Mal’s nostrils flared. “We didn’t know your boyfriend was kidnapping our boys to take them to the shadow court.”
Lochlan laid a hand on his arm, and Mal took a deep breath.
“Anyway,” Lochlan said. “We snuck onto the island, watched the pirate lord march the boys to the jungle, and we followed them. While we hid away in the trees, we felt this heavy presence looming over us, and that’s when we saw the shadows and put two and two together. The pirate lord had brought us to the shadow court. The pirates left, and we immediately gathered the boys, who were coming out of their trance, confused and scared.”
The image made my heart break. All the other boys Bastian had taken had a choice, a false one, but still a choice. They’d known what they were walking into. Ours hadn’t.
Lochlan shook his head. “We tried to leave, but the shadows swirled around us, darting down and attempting to snatch the boys. We couldn’t make it past the tree line.”
“They guard it,” I murmured.
Mal nodded. “We’ve spent months scouting out the island, trying to find some kind of break in that wall, but there is none. There’s no way out.”
“So how did your shadows get taken?” I asked.
Mal and Lochlan looked at each other as the sun came out again overhead, the shadows hissing and darting back toward the cover of the jungle.
“They descended upon us in a swarm,” Mal said gravely. “These figures with translucent, ragged wings, dust shaking from them each time their wings flapped. The dust made us all fall into a deep sleep.”
The pixies.
“When we awoke, our shadows were gone, our water magic gone, and we knew we were trapped. We’ve been trying to figure out a way off this damn island ever since.”
“Have you ever seen him?” I asked.
“The shadow king?” Lochlan said. “No. But we’ve learned about him from the pixies. They work with him, have an alliance of sorts.”
Bastian had already told me as much.
“Can I see them?” I asked. “Our boys? How are they? Are they terrified?”
I was sure they missed their home, their families. Thank the spirits my brothers had been here to watch over them.
Mal and Lochlan exchanged glances again, some kind of secret conversation passing between them.
“What?” I asked. “What is it?”
Mal stood. “It’s better that we show you.”
“We have to get Bastian and his crew,” I said.
Mal’s shoulders tensed.
“They’re on our side, Mal.”
“Why not?” Lochlan asked. “I already gave the pirate lord a good welcome. If he makes us mad, I’ll just push him off one of the many cliffs on the island,” he said cheerfully, but Mal didn’t laugh.
“Loch,” I said, a warning in my voice. “Be nice. Just get to know him. You might actually get along.”
“Lochlan gets along with everyone.” Mal brushed past me and marched into the jungle. “The real test will be if he can get along with me.”
“Good luck with that,” Lochlan whispered into my ear, a grin on his face.
The scoundrel was enjoying this far too much.
I sighed and followed them away from the waterfall. This was certainly going to be interesting.
Chapter Forty-Nine
