Page 125 of Daughter of the Dark Sea

Kora flailed within the guard’s grip, her vision tunnelling, her hands scratching violently at the armour until her fingernails bled. Erick charged, his hand poised on his golden sword, his face a mask of such pure terror that she wept, drowning in her tears.

“Belay, soldier,” Barron commanded.

Air flooded her lungs as she collapsed on the ground, Erick’s arms sweeping to cradle her as she muffled her cries into his chest. She was never more grateful for his cape than in that instant, as he shielded her from the scarily silent crowd of noble spectators who were brave enough to remain.

Blake remained impassive. A walking phantom, and she frowned as Bree shook her head, shuffling so close to him she was practically in his lap, disgust dripping from her judgemental stare.

“Let that be a lesson to those who are not loyal to theTalmonEmpire,” Barron bellowed. “The time is now for us to defeatallof our enemies. It’s time for a new world.”

She shivered in Erick’s arms as he rubbed her back. Her shattered dagger laid at her feet, and Barron approached, pausing before them. His boots prodded the jagged pieces of silvered steel.

“I hope your protegee understands what’s at stake here, Cadell.” Kora looked up at Barron, his eyes tracking the tears on her cheeks, and the corner of his mouth quirked. “She may be the turning tide in this war.”

“They’re gone.”

Kora peered around Erick’s cape. The indoor amphitheatre had emptied out of its viceroys and noble spectators, leaving them huddled on the stone floor. She’d been too ashamed—too terrified to move. Images of Callan still burned the back of her eyelids.

That, and the shock that Theron was a prince. She had been escorting aprinceacross the desert. She’d been joking around and drinking with a prince.

A prince Erick knew.

She tore from his comforting, warm embrace.

“Kora,” he sighed as he stood beside her. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”

She chewed the inside of her cheek, flesh turning sore as she collected the pieces of her dagger.

“We can get you a new one.”

“I want this one.” Her back felt strangely unbalanced with one dagger sheathed. A part of her was missing, an extension of herself had vanished, leaving her disorientated. Along with the talisman, the two had become a parallel force, keeping her upright. Power blooming from her front, and steel protecting her back. “Did you know?”

Her throat burned, and she was sure she’d sport a fresh bruise around her neck soon—a reminder Barron was all too happy to bestow on her. Thathewas king in these lands. Sheneeded to stop landing at the mercy of males wrapped around her throat.

Erick stilled. “Know what?”

“About Theron—Eli.”

He shook his head silently.

“What about Barron?”

“No. I’m surprised as much as you are. I knew he recently became a viceroy, but I didn’t realise . . . the extent.”

“Surprised?” She turned to face him, clutching the pieces of her broken dagger in her hands. Her blood dripped on the floor.

“Yes, surprised. I’m not privy to a viceroy’s plans, Kora. Barron may be . . . an old friend, but he’s still my leader. Areyounot surprised?” Erick frowned at her hands.

“No,” she trembled. “I am fuckingfurious.”

“Kora,” he inhaled sharply, reaching for her hands. “We have to—”

“Wedon’t have to do anything. I’m so sick of this—of everything! The lies . . . the . . .” She couldn’t talk aboutthatwith him just yet. That he had a friendship with the sentinel he’d ordered them to escort, and they both had connections to their supposed enemies.

“We came here to fight a war against bloodthirsty Galenites. Butnow, we’re fighting a war againsteveryone.” Witches. Skytors. Pirates. Marshans.“Lead by an egotistical male. Ifweare againsteveryone—then are we truly fighting for justice? For freedom for our empire?” Erick flinched. “And if we try to push back, it’s clear he’s ready to kill anyone who gets in his way.” Kora threw her hands up, and the shards of her dagger rained around them. Erick winced as one caught his shoulder, but she didn’t even blink, her chest heaving with fury.

“He’s asking too much of us. This will kill us.”

“Kora . . . if we don’t do this, we may lose everything. Our home . . . ourfamily,” his voice cracked on the last word. “This iswhat war is about. Making the hard decisions. When you become admiral, you will have to do the same.”