Trent left us in the RV.

  On one hand, it would have been fun to see Trent threaten to give the harbor master swimming lessons. On the other, I felt like he would have held back with all of us there to watch.

  Nakten was just as bummed as Aelin about being stuck in the vehicle, so I decided that I’d entertain them by bringing them up to speed on Gar.

  “It’s a desolation, you know.” Nakten grinned from ear to ear. “That means you’re getting to start fresh with everything!”

  “I know.” I took a deep breath as I turned to Ether. “Trent thinks that we should offer positions to our classmates to run the various parts of the infrastructure.”

  “Aren’t they too young to handle something like that?” Aelin piped up from the driver’s seat. The blonde twirled her finger in one of her curls. “And how would they do that and go to the academy?”

  “It’s provisional.” Nakten gushed. “Basically what you do is you offer to let a classmate’s family come in and set things up with the understanding that once the classmate graduates, they take over as the one in charge of the company in Gar.” She got very still. “And you want me to set all of this up?’

  “You know the most about how to do it of any of us.” I looked around the RV. Justia was the only other one who had any training at all in how to run a company or talk to the nobility. And if I were being honest, Nakten had probably forgotten more than Justia had ever learned.

  “I still want to know who you’re talking to and everything is going to have to be approved by Trent, but yeah…” I swallowed. “Oh, there’s one other thing.”

  “You’re going to awaken me?” Nakten batted her eyes as a smile spread across her face.

  “Not right now.” I looked at Ether. “Trent is going to make Whisper the governor.”

  “That’s…” My wife nodded. “It makes sense. I mean, out of all of the high-level people that we know, at least we’ve fought side by side with him, so we know he’ll fight to the death for us.”

  “But that means Lyssa Beeki is going to be there too.” I let out the breath I’d been holding as I watched Nakten’s face for a reaction.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “You’re going to let one of the crazies in your city?” The Anubis shook her head. “No, Nope. Why?”

  “You know about her?” Ether tilted her head.

  “ALL of Kire’s kids are bloodthirsty murder fanatics!” Nakten threw up her hands. “You’re asking for her to get irritated and just murder all your Nobles in their sleep!” She shook her head. “Nope! I’m not putting in the effort to build up a city if you’re turning her loose in there.”

  “We’re not turning her loose.” I looked at Justia for some help. “Trent is confident Whisper can keep her in line.”

  “You don’t keep a Beeki in line.” Nakten tapped her finger on the table. “You turn them loose and hope the person you wanted dead is part of the collateral damage.”

  “Rix is a Beeki.” I folded my arms in front of me. “I’d trust her with my life.”

  “She’s a Sugaru and one of Kire’s kids.” Nakten grumbled. “It doesn’t matter how much you want to trust her or how many times she’s saved your cute butt.” She winked at me and the playful expression lasted for a moment before the irritated one returned. “Killing people like us is what drives her and one day you’re going to wake up with her sword sticking out of your throat.”

  “Rix isn’t like that!” Aelin jumped out of her seat.

  “You’re not one of us, so you don’t get it.” Nakten clicked her tongue. “There are things inside the godsired that drive us. My heart yearned for a city, but now that I’m part of this group, that yearning has changed to wanting him to get a Mantle of the Gods.” She pointed at me. “That urge is always going to be in the back of my mind and the pit of my stomach. Your friend is the same way, except the voice inside her is going to keep demanding blood.”

  “That’s—”

  “You said your urge changed once you became part of our seal?” I held up my hand to silence Aelin’s rant.

  “Yeah, so?” Nakten eyed me.

  “So wouldn’t Rix’s urge turn from hunting us to hunting our enemies?” I let a smirk tug up the corner of my lips.

  “Well…” The Anubis waffled her head. “Maybe.”

  “Then we have nothing to worry about.” I leaned back in my seat.

  “From your little hunter, maybe.” Nakten shook her head. “But good luck convincing Lyssa to join your seal.”

  “If Trent and Whisper think that they can trust Lyssa, then I’m going to trust her too.” I pointed at the front window. “Looks like Trent is done.”

  My father and Miel stormed over to the RV and climbed inside.

  “Let’s go.” Trent dropped onto the couch. “We’ve got a boat to catch.”

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