Page 127

O n the shoreline, above the dark cliffs touched by a bleeding sunrise, a cold, salty wind chapped Vahly’s face.

She stepped closer to Kyril and Arc as she pointed the oaken sword at the stone cage that held Astraea.

The rocks groaned and growled as they reshaped themselves over and over again, bringing the cage across the stretch of sea between Sugarrabota and the wide ocean.

Gripping the sword with a sweaty hand, Vahly walked toward the stone cage that now sat at the edge of the cliffs.

Astraea kept that film of water over her, most likely to continue breathing and to be able to speak more easily.

“Are they bringing Larisa here now? Where is she?” Vahly demanded.

Astraea’s eyes blinked slowly, and her gaze traveled the length of Vahly’s body like she was searching for weaknesses. Vahly raised her chin and did her best to pretend she wasn’t nervous.

Before the Sea Queen could respond, a voice echoed from the crashing waves below. Nix flew high and peered down.

It’s the female singer. They’ve brought her, Nix said.

Vahly joined Nix, walking in the shadow she cast through the morning sun.

Vahly raised the sword and brought the singer, Larisa, from the water inside a cupped hand of rock.

Water spilled between the stone fingers, only a small portion of liquid remaining to coat Larisa.

Amona kept back, flying high because the spelled salt water was still the biggest risk in the dragons’ interactions with the sea folk.

With both Larisa and Astraea in front of Vahly and the others, the dark game of strategy began.

Vahly locked eyes with Larisa. The female was slender with large, lovely green eyes and more pronounced fins on her fingers and arms than Astraea or Ryton had. She was pretty but definitely more…fishy. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if Queen Astraea refuses to give us her blood.”

Larisa’s gaze flew to Astraea. “Give me your orders, my queen.” Her young voice was mellow and songlike even in regular speech, even in the strange sounds of the sea folk’s version of the dragon language.

The Sea Queen kept her focus on Vahly, which Vahly found disturbing. “Withstand whatever they decide to do,” Astraea said, showing no emotion at all. “Don’t be weak. You are of my court, and I will not see you cower.”

All Vahly had seen of Astraea was her wild, mad side. She didn’t like this version of the Sea Queen with her quiet voice and cold, calculating looks. Perhaps this whole idea had been a huge mistake, but she had to see it through because there weren’t any secondary plans here.

Vahly approached the hand of stone that held the singer. Ignoring the film of spelled salt water that could kill a dragon, she grabbed hold of the singer’s hair and forced her to her knees, pointing the oaken sword at the female’s throat.

“A touch from this land-blessed weapon will most likely do bad things to your sea-born flesh. You sure you want to lose her singing voice, Astraea?”

Vahly braced herself, stomach churning, then placed the tip of the oaken sword not on the singer’s throat, but on her shoulder. Larisa shrieked, eyes squeezing shut.

Stepping back, Vahly held the sword’s hilt with both hands to hide her shaking. This didn’t feel noble or right. This was something Astraea would do. Vahly had to keep pushing Astraea, she knew that, but how could she when her stomach was about to empty itself all over her own feet?

An uneven circle of purple grew where the sword had touched Larisa, like the weapon had bruised her deeply.

The dark color spread throughout her shoulder.

If only a touch of the sword did so much, what would a true strike do?

Larisa shivered, and Vahly hated herself despite knowing this was all necessary.

I can’t do this, she said telepathically to Arc.

Then don’t. We’ll find another way. Chin tipped down, he watched her with sincere, dark eyes. Or give me the task, my queen. I would take this horror from you and bear it. It is the least I can do considering how much you’ve accomplished for me and for the last of my kynd.

“This won’t work, human,” Astraea said. “I don’t care what you do to her. Yes, it is a shame, a waste. But if you want to hurt me. Hurt me .” A flicker of knowing danced through the Sea Queen’s eyes.

Ryton had died to end this creature. Astraea was responsible for the deaths of over a thousand dragons. Younglings. The innocent. Heat roared into Vahly’s blood, and she speared the sword through Astraea’s cage, the point a breath from the Sea Queen’s cheek. What if Vahly accidentally killed her?

