All the Stars and Teeth(102)

I draw back at the feeling of cool metal in my palms. My dagger.

“I think you’re ready to have this, again.” His smile is small, forced. “I hated having to take it away.” He carefully hands me Rukan, too. I revel in the tiny pulses of magic that whirl up the weapon and heat my hand.

I can still be strong. With Rukan, I can still fight.

“Thank you.” My voice is weaker than I want it to be, trembling with emotion I force myself to swallow down.

“Of course, Princess,” Bastian teases. “It’s not really my weapon of choice, anyway—”

“No, Bastian.” I sheathe the blade and take his hands in mine, squeezing them. “Thank you. For warning us about Kaven. For standing up against your own brother. For getting me off Zudoh. For you and Ferrick reminding me I still have a duty. For all of it.”

Both his hands close to encompass mine. He brings them up to his lips and kisses the tips of my fingers.

“Thank you,” he says, his eyes warm as his hands. “For believing in me. And just know, Amora, that no matter what happens today … I don’t want this to be where our journey ends.”

“Neither do I.” And I’m surprised to realize I mean it.

He lets go of my hands to cup my face instead, and draws my lips to his.

All our adventure. All my dreams of protecting my kingdom and family. It’s all led to this moment.

I’m closest to my old self when I’m with Bastian. Never has a man had such a hold on me, and never did I want one to. But I can’t deny that when I’m with him is the only time I’m calm. It’s the only time I feel ready to take on the challenges ahead of us.

I pull him tight, seeking solace in his lips. In the hands that graze my face and warm me from the sheets of rain and the air’s harsh bite. I hold him as close and as tightly as I can, a part of me wanting nothing more than to live in this moment forever. To not have to show the kingdom and my people that I’ve failed them by losing my magic.

But there are too many lives at stake for me to be selfish.

It feels like hours pass before we pull away, and a smudge in the distance draws my attention.

Ahead of us, Arida is a hazy outline. The closer we get, the darker my home grows, and as I squint, I realize why.

The dark smudge of my island isn’t formed by clouds. It’s formed by the deep amethyst sails of ships that shroud Arida’s docks, and plumes of smoke from cannons. Fire devours the cliffsides, tearing its way through thickets of plants and trees. Destroying my beautiful home.

Kaven’s already here. We’ve no crew, and with Bastian’s broken curse, we were too slow.

“No!” My heart spasms and I jerk away from Bastian. I clutch the hilts of my daggers tight, trying not to stumble on my unsteady legs. He grabs my waist to steady me.

Behind the sails, on the shoreline, there are figures I can barely see. They move in a way that almost looks as though they’re dancing until they stumble to the ground or into the hungry ocean.

Bastian sets a hand on my shoulder, but I rip away from his grip.

“VATAEA!” I scream her name like I’m chanting to a god, and our eyes meet briefly before she whips her head to the water, knowing what must be done. She throws herself over the ship without hesitation, and hits the waves with a slap and a burst of golden light. Her tail fin smacks the water once, and then she’s gone.

“Drown them!” I yell as she races toward the shore. “Ask who they fight for, and drown anyone who stands against us!”

Zudoh has declared war, and Visidia’s survival is all that matters. No matter what I have to do to ensure it, my kingdom must remain standing.

The thunder and rain are ferociously loud, meaning Vataea will have to get close to the attackers in order to charm and lure them. I don’t need to worry about those on this ship being affected.

“Amora! Calm down, breathe.”

I grip the weapons so tightly at my sides that my palms threaten to rip back open. I ignore the voice, not caring to decipher which of the three boys it belongs to. A brief flash of Casem’s profile in my peripheral vision tells me he’s here, but I don’t see anyone. All I see is a world covered in the scarlet blood I’m about to pour.

“Go to the helm,” I growl at Bastian. “Get us to the docks.”

He doesn’t question me. He moves swiftly, and I step forward to squint at the scene unfolding before me.

Vataea’s made it. Figures on the shore become more distinct as we close in on them. They’ve stilled from their erratic movements and saunter toward the water, letting the churning sea swallow their bodies as they try to claw their way to Vataea and the glowing gold ring surrounding her. I don’t hear her song, but I know it works when I see men and women dunk their heads into the water she dives into.

They never resurface.

My shuddering breaths come a little easier. She’s clearing the shore for us, giving us time to move.

Keel Haul closes in on Arida. Once we’re past the reef, it’s as if the island desperately sucks us into it. The ship spasms and I grip the ledge tightly as we slam into the docks, scattering broken planks of wood into the sea.

Casem runs to anchor the ship while I dart for the ladder. I hold my steel dagger in my mouth and use my free hand to toss myself down, ignoring the sharp burn from the rope that sears into my already wounded palms.