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CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

TZAIN

M AE’E’S VIDEIRA HURTLES THROUGH the thrashing seas. I brace myself as we sail. The future hierophant does the work of at least two of her weavers. Her muscles strain as she commands the wild vines.

A ribbon of light cascades across the stars. They glimmer above our heads as we sail under the crescent moon. I stare up at each twinkling dot, fighting to stay calm.

I know Mae’e carries us as fast as she can, but every second that passes fills me with dread. King Baldyr lies ahead.

I have to reach Zélie before he does.

“Are you sure it’s this way?” Inan shouts over the roar of the whipping winds.

“Our vines have a signature,” Mae’e calls back. “It’s like a heartbeat in my ears. The videiras they sailed are near.”

I’m coming , I think to Zélie’s spirit. I pray she can feel me, even this far away. All the emotions I felt on the Skulls’ ship rush forward again. I can’t believe how close she is to falling back into their hands.

I grip the hilt of my axe. Holding it now, I can’t help but think of how the Laminas fight. All their strength comes from within, from their sparring prowess to the very weapons they pull from their skin.

I still hate the way the Skull’s axe feels in my hand. I know all it will take is my blood for the weapon to reawaken the monster I became on that ship. Yet I don’t know what choice I have.

To save my sister, I have to do whatever it takes.

“We’re here.” Mae’e lets her hands rest. The whipping vines of the videira fall into the sea as we drift before an island chain.

Eight Skull ships float in dark waters. The monster in my heart exhales again. For the first time I see the power of King Baldyr’s ship. I think of what it would take to cut straight through him.

Away from the beach, torches march through the dark woods like fire ants. They disappear under the roof of a cave.

“There.” I point them out to Mae’e. “Bring us in.”

Though sweat plasters Mae’e’s robes to her brown skin, she pushes herself forward. With a lift of her slender hands, the vines of the videira twist through the waters, dragging our vessel to the shore.

I jump from the boat, bare feet landing in the cold sand.

“Where are you going?” Inan calls.

I look back to the roof of the cave. “Following a hunch. I think Zélie’s there.”

“I’m coming with you!” Amari tries to rise, but Inan stops her from leaving the floating boat.

“King Baldyr is close.” Inan shakes his head. “We can’t afford to leave Mae’e alone.”

Though Mae’e’s chest heaves from the long journey, the future hierophant narrows her diamond gaze.

“ I brought you here,” she starts. “I can protect myself—”

“He’s right,” Amari interrupts. “We can’t risk you getting caught. Besides, you need to rest.” Amari raises the back of her palm to Mae’e’s forehead. Something unspoken passes between them.

I turn back to the forest as Inan disembarks, attempting to ignore the fracture that travels through my heart.

“Stay off the coast,” Inan says. “If all goes well, we’ll meet back here.”

With that, Inan and I take off. The two of us walk in silence, traversing the deserted beach. Clouds cover the thin rays of moonlight above. Wicked trees reach up to the stars.

As our feet crunch through the sand, I think back—I don’t know if the two of us have ever been alone. I always thought if I got him this close, I’d wring my fingers around his neck.

Baba’s blood is still on his hands.

From the way Inan glances at me, he seems to feel what’s inside. I don’t know if it’s from his magic or if he can read the hard look in my eyes.

“I made your sister a promise.” He breaks our silence. “Back when we were stranded in the Skulls’ hold. I swore she’d get back to Or?sha. I want to promise you the same.”

I glance at the former king. “You think that makes up for what we’ve lost?”

“I know I can’t make up for my mistakes,” Inan sighs. “I can’t ever make things right. But fighting the Skulls has brought the people together. The Or?sha you’ll return to might be better than the one you left.”

Inan extends me his hand, and I hesitate to shake. All those moons as my enemy, only to end up as my ally? But between the Skulls and the Laminas, I know I don’t have a choice.

He’s one of the people who will protect Zélie with his life—

“Get down!” Inan hisses. He pushes me into the sand. We wait, perfectly still, as a group of Skulls exits the cave. When they pass, Inan eyes the trail their torchlights walk. It looks like it leads all the way back to the shores where their boats are docked.

We rise back to our feet, but Inan doesn’t continue toward the cave.

“Where are you going?” I ask as he follows after the Skulls.

“To stop King Baldyr’s ship!”