Page 148 of Daughter of the Dark Sea

He nodded. “That’s me.”

“I know you,” she stated simply.

“You do. What else do you remember?” Aerion was close enough that his scent washed over her. It was spicy, making her nose wrinkle—and it wasn’t the scent shewanted.

She moaned, her head pounding, her two selves clashing against each other as she rocked forward. Her scar felt as though it was trying to tear itself from her skin. The cacophony of battle roared around them.

“You’re not him,” she groaned, rubbing her head. She didn’t even know who she meant, but that lingering second self—her water beast—knew. It was clawing, crying,gaggingfor him.

“No, but I got all the beauty,” Aerion chuckled.

The pale-stone-armoured mercenaries closed in, and panic bubbled inside of her, cutting off her oxygen. She was trapped again. Another male had lured and trapped her. Kora’s breathing quickened, her heart hammering violently as the walls closed in around her.

“Get away!” she cried, crouching down as she clawed at her hair. She needed to escape, to get away—she needed tobreathe.

“Step back!” Aerion spread his arms out, and the mercenariesfloatedbackwards. Some charged into the ensuing battle, keeping soldiers at bay from them.

Kora swiped up with her sword, positioning it over Aerion’s heart. “Who are you.”

He glanced down at the sword amused. He had no weapons on his person, and he tapped the blade threatening his life with a bemused snort. “You’re not going to kill me.”

“Why shouldn’t I? Galenites are murderers.”

His dark eyes flashed. “That’s a lie.”

Something rippled around Aerion and she leapt back. She couldn’t see what it was, but she could feel it—a lingering thread,an invisible piston of power. He cricked his neck and rolled his shoulders, as if shaking off a nuisance.

“You need to come with us.” He shifted and the air tremored.Kora’s own power reacted, and the ship rocked violently in the ocean. Masses of soldiers flew over the sides of the ship, screaming as they plummeted to their deaths. But not a single Galenite mercenary fell. No, they were rooted to the deck, immovable.

Now, there were more Galenites than Talmon soldiers.

“No.” She raised her sword again, using it as a barrier of protection.

“You’re always so stubborn,” he shook his head fondly, a smile dancing on his lips.

“You don’t know me.” A rivulet of water jetted from the ocean, aiming for Aerion, but he deflected it with a simple dismissal of his hand.

“I know a lot about you actually. I know you can command the sea. I know it reacts to you like second nature. I know youlovedaggers—more than any normal person should. I know you prefer the winter, especially when it’s snowing. I know your favourite flowers are hydrangeas, and your favourite colour is blue.”

Kora staggered. Even Blake didn’t know these things. She was an innately private person.

“What . . . who . . .”

“Think,cildbah.”

Who was this male to her? Her mouth gaped like a fish, her mind splitting and fracturing as she chased a dream. No . . . amemory.

“Aerion!”

Skylar’s voice travelled on the winds, winding around them as if she were screaming next to them. They faced thequarterdeck, and Skylar tumbled down the stairs, her head bloody and her body limp.

Blake was right in front of them, breaking through the barrier of mercenaries. His face was bruised, and a thick slash tore the front of his leathers. But his sword . . . it was smeared with bright red blood, silver speckles glittering within it. Kora’s knees weakened, knocking together from trembling.

“Now, time for the next Windward sibling,” Blake sneered.

“You’ll die for touching Skylar,” Aerion spat.

“Anyone who touches what isminewill meet the same fate.”