“BURN!”Immediately, flames sprouted all over the creature, and it released my leg.Isplashed down into the wave, the saltwater stinging my exposed flesh.Handsdragged me onto the shore, and the creature let out a wail that sounded like the cry of a woman who had lost everything.Itdove beneath the waves and did not resurface.
RaulaandNokipulled me to shore, and more faces thanIcould comprehend stared down at me.
“Ismy leg still there?”Mydulled mind didn’t know what else to ask.
“Yep, nobody’s snack today,Princess,”Avlynquipped.Ileaned back into the strong hands that carried me and heard them shout a few more commands before unconsciousness took me.
Iawokein a tent withJunstroking my hair gently.Myleg throbbed, but the pain had lessened.IheardOryxdirecting someone to wrap my leg, but allIsaw was my brother’s face stretched tight with worry.
Ismiled. “Yousaved me.”
Therewas a small glimmer in the corner of his eye. “Weare strongest together.”
Igave him a broad grin. “Thatwas a pretty flashy move.”
Hissmile started to mirror mine. “Ijust thought, what wouldTorido?”
Ilaughed but then hissed asOryxtightened something on my leg.Spinnerwas wrapping my leg in his silk, creating a softly shimmering cast.
Thehealer nodded at the spider before turning to me. “Yourleg will be alright; it’s just going to take longer to heal due to… well, you know how wounds from beasts are.”
Isat up. “Justanother scar to add to the collection.”Itwas the same leg theLeviathanhad grabbed.Iran my hand over the scar on my neck and the one on my shoulder.Iwas quite the grizzly display at this point.
Avlynpushed aside the tent flap, andPallasfollowed.
“Everythingalright out there?”Iasked.
Thecommander nodded. “Weare staying away from thewater’s edge; patrols are in groups of three now.I’mbolstering our defenses for the attack.”
“Attack?Whatattack?”
Avlynraised their eyebrows and shot a look atPallas. “CommanderLuxossomehow managed to track us here.Hethreatened an attack on the beach.”
Myeyes locked withPallas, and comprehension dawned on her face. “No, not on the beach…” she whispered.
Itried to keep my mind calm, my heart still, and my breathing steady.Inan instant, the great ocean that was my mind evaporated.Itvaporized into nothing but mist, and all that remained was flames.
Chapter 30
Pallas
Tori’sface went blank.Ihad expected her to panic or yell orders, anything.Instead, her face grew cold and blank, like the statues in the gardens ofKoron.Sherose from the pallet, makingSpinnerslide off her lap, and walked out of the tent without saying a word.Avlynspun to follow her;JunandIscurried after them.
Theprincess walked slowly but deliberately towards the tunnel opening tucked into the rock walls.Shedidn’t say a word, which was the most unnerving part.Ihad never heard such silence from her, andIknew it was wrapped around a force unspeakably dangerous.
Avlynkept trying to grab her, telling her to wait for more troops.Shedid not stop or slow; she just kept walking.Hergaze remained fixed on the rocky mountain where the cave containingAbraxaslay hidden.
“Thetunnel isn’t clear yet,Princess; we will need to—”Avlyntried to say, butTorijust kept walking.Junlooked at me in dismay, but we both just followed behind like lost puppies.Wereached the cave, and a small group of soldiers were working on the blocked path with pickaxes and shovels.
“Move.”Itwas all thatTorisaid, and it wasn’t even loud, but it echoed unnaturally, shaping the sound into something deeper and hostile.Thesoldiers didn’t need to be told twice.Theyscrambled away from the wall, andIgrabbedJun’shand and pulled him a few steps back.Avlynseemed torn but decided to join us in our retreat.
Toriplaced a hand over her heart, and thenIfelt a surge of magic more powerful than anythingIhad felt in centuries.Greenfire erupted from her hands, and she shot at the rock wall with such force that even asIslammed my eyes shut,Iwas blinded.Thetunnel shook with a deafening quake, and the wall exploded.
Myears rang, and no matter how muchIblinked,Icouldn’t see.Slowly, the tunnel came back into focus, lit with an eerie green glow as the dragonfire continued to circleTori’sarms and hands.Therock had been blasted to nearly nothing, andIcould see a faint glow where some of the rock was freshly melted by the power of her rage.Sheslowly turned her head back to us, and her eyes were completely green, glowing like the fire that danced on her fingertips.
“Stayhere.”Sheturned back to walk down the tunnel.
Avlynstarted to object, butJungot there first. “Youdon’t need to do this alone,Tori.”
