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“For now,” I replied. “I made a vow to my stepmother that I would return the pearl to its rightful owner.”

He snarled, “You made a vow to Seryu that you would give it to me.”

“That I would bring it to you,” I corrected. “Not give. The pearl isn’t yours.”

“A dragon pearl belongs to Ai’long.” Nazayun towered over me, gouging his claws into the ground. “I am Ai’long.”

“Why do you want it?” I asked. “I’ve seen what a true dragon pearl looks like. It’s pure and awe-inspiring, nothing like this one. This one is—”

“An abomination.”

“As you say,” I replied. “So why do you want it?”

“Unenlightened human, you truly know nothing!” the Dragon King bellowed. “The Wraith’s pearl is a broken thing. It craves destruction as much as it abhors it. On its own, it cannot find balance, so it relied on someone like your stepmother to moderate its power. But the Nameless Queen is dead, and the pearl is too broken to take a new host. Soon it will cleave completely. When that happens, it will release a force greater than anything you can imagine. Great enough to devastate your beloved Kiata.”

For once I believed him. “Unless it’s returned to the Wraith.”

“That is not an option,” Nazayun said. “It must be destroyed, and when it is, so too will the Wraith perish. Denounce your bond and give the pearl to me.”

I hesitated. The pearl floated above my palm, its broken halves parting ever so slightly along one edge. It looked deceptively fragile, like the petals of a lotus blossom. Yet I could feel what terrible power lay within.

Could Raikama have made a mistake in asking me to return it to the Wraith? Or was this one of Nazayun’s tricks?

Only for a moment, my conscience twisted with indecision. Then I closed my fists, and the pearl flew to my side. I trust Raikama.

“The pearl belongs to the dragon with the strength to make it whole once more,” I said. “That dragon is not you.”

Fury ignited the Dragon King’s white eyes. “So be it.”

Behind him, the sharks sped in my direction, jaws snapping. Visions of a gruesome end flashed in their glassy eyes. Me, filleted into a hundred bloody chunks that turned the water red. Kiki screamed in my ear, No, Shiori!

Kelp tightened around my waist and ankles, holding me immobile. Luckily, I’d been anticipating such a moment.

Never go to battle without knowing your opponent, my brother Benkai liked to say. Before I left for Ai’long, he’d imparted as much military wisdom as he could: He who can surprise his enemy is always at an advantage.

Here came my surprise: I slammed my hip against the pearl, striking it into the closest pillar. Its halves split from its base, opening like a clamshell, and a dazzling light poured forth.

The kelp recoiled. It loosened its grip on my limbs just long enough for me to whip out the starstroke net.

I threw it high and shouted, “Kiki!”

My paper bird darted out from her hiding place and caught the other side of the net. Together, we flung it over the Dragon King’s enormous chest, pulling it taut against his scales.

I’d used the net only once before, to free Raikama of the burden she carried. I’d never actually used it against a real dragon.

Its magic worked instantaneously, latching on to Nazayun’s scales and dulling their brilliant sapphire luster. He howled, and his head snapped back as the net dug into his chest, outlining the shape of his precious heart.

It was at least three times the size of the Wraith’s, silvery white and perfectly round, like a swollen moon. All I had to do was take it, and I would have complete power over him.

“Let go of me,” I commanded the kelp, and it loosened its grip on my ankles. The sharks too withheld their charge.

I retrieved my knife and stabbed it into Nazayun’s scales to hold the net down. The Dragon King roared in pain, but I felt no contrition. Splinters could hurt, after all.

“Where will I find the Wraith?” I demanded.

A laugh bubbled from Nazayun’s throat.

“Answer, or—”