Page 75 of Lore of the Tides

“I can feel the magic,” Syrelle intoned, breaking his silence. “I cannot see it, but Lore is correct, we are close.” His words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the powerful alchemist he was.

Lore whirled around, her eyes flashing with defiance. “I don’t need you to corroborate what I’ve already said. And do us a favor,” she spat, “don’t siphon the magic for yourself, Syrelle. Do you think you can handle that?”

A flicker of amusement danced in Syrelle’s eyes. “I hadn’t thought of it, but that’s a good idea.”

Lore’s voice was a hiss of venom. “Don’t even joke about that.”

“You started it!”

“I wasn’t joking.”

Syrelle uttered a low growl. “I know.”

Lore turned her back on him. She had been blindsided by him before, but she reminded herself that would never happen again. She was once again making her own decisions, withDeeping Luneback in her possession where it belonged. Syrelle, despite his power, could not take it from her again.

Goddess, the heat was relentless; Lore’s boots were beginning to stick to the rocks. Their very soles were melting.

Lore bit her lip before squaring her shoulders and addressing the others. She raised her voice, urging it to sound more confident than she felt. “Why don’t you all wait here while I venture on alone? It’s not much farther.”

“Please don’t argue with me when I tell you that I will be by your side.” Finndryl’s jaw was set.

“I won’t argue with you, Finn, but I will point out that something could go wrong—or very right. The power could be too much; what if I can’t control it right away, or at all? I believe thatDeeping Lunewon’t let anything hurt me, I have faith, but that doesn’t mean someone standing right beside me won’t get hurt.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

“I’m coming too,” said Syrelle.

“If you so much as take a step toward her, or the book, or even look like you are planning to siphon some of theSource, I’ll put this dagger through your heart.” Finndryl’s voice was cool as ice.

“I can’t just take magic like her; no other creature in the world can, so there’s no point in worrying about that.”

“The vile Nikoryxia can, so maybe you can too,” said Finndryl.

“Technically, the Nikoryxia don’t take magic, they eat it,” Prince Hazen remarked.

“Isn’t that what he does? He’s insatiable. There will never beenough power to appease him, he will always want more. No matter the cost,” Finndryl replied, his eyes trained on Syrelle.

Lore stepped in, her voice calm but firm. “It’s fine, Finn. He can come. I doubt he would let anything happen to me, because, I imagine, he still believes that I am his only hope of findingAuroradel.”

Syrelle wisely remained quiet. If he had tried to protest this, Lore would have just called him a liar, and it might have made her so mad that she would’ve had to expend more energy arguing with him until he stayed behind.

“Call if the Nikoryxia try to eat you. I don’t know what we can do from back here, but at least we can witness your sacrifice,” Cuan said from where they floated beside Jade.

“Cuan, you’re just the sweetest.”

“I try.” They grinned for a moment before their expression turned solemn. “Seriously, good luck. The Nikoryxia shouldn’t bother you over there. As you can see, they are keeping their distance. Just worry about funneling the magic without disturbing Great Hearth. If that happens... well, I think we all know what would become of us.”

“I crave a death by burning magma just as little as you. I’ll be careful.”

“I think what my grandmother’s favored aide is attempting to say, Lore Alemeyu, is that Mother Pearl’s radiance undeniably falls upon you. Your life, risked for strangers, for beings apart from your own, shines brighter than even our royal jewels. We, who witness your valor, stand in your debt.”

Prince Hazen was so eloquent. She could see why Queen Naia picked him out of all her grandchildren to be heir.

Hazen extended his arm to Lore, their hands meeting in a firm clasp. What could she say that would compare? Nothing as fine as his speech, nor as positive. She feared the sirens’ confidence in her was misplaced. That she would let them all down. That Finndrylwould be hurt. She opted for truth. “I will try my hardest to measure up to your kind words, Prince Hazen.”

“Lore, when this is over, I’ll be thanking you for more than saving my empire—you see, it’s not often that a prince has a chance for adventure, and if it weren’t my empire at stake, I would find this all quite thrilling.”

“I wish I shared your enthusiasm, Prince.” Lore returned the prince’s smile, though hers lacked his confidence and felt rather shaky. Right now, a quiet, uneventful life sounded superior to this one. She would give anything to trade her circumstances for another version of life, one where she and her loved ones were safe, one without a volcano and Nikoryxia, betrayals, and despicable kings.Adventurewas beginning to sound like a bad word. “Let’s discuss your adventure-seeking later, once this current one is accomplished.”