Page 123 of Shifter King

"Woo her after you're married." Zorna rolled her eyes. "Is that so hard? She does not see the sun again until she does as required. This is what is required. She can wait a little longer."

He ducked his head down. "What of the isolation then?"

"Fine. That I will allow. Ruth, as you have done so well, I offer you also the opportunity for honor at the wedding. Not only will you walk her down the aisle, you will sit at the table below for the meal. And I will choose someone for you to please. Someone important from another tribe. Be certain to wear the full perfume."

Certainly a custom he didn't appreciate, but he forced a smile. "You do me too much honor. I've never been to a wedding such as this."

"It will be the grandest and most memorable of any," Zorna said.

It certainly would be one of the most memorable. WroOth lifted his finger. "Your Majesty, before I return to my dear sister and assist with her recovery, might I beg one more small favor?"

"Another? You are lucky I like you, girl."

"Might I kiss your hand?"

"Very well. I will grant you that favor as well."

"You are too kind." He climbed the stairs and knelt as she extended her hand with the two rings. He kissed it quickly and then ducked his head, placing his hand on the throne's front right leg.

That little bit of venom still burning in his body made this a little more difficult, but it was worth it. Invisible tentacles were such an old trick. Simple but effective. These weren't quite as invisible as he might have liked though. One had a thin touch of grey to its side. Sometimes they caught the light and glistened. But no one was looking at the floor.

Delicately, he stepped back, forming the tentacle as he descended. Crespa, that venom stung. It was turning a little greyer. But—there. He stepped to the side, moving gracefully toward the door. Zorna continued to speak to the next person, a woman robed in dark blue with crabs and fish tattooed on her cheeks. Something about the perfumes being brought in.

Had he been more patient and not been so determined to get back to Amelia, he might have waited until she or someone else said something that would have made this all the more delightful. But he was pressed for time. So he snapped the invisible tentacle taut.

The throne lurched to the side with a creaking groan.

Zorna's eyes bulged as she grabbed at the arms. Then she toppled off the dais, throne and all. For one wondrous moment, her blue shoes kicked wildly as she screamed and cursed. Servants and guards rushed forward.

Chuckling to himself, he dissolved the tentacle and slipped out.

Oh, that was satisfying. Now he just had to see about getting Amelia sober. Unfortunately, tentacles and voice tricks weren't likely to help there.

THE STEEL TOWER

They wouldn't stop torturing her. Wouldn't let him see her.

Naatos flung himself against the wall. His shoulder throbbed with a dull pain that didn't full reach him. It was going to hurt a lot more by the time he got out of here.

Again he struck the wall. Again. And again. His body bloodied, broke, then healed. The metal warped.

Again. Again. Again.

His arms and legs burned from the numerous injuries and rapid healings. His chest exploded with rage. She wasn't here. Her absence burned through him.

The door broke open like an eggshell. He slammed through it, the raw metal slicing into his skin.

Still the pounding in his head continued. Beating like violent drums. Telling him the truth in her absence.

He staggered out.

He could find her. Of course he could.

Maybe he couldn't smell her yet. But there was a bond between them. It was a whole thing with being Neyeb. That had to count for something.

He charged down the hall and to the ladder. The bunker door had been shut. At first it resisted. Then he jammed his shoulder into it, and it sprang free, clattering into stones.

Brilliant sunlight, hot and golden, poured down on him. It beat on the back of his skull, heating his hair and surging into his veins.