Plague Arcanist (Frith Chronicles Book 4) by Shami Stovall

Author:Shami Stovall [Stovall, Shami]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Capital Station Books
Published: 2020-05-25T22:00:00+00:00

28

Riddles And Traps

Vethica entered the next room—another cave chamber secured with a heavy door. The rest of us waited outside, hoping she’d be successful. I paced the hall, restless and anxious to finally meet one of these khepera.

“It’s a riddle,” Adelgis muttered. “Vethica is having a difficult time answering.”

Fain sighed. “Ironic that she’s the one wasting our time now.”

Vethica had been in the room for close to ten minutes. How complicated was the riddle? Then again, I had never been that great with puzzles, and if Vethica was under pressure to succeed, the stress might have stripped away some of her problem-solving skills.

“She’ll be fine,” Karna said. She leaned against one of the rough walls and then grimaced. After moving away, she rubbed at her lower back. “We just need patience.”

“Nice outfit, by the way,” Fain said, his gaze moving up from her high boots to her tight breeches-like trousers, until finally lingering on the simple bandage wrap over her chest.

Karna flashed him a smirk. “You like it? This is what I wear when I don’t know what forms I’ll have to take.”

He tilted his head. “Whaddya mean?”

Without warning, Karna shimmered and shifted, her doppelgänger magic taking full effect over the entirety of her body. Her hair grew shorter and darker, her body slightly taller, her fingers and the tips of her ears frostbitten…

In a matter of moments, she appeared to be Fain—though Karna kept her original outfit. All pieces of her clothing seemed to accommodate the slight change in size, each capable of stretching. That explained why she had opted not to wear a belt.

Fain looked away, his shoulders stiff. “You can change back. I understand now.”

“What’s wrong?” Karna-Fain asked, his voice a perfect match to Fain’s. “You don’t like your own look?” He ran his hand down his sides and then across his stomach, feeling every indent of muscle.

It seemed odd to watch Fain sensually caress himself, but also amusing in a surreal is this really happening kind of way. Karna had a distinct way of moving that made everything sexual. Did she do it intentionally? Or was this how she always conducted herself, even when alone?

“You’re wiry,” Karna-Fain said as he felt his own thighs. “I like that in a man.”

Fain gritted his teeth and remained silent.

“Or perhaps you’re worried I’ll examine every inch of you and then report back to all the ladies on the airship?” Karna-Fain ran a hand down the front of his trousers.

“Karna,” I growled, my face hot.

Fain half-laughed and offered a smirk. “I’m not worried about that. I just didn’t realize… how much I look like my brother. He died a while back, and I’d rather not have the reminder. Satisfied? Will you change back now?”

After a moment of reflection, Karna dropped her magic and returned to her previous form—an athletic dancing girl with long, blonde hair. After shrinking somewhat in size, she had to readjust the wraps around her chest, tightening them back into position.

“You’re sentimental, for a pirate,” she said, disappointment in her tone.

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