Chapter 5
Kai
Acold, wet nose nudged my foot, jerking me awake.
I hadn’t meant to fall asleep down here, but exhaustion pulled me under the moment I closed my eyes.
I’d barely slept the last few nights. A sense of something bad coming permeated my dreams, most of which involved the sea witch pinning me to the floor of the cave while she forced a potion down my throat.
The rational part of my brain knew the bitch was dead, killed by my vengeful mate, but the scared little boy locked inside me still feared her return.
I hated that my inner child wasn’t brave. A mer prince was supposed to be fearless, willing to lead his soldiers into battle at a moment’s notice.
Not afraid of the dark or happier reading books than sparring in the fighting caves.
I’d often wondered why my parents didn’t try for another child. One better suited to the life of a prince. My inability to live up to my mother’s impossible standards had proved a source of endless disappointment.
“Raven fed you before they left,” I told the pig, but it snorted and squealed in protest. “No, I’m not falling for that again.” Fig was highly manipulative. I strongly suspected the incubus had kidnapped it from someone who’d pampered the spoiled creature its entire life.
No pig I’d ever come across before expected to be hand fed and coddled like a baby. Was it any wonder the kitsune resented its presence?
I gently shoved the pig away with my foot. According to the clock, midnight was in less than an hour. My witch and her other mates would be back soon. At least I hoped so.
While the pig grunted unhappily, I yawned and dragged myself off the lumpy couch.
“You can have some carrots,” I told Fig with a sigh. Zane said the pig liked meat, but I refused to touch meat. If the pig didn’t like vegetables, it could wait for someone else to pander to its relentless demands.
Fig bumped my leg and trotted off toward the kitchen.
I moved to follow, but before I could take a step, a vision hit me, sending me tumbling to the floor as images cascaded through my mind.
A brightly lit room with white walls.
My mate strapped to a metal table.
The storm mage, trapped in ice.
The images came thick and fast.
Blood dripping.
An endless corridor of locked doors.
Screaming.
So much screaming and fear and pain.
The vision faded, leaving me gasping as black spots floated in front of my eyes. The pig reappeared a few minutes later, squealing angrily for food, but I didn’t have the strength to move.
Like all my visions, I had no way of telling when or even if what I’d seen would come to fruition.
Some premonitions did, but the time or place changed—like the vision about the cetus—whereas other future glimpses never happened, probably because the threads of fate continuously shifted depending on decisions made in the present.
Despite telling myself this vision might not happen, I tugged at the tether between me and my witch. I could usually sense her emotions when I reached out, but the bond remained deathly silent. Either she’d raised a shield or something had interfered with our connection.
Trying not to vomit up what little I’d eaten in the last few hours, I dragged myself to my feet and staggered into the kitchen. Perhaps a glass of water would revive me.
The pig grew more vocal in its demands, but I ignored it, too caught up in my fear for my witch’s well-being.
I should have joined them. Four mates were better than three when it came to protecting our witch.
The storm mage didn’t count. Yes, he’d gone with the group, but I didn’t trust him.
He’d repeatedly hurt and dismissed my witch, which told me all I needed to know about his character. Or lack thereof.
I stiffened my shoulders and thought fast. Time was of the essence, but how was I supposed to travel to Thornville at this late hour? It was past curfew and the campus remained in lockdown, plus I lacked teleportation magic.
As my sanity unraveled at an alarming rate, the kitsune blinked into view and leaped into my arms.
He sank his teeth into my arm, drawing blood and making me gasp at the jarring pain. The shock of the creature’s bite was enough to clear my head, but when I tried to extricate myself, he latched on even harder.
“Let go!”
The kitchen disappeared in a swirl of magic.