Page 128 of Shifter King

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AaQar droppedto the ground as Naatos disappeared into the forest. He returned to his state of rest, despair striking him. They were practically out of time, and Naatos had not wearied at all.

QueQoa flew in behind him. He landed on the ground, still in his square-headed copper dragon form. His tail caught on two young saplings and whipped them back. A deep scowl creased his forehead. "But he could—"

"We can't catch him in time and get to the wedding." AaQar closed his eyes. "Whatever he does now, he does. We have to go get Amelia. WroOth can't do this on his own. And if we get Amelia back, it's possible her scent will be enough to draw Naatos back. Though—" Elonumato help them. In this state, Naatos might kill her accidentally.

"Though what?" QueQoa released the dragon form. He spread his arms wide as he reached his state of rest. "He's headed into the wilderness. In a few hours, he'll be beyond our reach. He's got to be weakening. He'll be easy prey once that hits."

"He already is beyond our reach, QueQoa." AaQar rubbed the bridge of his nose as he tried to sort through the plan. "But we have to do this without him."

Phobos trotted up, still in his golden fox form. He struggled to shed it and stumbled a few steps before springing in front of him. "That was—that was ridiculous," he said, putting his hands on the top of his head. "He wiped out that whole pit."

"Get on to your cadre, Phobos," AaQar said.

"If he can't be there to help you, do you have enough to get your sister out?" Phobos asked.

"It isn't your problem," QueQoa responded sternly. "We'll get her."

Phobos folded his arms. "This wedding. Is it going to take place aboveground?"

"Yes," AaQar said, sighing. He gestured back in the general direction of the bunker. "But we have to go now."

Phobos pointed at QueQoa as they both started to stride away. "You know, you made my sister mad the other day, but it did make us think. You're right. Compared to you, we are kids. There's a lot of learning ahead of us. But we're volunteering. We're doing this because we want to. Nobody owes anyone anything. No one's gonna claim that. All right? And none of us can do anything like your brother. But maybe we can cause a little chaos of our own."

QueQoa gave him a surprised look, his brow quirking up.

Rubbing the back of his neck, AaQar nodded. "All right. You can come with us. I'll tell you the plan as we prepare."

BRIDE

WroOth tried everything he could to bring Amelia back to a sober state or at least close to consciousness. Even after working with her for hours, she didn’t seem to have improved beyond not obviously hallucinating or cutting herself with her fingernails. It had been several hours since the last screaming fit as well.

So progress. Of a sort.

Just not enough.

They had to come up with something and quickly. He struck her cheeks lightly. "Amelia, come on. Dear heart, wake up. You really, really need to find your way back now. All right? Come on."

A knock sounded, then the door opened.

He rolled his eyes. He'd sent Gabrice to make one last attempt at convincing Zorna that Amelia did not have to speak at the wedding. But that didn't mean he could just barge in. "What did you find out?"

"She won't budge." Gabrice let the door slip shut and then strode in, hands on his ornamented belt with the eagle clasp. "It's hopeless talking to her. We're going to have better luck getting Amelia sober."

"Are we? You know what to do then?" WroOth glared at him. This nightmare wouldn't be over soon enough.

"Sure. I've got lots of options. Howler ash. Featherstone. Minnow scales."

"You want to drug her?" WroOth demanded.

Gabrice flung his hand in her direction, annoyance in his voice. "What else are we to do? You aren't really that smart, are you? All you have is criticism, you pathetic little girl. Do you understand how dangerous this is? If you fail here, my mother will do worse to you than what I threatened."

Amelia stared at him, her eyes bloodshot and her expression blank. Then she leaned forward and bit him in the web between his thumb and forefinger.

Gabrice's eyes bulged as he screamed, jerking back. Amelia went limp and just hung there, neither resisting nor fighting. Just hanging with her teeth clamped into his hand and the same blank expression on her face.

Gabrice lifted his hand to strike her. Seizing him by the arm, WroOth glared at him. "You do not strike her ever again."