“Do we have an agreement?” I demanded. “And if you disobey orders received, I will crush your sister’s fragile shell and grind it into dust. Am I understood?”
“And how will we be receiving said orders?”
My back straightened, and I glanced to shore, where Veli and Avery watched us intently.
“My witch will present herself to you when the time comes. You will swim to wherever directed.” The remaining bit of patience I had was wearing thin. “Are we in agreement? Vow yourself to my claim to the throne and you shall earn your sister’s life back.”
The two of them slowly sank back down into the water until only everything above their chins was visible. My jaw ticked as I looked deep into the vengeful, icy eyes that gazed up at me.
“Agreed,” they hissed in unison, right before their tails lashed out and sent them soaring beneath the surface and back toward the sea.
Chapter thirty-five
Elianna
“Do you have anyidea what you have done?!” Veli scolded me as she and my sister were pulled into the pinnace. Avery immediately rushed over to Gage and threw her arms around his shoulders.
I scoffed at the witch. “We are now lacking significant allies we were relying on obtaining. An opportunity presented itself and Itookit.”
“At what cost? You truly think those beasts from the deep will listen to your orders as a battle rages in the sea?”
“What does she mean we’re lacking allies? What happened in the forest, Lia?” Jace asked.
Gods, I was about to lose my shit.
I turned back to face them. The men wore looks of concern, while those who accompanied me in the woods looked at me in defeat.
“The witches will not be aiding us in the war,” I answered and looked to Veli. “Mistakes were made, and I should have listened to her warnings. We shouldn’t have come here. I will explain everything, but we need to get back to the ship as soon as possible.”
Without a moment of hesitation, our two men posted up on either side of the boat and moved to row us back out to the sea.
“Why won’t the coven ally with us? Are they choosing to aid Idina?” Gage asked.
“Gods no, they just…have their own agenda.”
“You don’t have to protect me, Lia. They will soon know what I have done.”
The rowing ceased, and Jace and Gage exchanged a look and then glanced back at Avery before continuing their paddling.
“What do you mean?” Gage asked as Jace’s eyes bore into mine. I bit my lower lip to try to stop myself from blurting out what she was struggling to say.
Avery cleared her throat as her eyes darted back and forth between me and the witch. “I stole Veli’s book of dark magic, thinking we may need its aid in case we were attacked or lost or…I don’t know. It was a foolish mistake.”
Jace’s eyes bulged, and I nodded slowly, confirming his fear.
“Avery, where is the book now?” he asked as his eyes remained on me.
“They took it,” she whispered on a sob.
“That is not all they took!” Veli hissed. “They took Elianna’s memories. They could have seen all her lingering secrets and recent plans.”
“How?!” Gage gasped.
Jace’s stare whipped to Veli. “You were to protect them!” His voice boomed, and he looked as if he would lunge at the witch.
“Aye, but it is difficult to protect those who recklessly offer their blood on a silver platter, and another who exposes our greatest weapon without having the power to hold it.”
He turned back to me. “Blood?”
