Page 153 of Daughter of the Dark Sea

It was true. Aryn may have lied abouta lotof things—too many things to currently process—but he’d always been there. He’d always saved her, and been an ear to listen to her problems. Even hismedical field trainingcame in handy a couple times.

Her gaze flickered to the Windward siblings lingering behind him. Aerion smiled at her sheepishly, his features aloof, with his unconscious sister clutched in his arms. Skylar was taller, more muscled than Aerion, but he cradled her as if she were as light as a feather.

Raiden stood apart from them, his fists clenching and unclenching. His gaze wholly fixed on Kora and the world melted away, leaving just her and Raiden in their little void. She was the single point in his life, the blue light revolving around his darkness, and it took her breath away.

A light tremble shook through her, pooling in her core. Raiden’s eyes dipped down, and then back up to her eyes, hislips twitching amusedly. Surelythatwas better than Talmon? Besides, they held the key to her past—to her family. She needed answers, and the truth. They could possess the power to unlock her memory.

“Okay,” she shakily exhaled.

“Okay,” Aryn smiled gently, his golden eyes beckoning her to follow as he turned back.

A hand reached out and grabbed Kora by the shoulder, digging into her freshly healed wound, and she yelled as she was ripped backwards, careening into a body reeking of petrichor and bittersoil.She writhed, confused by the change of scent, as Blake’s hands clamped around her arms, and Barron stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back.

“Raiden Windward,” Barron rolled his name off his tongue. “I’ve been waiting a long time for you to return.”

Raiden’s huge form advanced, positioning his siblings behind him. Aryn nocked an arrow, aiming at Blake, who laughed in return.

“Well, being trapped by magical Mist made it a little difficult. We tried to send postcards.” Raiden shrugged casually. It was a contrast to the barely contained fury on his face.

Trapped.

Kora’s fingers flexed, trying to summon the ocean beneath the ship. Blake tightened his grip, his arms snaking around her body, holding her flush against him. He squeezed until she gasped, the air forcibly pushed from her lungs.

“None of that.” He stroked down the side of her face to her metal collar.

Raiden growled, and an invisible hand whipped Blake, snapping his face to the side.

“Ah, now, now,” Barron unclasped his hands as Blake stumbled with Kora still firmly in his grip. “Let’s play nice, shall we? I do love reunions.”

“Unfortunately, we can’t stay. We’ll take some grog to go.” Raiden bared his teeth.

Aryn tightened his grip on his longbow, the bowstring so taut it shook. But it wasn’t just the longbow. The entire ship was shaking, and Kora teetered as the wooden deck vibrated, shuddering up her legs.

“You see, I can’t allow any of you to leave,” Barron darkly chuckled.

Aerion cursed, and Kora craned her neck, locating the source of the tremor behind them. A large Talmon Empire capital vessel flanked the ship, attached with several, wide gangplanks. Rows of soldiers marched upon the ship across them. An endless stream of bodies. They all donned the black-and-malachite heavy armour, and a stale, rotted stench permeated the air, making her eyes water. Their heavy, booted feet pounded across the decked wood, the ship vibrating with every uniformed step.

There were so many.Gods,they were doomed.

Raiden’s eyes flared, and he glanced around the ship.

“Your fleet has abandoned you,” Barron gestured to the empty oceans. “You’re tooweak.”

“Shit.” Aerion tightened his grip on Skylar, who moaned faintly in his arms. “Hecalled the fleet back. We need to go.”

Kora strained against Blake’s clutches. The Galenite fleet hadvanished. Not a single white sail peaked on the horizon. Who was Aerion referring to? Who had power to summon an entire fleet in minutes?

“I’m not leaving without her.” A blast of wind circled Raiden, the thick hair atop his head wafting. She couldseethe glimmer of his magic—a sparkling, iridescent silver, like diamonds, winding around him.

“She doesn’t know who you are,” Barron glanced at Kora with a wink, and that sickening cold crept over her. “Why not start afresh? Leave her with us, where she belongs.”

“Never.” Raiden’s blast of wind increased into a gale force, creating his own little cyclone on the ship. “She belongs in Galen.”

The words simultaneously made her want to scream with horror and jump with joy. It was so nauseating having two selves within her, scrambling to the surface for control.

“She doesn’t want you!” Blake spat. “Korachose for herself already.” He licked and kissed the side of her face and she wrenched her head away.No thank you.

The realisation dawned in Raiden’s crystalised eyes, and she wasn’t sure why it upset her so much—why itmatteredto Raiden thatshe and Blake used to be an item. He’d said he was nobody important. But now, the sheer pain and rawness in Raiden’s face at Blake staking his claim on her, was completely void shattering.