Save the Sea (Saved by Pirates #3)(11)

“You’re missing an important part of all of this. The king cannot die while his changed one lives. To win this war, you must kill the queen. If you promise us that, we will give you use of our army. We will let you lead, as well as help you find the crown and what to do to bargain with the mermaids. Mermaids like deals, treaties, and most importantly, tricks,” Master Light informs me in a serious tone.

“She will be my mother in law . . . she doesn’t deserve to die. The king destroyed every part of her and stole her power. Death is not what should befall her," I plead with them, despite knowing nothing will change their minds or save the queen. Her death is needed, and I know that, I just don’t want to accept it.

“Her mind is lost. Her other chosen were burnt away into nothing, nothing left but dust and not even changed magic can heal that. She would welcome death,” Master Hid tells me with a touch of understanding in his voice.

“But changed ones’ chosen cannot die? So, how did they? I don’t understand, though I never really thought about it until now,” I ask them all quietly.

“The only known way to kill chosen when their changed one still lives is to burn their body. How can anyone come back from that?” Master Pirate muses, and leans back in his seat. “But perhaps the souls are more important than the bodies we wear. Soul mates speak nothing of our bodies, only our souls.” I think about what he says as they all watch me closely. Everyone in this room believes in so much more than life and death.

“Do we have a deal, Cassandra? Will you kill the queen?” Master Light asks me. The question in itself is simple, but it breaks my heart when I try to answer it. Even in my mind, I cannot say the words, let alone speak them out loud. Is one life worth giving the whole world a chance? Especially, when that life is an innocent one?

“Why me?” I blurt out.

“Because it proves you will give everything up to win this war. Even the respect and love of two of your chosen. Even your soul for killing an innocent,” Master Light says, his tone gentle but firm. He wants an answer, and I keep my eyes on the table as I think it through. I know she has to die, but I don’t honestly know if I could be the one to kill her. She is Hunter and Ryland’s mother, and they love her. They would hate me for killing her. Despite all that, in the end I know my answer. There has only ever been one possible answer.

“I will kill her,” I whisper, hating myself for saying it, but knowing I don’t have a choice. If my soul and my chosen, are the price for saving the world, how can I be selfish enough not to pay it?





6





Chapter Six





Cassandra





“Spend the day looking around and finding your place here, but we expect you at training when you are called,” Master Light says as I step out of the room, and he walks with me.

“Training?” I ask, curious.

“Of your powers. Master Gold will be training you, as he is best at pushing one’s skills to the furthest they can be stretched. The crown will boost your powers, but they are no use if you have no control. You are more likely to sink an island into the sea, than save anyone,” he explains, and I nod, knowing he has a point. I’ve never had any control over my powers. They just attack when they are needed. “On every fifth evening, you will attend the master’s meetings . . . Master Cassandra.”

“I’m a master now?” I ask, not sure if even I want to be one. I’m not sure how long I can spend here, because I have to leave to get the crown. I can’t risk the king going to get the crown before me, and destroying it.

“You are a master, a princess, and our leader,” he says, shocking me.

“Titles mean nothing if you do not earn them, and I have not,” I tell him.

“But you will, and that is all that matters here, Cassandra. The sea god chose you to lead us to the light, to peace, and to a new world.” I don’t have a response for him, letting his words fill my mind as if the sea god just said them himself. I go to walk away, as I need to think, but his words stop me. “Spend this time with your pirates, because the war will have a price, and perfect, happy memories are priceless.”

“How do you know there will be a price?” I ask him.

“There is always a price to stop darkness and gain peace. If it was easy, it would have been done already. We wouldn’t have waited for you,” he says and turns around, walking away from me. There won’t be any price, not for my pirates. I refuse to let that happen. I turn and walk over the bridge, enjoying the water splashing against me, and letting it soothe me in a way. Hunter and Ryland are leaning against the bridge entrance. Both of their heads snap up when they see me. The brothers stand tall as they watch me walk to them, their eyes blazing with desire and relief that I’m back. I can almost feel it in our bond, like a wave of emotion coming from them. I wonder if they can feel what I feel? Is the bond one-sided?

“Where is Zack?” I ask when I get to them, and Hunter puts an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side.

“Someone has come to the mountains on ships with the people of Sixa, and they claim to know Zack. They asked to see you, demanded actually. Zack went ahead with Jacob to see if they are safe,” he explains. I know Zack would never let anyone near me that he didn’t trust.