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Nix touched Vahly’s shoulder. “Do you want to bury her?”

Vahly shook her head. Somehow, that didn’t feel right. Instead, she scooped a handful of earth and set it on the skull. Vahly closed her eyes. The earth’s heartbeat tapped her pulse points, and the ground trembled.

Nix sucked a loud breath. Arc whispered Vahly’s name as his boots scraped on the grit of the tower floor.

The earth had swallowed the bones, taking the mosaic design with it.

Earth magic.

A tingling spread through her, a wave of power that drove home the fact that she was indeed an Earth Queen.

Mind spinning, Vahly led Arc and Nix outside.

If she was headed into the sea, they needed backup. Amona would send a contingent of warriors if Vahly used the Call to ask. Vahly had hoped to keep this mission small, to avoid others tangling the situation, but it would be madness to go into this without more help.

The path wound down, down, down, and they followed its narrow bends and gentle turns to the water’s edge where black rocks crowded the coast and waves rolled over their glassy edges.

Nix stopped, wings twitching in agitation as she eyed the sea.

She snarled, then seemed to force herself to walk to the edge of the rocky coastline to stand beside Arc and Vahly.

The water couldn’t reach her from here unless the sea folk were around to spell it, but just the same, this was a tough thing for a dragon to do.

Vahly wanted to say something to Nix, to thank her again for coming along, but she didn’t want to point out Nix’s weakness. Nix was obviously finding this situation frustrating enough without further attention brought to her shortcomings.

The wind—salty and inconsistent—bit at Vahly’s face as she stared over the flooded ruins of Bihotzetik. Vahly handed her satchel and the egg over to Nix. Nix shouldered the bag, ruffling her injured wing and wincing.

“I’m going to Call Amona,” Vahly said. “She can send a few warriors to help keep an eye on us while we’re down there.”

Nix turned one of her gold and lapis lazuli rings around her scaled finger. Her lips pinched, and she looked like she was ready to argue, but she nodded. “That would be wise. I can’t fly just yet.”

“Have you tried lately?” Vahly asked.

“Last night. I can do it. But not for long. And not very high.” The cost of admitting this was apparent on Nix’s face. Vahly wished there were more she could do to help her heal.

Beside them, Arc was already spinning shadows and light around his fingertips, weaving a spell. A fresh breeze lifted the ends of his hair. “I’ll cast the spell over you, Vahly. Then we can go into the sea for a brief moment to test its efficacy.”

Vahly shut her eyes and focused on Amona. My matriarch. I need you.

I am listening.

Vahly startled at the speed of her response. Thank you. I must go into the sea. Here in Bihotzetik. My magic won’t take no for an answer.

Amona’s silence had Vahly picturing her mother’s quirked eyebrow and crossed arms.

There is something in the city that I have to find or read or see, Vahly thought to Amona. I don’t want to do it, but Arcturus has magic to help me breathe and swim. We’ll be quick and careful. But I’d rather do it with a few of our Lapis warriors keeping watch with Nix.

I’ll take care of it. Wait for our arrival in three days’ time. We’ll meet at the most southern watchtower. I assume you have spotted the structure?

Yes. Vahly shook off the memory of the skull and the dagger.

They should arrive by nightfall on the third day, Amona said through the bond.

That soon?

I assume you want warriors, not grandfathers.

Vahly laughed. Indeed.

So yes. Nightfall. Three days. They will fly as quickly as dragons are able.

Thank you, Mother.

Of course, Daughter.

Vahly opened her eyes and sat beside Arc. She filled him and Nix in on Amona’s plans.

Nix sat, tucking her shapely legs up beside her and relaxing her wings so that they spread like a purple-blue veil behind her shadow. “I have something terribly dull to say.”

Arc motioned for Vahly to raise her chin.

She did so, and his fingertips, dripping in magic, dusted over her lips as he cast the air spell to let her breathe underwater.

Her throat tightened, and she thought her heart might come out of her chest—not because of the bizarre magic, but because of the feel of his skin on hers.

His dark eyes gave nothing away. In fact, he made no eye contact at all. Was he avoiding her gaze? His throat moved in a loud swallow, and the scent of him rose into the air. He was enjoying this. She was almost certain. A little teasing wouldn’t hurt him.

She grinned and set her hand on the grass beside his thigh, her thumb barely brushing his leg. “Focus, elf. I don’t want you to accidentally suffocate me.”

Arc met her gaze then, his lids closing halfway. “Behave, Earth Queen.” He cocked an eyebrow and pursed his lips as he looked away, speaking spells into the air, taking up where he’d left off.

“So spill, Nix,” Vahly said. “Dull sounds nice about now.”

The crash of waves on the rocks tumbled past their ears, and Vahly shivered. Her tongue tasted of salt. To fight her growing fear, she breathed in the scent of Arc—sun-warmed tree sap and mint. Her trembling ceased, and she turned her attention to Nix even as Arc continued to work.

Nix stared at the five spires of Bihotzetik that rose from the foaming sea like black talons of a drowned beast. “I’m not going to be much help to you, Queenie.”

“Of course you are.” Vahly removed her weapons belt, boots, and socks, then took off her vest, readying to go into the water.

“I can’t even be your lookout during this first part of our quest.” The tip of her blue tongue touched her red lips to wet them. This kind of talk was unlike Nix. She was normally rather full of herself.

Vahly chewed the inside of her cheek. “The hardest part of this whole thing,” she said, waving her hands at herself and indicating the changes in her power, “is that I know I’m not the one we truly need.

I have no idea what I’m doing, and absolutely every life on land depends on me figuring it out.

So please don’t say you’re no help because you have an injured wing.

Stones and Blackwater, Nix. I need you because you’re my friend.

Just having you to tell me I’m capable of fully waking my magic, being the fabulous and consistent liar you are—that is the greatest help of all. ”

Arc finished his spellwork and looked down at his hands, a small smile gracing his lips.

Nix shook her head, her lapis lazuli clips glittering in the sunlight as the corner of her mouth lifted. “You are fully capable of waking your magic, Vahly. You’re already very powerful.”

“See?” Vahly elbowed Arc. “Told you she was good at lying. I can barely move a hill of dirt.” She held her hands out. “But I’m hopeful. I’ll stay positive. With the help of both of you.” She stood to climb down the algae-slick rocks toward the ocean.

Nix waved a lazy farewell and took a few steps away from the edge. “Don’t take all day.”

After removing his boots, surcoat, weapons, and undershirt, Arc followed Vahly.

“Shouldn’t I feel the magic on me now, Arc?” Vahly asked.

“Not until you are in the water,” he said.

A large wave swelled and rushed over the coastline’s rocks, soaking Vahly and Arc to the knee. Whispering a little prayer, Vahly left the ridge of stones and plunged into the home of her greatest enemy.