It had to be risked. If not, they’d be in a stalemate.

Steeling herself, Vahly raised her free hand, splayed her fingers, then moved her hand down, feeling the stone cage responding to her, the rock a cool spot in the magic in her chest.

Astraea eyed the ceiling of the cage as it began to drop. “You think to crush me? Fine. If I die, you have no blood to put upon your sword. My generals and warriors will rise up in my place, and there will never be peace.”

“I won’t kill you. I’m not a fool. Well, not always.” She gave Astraea a wink like she used to do with those she’d bet against at the ciderhouse. “Hopefully, I can control myself enough to keep you alive until you decide to capitulate.”

“Never.” The cage lowered itself onto Astraea’s back, and the Sea Queen went to her hands and knees, water splashing around the fins on her lean arms and her fingers as they reached toward her coral spear. Vahly had thrown the weapon beyond the cage.

“You sure about that?” Vahly pressed her hand lower, and the cage groaned, speeding up its descent. Astraea was pinned between the cage’s former ceiling and the floor, limbs askew, spear dropped to the ground.

“You’ll kill me, idiot human,” Astraea squawked.

Vahly gave the stone another small, magical push and heard Nix snort in dark amusement behind her.

The Sea Queen’s coral crown snapped in two and fell from her protective layer of water. The scarlet pieces littered the grassy ground around Vahly’s boots. Astraea was hissing in her own tongue.

“Ready to shed your blood for peace, Sea Queen?” Vahly knelt beside her. A part of her was enjoying this humbling of a murderer, but another part of her hated it as much as she’d hated injuring Larisa. “Or do you need further persuasion?”

Nix and Arc stepped closer, but Vahly held out a hand.

“Stay back.” She wasn’t sure what Astraea could still do to hurt them in this position.

Astraea snarled like a wolf. “I’ll never relent. Never.”

“Please!” Larisa called out. The bruising on her shoulder had already started to fade. “Stop. I beg you. Take my blood.”

“Shut your lips, singer!” Astraea rasped, her cheek pressed to the floor and her eyes bulging.

“Your blood would not balance the magic, Larisa,” Arc said calmly. “But your willingness to work toward peace is noted.”

Larisa whimpered, then bit her lip, gaze darting to Astraea.

Vahly pointed the oaken sword at Astraea’s fingers. “I wonder if I can drive this spelled water away from you.”

“If you do, then I’ll suffocate.”

“I’m feeling risky.”

She willed the water away from the land, calling up the land’s energy to block the flow of sea magic.

Power like sparks of fire heated her Blackwater mark between her eyebrows and tingled across her fingertips.

The water peeled away from Astraea’s hand like a shed glove.

Vahly pushed the energy farther up Astraea’s exposed form until one arm was bare to what Ryton had called the raw air, as well as the Sea Queen’s gills, lips, and nose.

Astraea gasped, mouth opening and closing, gills spread wide on the one side of her neck that was visible.

Then the Sea Queen went still, eyes wide.

Amona flew in a low circle above them. Could she be acting as though the injury is worse than it is?

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Vahly said.

“Quick, Queenie! Let that magic go.” Nix came forward.

“Get back,” Vahly scooted closer and tried to reverse what she’d done. It was far easier to accomplish earth magic on a grand scale rather than doing these small tasks. She attempted to coax the land’s energy into resting again, but it wasn’t working.

Astraea thrashed weakly, her eyes rolling up. Vahly focused on her earth magic, but the water wouldn’t return. Going limp, Astraea gasped once. Then the Sea Queen went completely still.

Astraea was dead.

Vahly stared at the Sea Queen’s gray face.

A bead of sweat rolled down Vahly’s back, and she flicked the sword to break the stone cage apart.

Nix was suddenly at her side. Vahly turned to urge her backward, still reeling, afraid, and then water was coursing from the cliffs across the grass.

A tendril of seawater shot toward Nix. Vahly lunged to block it with her body.

The spelled water ripped the oaken sword from Vahly’s hand.