“Your majesty, for both of our sakes, just shut up,” Master Niallan responded. His tone was dull and dead to the world. “I’m trying really hard right now not to slit your throat out of vengeance.”
My brows lifted. “Well, that would be a shame. We’ve just become friends, too. I’ll endeavor to not die by your hand today—though I can’t promise to be quiet. I was recently told that I talk too much.” Adelie had never mentioned that. She must have liked our conversations.
He kept on walking. Silent.
My boots were covered in dust once we stopped at the edge of a forest. I peered up at the druid, probing, “Are we here or something?”
Master Niallan sighed heavily and rubbed at his eyes. “No. I need to use the Original druid amulet to get us there. We wouldn’t make it back here within twelve hours otherwise.”
“Okay.” I hid my excitement by yawning and waving at the trees in front of us. “Should I wait here for you to go get it? Because I don’t think I’m supposed to let you out of my sight for this Challenge.”
He shook his head and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I’m waiting for it. Just shut up, please.”
I shrugged and sat down, resting with my back against a thick tree. My swords dug into my back, but I relaxed nonetheless. I dug the toe of my foot into the dirt and scrutinized the forest before us. I mumbled reluctantly, “It’s really pretty here.”
Master Niallan sighed again. “Be. Quiet.”
His hands were now palms down at his sides. And he stared at his feet—or, actually, the ground.
My head cocked. “Wait. Are you—”
“Yes, so shut your trap. I’m concentrating.”
Anticipation bubbled up inside my chest.
I yawned again behind a fist.
Five minutes later, the ground directly in front of him cracked open the smallest bit. The dark brown dirt lifted and mounded. The scent of pine tickled my nose as the druid ruler bent at the knees and dug through the soft dirt.
He turned his right hand over.
In his palm was a golden jewel the size of a baseball.
The Original druid amulet.
I blinked. “The vampire one is lovelier.”
Master Niallan’s brows rose…and his lips actually curved into a small smile. “They look exactly the same, except for the color.”
I shrugged. “I like red jewelry better.”
“You would, bloodsucker.” He brushed off the dirt with care.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, Master Niallan, but you’re also a bloodsucker now.”
His shoulders shuddered in revulsion. “I need no reminder of that.” He rose to his full height and wrapped the attached red chain around the golden amulet. He jerked his head at me. “Get up. Time to go.”
I stood to my feet and brushed off the back of my black pants. I watched as he lifted the amulet into the air and started drawing a large circle in the clear space. Gold sparkles followed the path as he whispered words under his breath—what had to be the ancient druid language since I didn’t understand it at all.
Power slammed into my skull. I wobbled.
Master Niallan grabbed my right hand while he continued to work. My head instantly cleared. I steadied on my feet as a rush of cooling druid power cascaded over me.
I would be on my ass right now if he hadn’t protected me from the spell he was weaving, using the energy of the most powerful druid artifact on earth to work his magic. I kept my hand in his and didn’t hesitate to step through the completed and outlined circle with him when he moved forward.
Our feet landed on black, flaky rocks.
My head swung in every direction.
I stared at the shoreline we suddenly stood on. Gentle waves crashed and flowed over the black rocks, almost reaching our feet before the water retreated backward. I muttered, “Um, where are we?”
“Where the Three live,” Master Niallan answered elusively.
“Very helpful,” I grumbled.
The druid ruler released my hand and pocketed the Original druid amulet. His palms landed on my shoulders, and he turned me away from the ocean to face inland. A small, white wooden house was perched directly on the sand before us—literally on the sand—and a white-picket fence surrounded it, the wooden slats stuck down into the sand.
I stared. “They must have one hell of a flooding problem. I hope they have insurance.”
“The water doesn’t breach the fence, your majesty.” Master Niallan shoved me forward, none too gently. “Move. I hate this place. I don’t want to be here any longer than we have to be.”
We walked forward in the quiet. I noticed something I hadn’t before. There was no noise—absolutely none. The ocean behind us was silent. Our footsteps didn’t make a sound. No birds called in the distance.
I shivered as we passed through the gate of the fence. There was no creak when we latched it behind us. “I understand what you mean.”
Master Niallan rubbed at his eyes again. Quiet.
The druid knocked on the front door.
His knuckles on the wood were soundless.
But he knocked again when no one answered.
The door opened—just an inch. A brown eye peeked through the crack. The woman asked, “What do you want, Master Niallan?”
His lush lips thinned. “Queen Gwynnore and I would like to come in. I have a favor to ask.”
The brown eye widened. “Are you positive?”
“Yes.”
The door flung open in a hurry.
The druid with the pretty brown eyes smiled—it was wicked as hell. “Well, come on in!”
Master Niallan and I stepped inside.
She slammed the door behind us. Shutting us in.
The druid woman waved her hand to her right. “Take a seat. I’ll gather up my sisters and make us some tea.”
The druid ruler and I strolled into a living room straight out of a beach house magazine. The blue and white color scheme turned my stomach, but I sat on the love seat with anchor designs. Master Niallan sat next to me and kicked his feet up on the white, wood planked coffee table.
I cleared my throat and glanced at each piece of god-awful decoration. I mumbled softly, “Do they surf? Or just eat the surfers and steal their surfboards to decorate their home?” There were at least twenty boards hanging on the walls.
Master Niallan coughed hard. He threw a glance in my direction, also speaking quietly, “Behave while we’re here. You won’t like their bad side.”
I didn’t doubt that.
I placed my hands on my lap and crossed my ankles. I would behave and not jeopardize his Challenge. That was the right choice. I stayed silent—in the fucking silence—and waited.
The brown-eyed druid and her two sisters eventually bustled into their living room. All were dressed now as if they were headed for a ball, their gowns ancient but dazzling even so. The druid who answered the door stared at Master Niallan’s feet on their coffee table while she stood next to it with tea set in her hands.
He snorted and dropped his feet to the ground.
She bent over and blew out a hard breath, blowing the dirt he’d left there off the pristine wood. The druid woman set the tea there and served us each a steaming beverage in perfect china.
I pretended to sip it. I wasn’t drinking anything from these insane bitches. I’d have to pour it over the back of the loveseat when they weren’t watching.
The Three took their individual seats across from us, fluffing out their gowns around their legs for a flawless appearance. They finally looked up at us—five minutes later—once they were settled.
The brown-eyed beauty asked bluntly, “What is your question, Master Niallan?” Her gaze flicked to me. “Unless you’d like to ask the question, Queen Gwynnore?”
I took another fake sip of my tea. With extreme politeness, I said, “No, thank you. It’s Master Niallan’s favor to ask of you.” I wouldn’t ask one single question while I was here.
Disappointment flashed over her features, but she turned her attention to the man next to me. “Ask your question.” She elevated a pointed finger into the air. “But know that you will owe us one favor. This time, we’ll take it in the form of a question after we answer yours.”
Master Niallan was just as blunt. “How do we stop the coming war or, at least, find peace within it?”
Their heads snapped back as if on puppet strings.