“Three minutes,” Glenda said, her voice echoing across the crowd.
My head spun to the entrance, relief coursing through me as two of my guards dashed into the room. They held a medium-sized backpack, the sort which strapped across my waist and chest, and would be secure when I ran.
“We gathered just a few energy bars, water, and some other first aid supplies,” Monica said. “Weapons include two guns, two blades, and a few other smaller pieces. The pack should not be too heavy for a full day of movement.”
I nodded my thanks, taking only a second to zip the compartment open and assure myself of the inventory. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust my people, I mostly did, but as an heir I could never be too careful.
Once I slipped the pack on, Calista helped me tighten it across my chest, and then it was time to move out. I knelt quickly to hug Finn. He would remain behind; there were to be no familiars on this journey.
Stay safe. I will come if you need me, no matter what the rules say. He nuzzled into me, his giant form blocking out all those around me. If anyone hurts you, I will kill them.
I got your back too, friend. Stay safe while I’m gone, I told him.
One last hug and then I had to leave him. It was kind of painful to know he couldn’t actually be with me for this task. I’d bet Selene was struggling even more. She was never away from Larak. The two of us followed Glenda and Torine from the royal mansion. The other heir also wore a backpack, although hers was larger and quite a bit bulkier, which probably meant she had a ton more weapons and supplies than me, but she’d also tire faster and be hindered more in pursuit situations. It was hard to know what was right, because at the moment we didn’t know what the item was. Or where on the Island it might be located. The council was sure to make it difficult, but how difficult was the question.
The streets of Manhattan were busy, humans scurrying about without a single clue of the trials going on in the shifter world, a world that existed beside their own. We had to pass by the industrial building that magically hid our mecca, and as the energy closed around me my pulse elevated and my eyes closed. The mecca was so strong, calling to me, and I wanted nothing more than to step into its energy.
“Are you okay, Arianna?”
This was the first time Glenda had acknowledged me in a familiar way since the beginning of the Summit. It wasn’t good form to show any sort of favoritism toward one of the heirs. No council member should show preference.
“Yes, just … the mecca feels quite strong. I thought the queen’s death would weaken our power until the balance was restored.”
Glenda and Torine exchanged a single glance, one which was filled with creased eyes and furrowed brows, but then both of their expressions wiped clear as if they were completely unconcerned.
“It’ll all be back to normal once the new queen is crowned,” Torine said, trying to act all fatherly as he patted mine and Selene’s arms. “The power is searching for the link to it and our people.”
Yeah, we were totally getting the “all is well” speech, and even Selene seemed to know it. The council should be filling us in on whatever was going on, it was going to be one of our problems very soon. But no. As always they liked to keep information within their little group.
I managed to push thoughts of the mecca aside as we strode further from it. The energy seemed to have attached itself to me, but eventually the tingly sensation died off and I forced myself to focus on the task. I had to find the hidden item on the Island because I was determined to go into the final battle with every advantage.
We reached the second royal garage – the main one was within the queen’s residence – but none of her vehicles could be used during the Summit; they were all being investigated. In fact, all of them would be replaced before the next queen took power, like a clean slate. A driver was already standing beside a limo and I recognized him as a member of the royal guard.
Selene and I paused, waiting for final instructions from the two council members.
“Here are the details of your task,” Glenda said, handing a rolled scroll to me, and then one to Selene. “Do not open it until you arrive on the Island. The task officially begins when you step foot onto land. Once you are there, none of us will be keeping track of you. This is a race to be the first back with the item. That person is the winner for this task, no matter what happens during your time on the Island, so take care. Avoid humans as much as possible, because they do populate the area. Good luck.”
Great, so if we were ambushed by bears or some other enemy, no one would know.
Here’s hoping the council had a bunch of “of age” heirs secretly stashed away, because they were down to two here, and who knows if either of us would survive the next few days.
Nothing more was said as we entered the vehicle, Selene and I choosing to sit at opposite ends, both of us staring out the window. It would take us a bit of time to make it through the traffic of New York and reach the Hudson River, where the private docks were. This was where the royal ferries were moored. Plenty of time to think and wonder what I was going to find when I opened the scroll clutched in my right hand. What impossible task had the council set for us?
Chapter Six
A bear load of trouble.
The boat trip took a long time, but eventually it arrived at the Island, dropping us right onto the beach. Selene took off in a flash, and I knew she was hoping to get away from me so she could read the task and formulate a plan without me following. Like I would follow her anyway – I preferred to think for myself. As the sand squished under my boots, I took a second to inhale the salty air. This place was beautiful, an oasis of sand, salt and sun. I could see no one around me, and felt safe to unroll the scroll. Holding it between both hands, I quickly ran my eyes over the slanted writing across it.