Page 108 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

And I screamed.

Morgana. Meera. Akadim had taken them. Monsters had the only true family I had left. I didn’t care about Arianna. I didn’t care what contract she’d allegedly signed with the Imperator. I needed to find my sisters, to protect them.

If they were still alive. If the akadim hadn’t—

Another scream tore through me and I slammed my fists into my thighs before rushed for the bucket and dry heaved.

“You’re making a racket.” Markan stood outside my cell.

I picked up the bucket and hurled it at the bars.

The surly escort grimaced. “That could have been extremely disgusting.”

“Then count yourself lucky,” I growled. “What do you know? Any word? What’s happening? Where are they?”

“Apparently, from what we’ve learned, Morgana led Meera from dinner out to the beach. She went without alerting her escort. Morgana’s guard Jace was with them. Soturion Akillus accompanied them as well. Akillus has not woken up yet to report more.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, taking in the severity of Akillus being unconscious. “Is he…alive?”

“We’re waiting for more news,” Markan said quietly. “According to Soturion Jace, the akadim appeared out of nowhere, arriving on the beach in seraphim carriages. There were two. They grabbed your sisters, threw them in the carriages, and took off.”

I shook my head. “Akadim don’t do that. They can’t fly in seraphim—seraphim won’t tolerate it.”

“Well, these did.” Markan shrugged. “Figures. You kill one, and you think you’re an expert? Their numbers aren’t just growing, they’re evolving. And these ones fly.”

“Fuck you.”

Markan’s lip curled. “Do you think Jace is lying?”

My hands fisted at my sides. “I don’t know what to think. No one’s seen them?”

“Ashvan riders have been sent after them.”

“Ka Batavia? Or Kormac?” I asked the question through gritted teeth.

“Don’t ask stupid questions. Every able-bodied soturion is on their trail.”

“Except me. And you, apparently.” Tears ran down my face. “It doesn’t matter. Akadim kill and…oh, Gods.” I tried to shake the images. I was going to faint if I thought too hard about what was happening.

Markan, for once, looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight. “If it’s any comfort, Jace was—” He exhaled sharply. “Jace was almost, you know,” he scrunched up his nose, “by one. His clothes had been removed, but he wasn’t…assaulted. The other akadim stopped him. According to Jace, one akadim told the other not to harm your sisters. Seems like they were sent to bring them back to someone else.”

“Someone else?” I pushed my hands through my hair. “Who? Who could possibly have that much control over akadim?”

“No idea. Let’s just hope for your sake, and theirs, that the akadim truly are under the control of this person. It buys us more time to find them.”

“And me?” I asked. “Am I supposed to buy my time in here? Sitting helplessly? Doing nothing? Waiting for the Imperator to take me away?”

Markan stepped forward, his nostrils flaring. “I don’t like you, my lady,” he said. “I never have. You’re spoiled, and you’re a brat. And you think you’re smarter than you are. But I have dedicated my life to keeping you safe because I understand what that means to Bamaria. And I do actually like my country. So yes, you’re going to stay here and stay safe. Whether you like the Imperator or not, because Moriel-fucking akadim managing to not only enter Bamaria, but enter Cresthaven—that does not look good for you.”

“Gryphon-shit!” I roared. Wind howled violently outside my window, and a cold breeze gusted through the ceiling. “Then why isn’t Arianna here, too? Or Naria? I’m not even an heir anymore. If Cresthaven is in such danger, and this is the only place that’s safe, why not bring them here? Why haven’t they been evacuated?”

“That’s beyond my station.”

“It’s because I’m a prisoner, and fuck all your allegiance to this country because you are helping a traitor by keeping me here. You’re keeping me until the Imperator’s ready to take me. The blood of Bamaria is in my veins and you know it.”

Markan nodded. “Maybe. However, I would not dare call anyone a traitor. All I know is I am helping myself stay alive by following orders. And despite your low opinion of me, I am also keeping you alive.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I demand an audience with Aemon.”