factor into your interests ?”

Tua’s smile stays in place as he answers, “They were peasants who showed allegiance to Kai. I’ve spent years— decades —building my relationships with those of the Crown and court. It is much easier to convince the real people in power to do your bidding when they are promised even more than they have now.”

“And the common people? You would have them suffer and call it something better ?”

He simply shrugs, walking into the darker part of the chamber, just out of my view. “ Better is in the eye of those with power, and to me and my interests, ridding the island of those who support my nephew is better .” Just out of view a door opens with a long creak, and then Tua is gone.

The female and Niko glance at each other before the latter takes a step towards me. I hold the shackles more tightly, debating when I can attack. How I can attack. I force my breaths to slow, each drag of air into my lungs held for a second before I let it back out. Niko glides his knuckle down my cheek, my glare only intensifying as he does. Let him drop his guard, let them both assume they have the upper hand. I glance towards his sword, noticing his lax grip on it.

“Shame that we have to kill you,” he purrs, leaning in so that his lips are only a few inches from my own. Desire expands the gold in his eyes until his irises are tinted in the color.

“Niko,” the female growls in warning, but I’m already moving. The sword is easy to steal from him, even without the use of my thumb. He doesn’t have time to be shocked before I swing the blade at his neck. Blood spurts out, directly onto the female and I, as Niko’s head is severed from his body.

Her expression morphs slowly, shock giving way to fury at the same rate her eyes turn fully gold. Moving the sword into both hands, I jab it forward, the tip driving into her chest and going in about an inch before her hands reach out and cover my own. She squeezes, either knowing that I’m injured or just doing it to stop her own demise. A scream ravages my throat as I throw my weight behind the sword, pushing as hard as I can. The female’s nails elongate into razor-sharp claws, piercing into my skin. Her body ripples in a pool of shimmering blue light as she prepares to shift.

I have to kill her now. It has to be this moment while she’s still mortal— mostly mortal—as I’m already too weak to fight off an animal predator. Gritting my teeth together, I dredge up every last ounce of strength, grab onto every feeling of rage and worthlessness and disappointment, and push . Tears line my eyes as the image of Nox and my parents filter into my mind. This is not when I will say goodbye. I may be made of more failures than victories, but I am Bahira fucking Daxel , and I am not done yet.

The shifter’s golden eyes widen, the light surrounding her body flickering brightly as her features blur along their edges. Digging into my heels, my muscles scream in protest as my vision goes hazy.

“You’ve got this, Bahira!” Kane shouts.

“This is for Jahlee.”

The female stumbles back a step against the force of my strength, of me , and then the hilt of the sword meets her chest. Her eyes glow with the last bit of her magic before it sputters out and she tips towards me with her mouth hanging open in a silent scream.

My hand plants on her shoulder to hold her back before I jerk the sword out, blood blooming down the front of her tunic. Then I step out of the way to let her fall.

Breathe .

It’s agonizing to let my lungs take in what they need, my chest rising and falling too quickly. I drop the sword and lean over, placing my hands on my knees before the flaring pain reminds me what I’ve done to myself. My eyes squeeze together while tears wet my cheeks, my body feeling as if it’s made more of agony than flesh and bone.

“That was incredible,” Kane sighs.

“Shut up. Just shut up .”

Time feels like an illusion as I stand there, hunched over myself and struggling to get air in. But I know that I need to warn Kai of what I learned here, of just how many people may be sabotaging his role as king. Of who is trying to murder him. I make it a shaky step before the dripping sound rings ominously in my ear.

Turning, I take in the three bodies hanging from the wall and curse. I need to go, to use whatever energy remains in me to get out of here and straight to Kai. Instead, I step towards them and reach my trembling hand out to check the pulse of the shifter closest to me. The tips of my fingers find cold skin, but I still wait for the flutter of a heartbeat. Finding none, I move to the shifter in the middle as I sway, dizziness hounding me. It’s faint—the beat so light that I fear I might be imagining it. Gasping, I quickly check the final shifter, only to find that they have passed as well. I eye the shackles holding the shifter in the middle, the male’s head lolled down so that his chin is resting against his chest and long black hair shades his face from view.

“Key,” I mutter to myself, turning back to stare at the bloody figures lying prone on the floor. Limping to them, I kneel, blood soaking into my pants as I begin to search Niko’s headless corpse, and a smile tugs at the corners of my lips

“It’s unsettling that you’re smiling right now.”

“I’m going to leave you here,” I respond, earning a guffaw of protest from him. Digging around in Niko’s trouser pockets proves fruitless, so I crawl my way over to the other body. Against all odds, I find a small key in her back pocket, and in seconds that pass like hours, I make my way over to Kane. After unlocking his restraints, I gesture to the middle shifter hanging on the wall. “You need to help me get him down. He’s alive.”

Kane’s eyes widen, but he swallows down whatever retort he has and nods instead. I let him help me cross the room until we are standing in front of the shifter.

“Wake up,” I shout, the words sounding far away, as I watch Kane unlock the shackles holding the shifter up.

He falls to the ground, the thud of his body against the stone waking him from unconsciousness and making him groan out in pain. “Go to hell,” he mumbles, his deep voice slurring the words.

“I would love to. It’s probably better than this, but we need to go.” I reach out to grab his arm and help Kane hoist him up, but I stop midway when I take in the state of his skin. “Fuck,” I whisper, studying the way his black tattoo is practically flayed off in places, some pieces hanging away from the muscle as new blood oozes from the wounds.

The shifter lifts his head, broad chin and strong brow defined in the single flame gem’s light. We stare at each other, recognition slow to dawn for us both. “Haloa?” I ask at the same time he says, “Bahira?” He was the first shifter Kai took me to see in Molsi. The one whose wife is stuck shifted as a snake. “How long have you been down here?” I ask, wrapping my arm around his waist and helping him up to stand while Kane takes his other side.

“I’m not sure. Days, at least. Perhaps longer. My daughter—” he rasps, stumbling a step that nearly takes us all down.

“We’ll get her,” I promise. “We need to get to the king.” I take one last glance around the dim chamber, just in case my spear is here. Finding only disappointment, Kane and I lead Haloa in the direction Tua left. Hidden in the dark is a rickety door that leads to a dank hallway encased in stone. Following that leads to a small staircase barely wide enough for the three of us to stay side by side.

Haloa recounts what he can remember of his abduction and subsequent torture as we climb, abuse perpetrated by Niko and a few other shifters that weren’t prominent enough for him to know their names. He had been ambushed while sleeping in his home, and though they treated him like a traitor, they asked no questions. Demanded nothing other than the pleasure they received by causing him pain. “I don’t know what they wanted. Or why I was targeted.”

Swallowing, I lean my weight against the slimy stone wall, grateful when Kane pulls Haloa towards him. “I think it’s because you talked with King Kai and me. About getting help. That you trusted us.” At Haloa’s confused expression, I launch into what I learned of Tua and his involvement with the rebels. I leave out the information pertaining to Kai’s father and the complicated insinuations Tua made regarding his mother and magic. I finish right as we finally clear the long set of steps, all of us huffing for breath. Light filters around the edges of a square wooden door in front of us. I look over at Kane as I ask, “Any chance you know where we are? Or where this door leads to?”

His lips form a grim line as he shakes his head. “Afraid not.”

“Well, let’s hope it doesn’t open into the rebels secret lair, or we’re totally fucked.”