I shrugged. “They needed it to prove that I was the heir…I didn’t think she would…tasteit.”
As their oars sliced through the water, we finally emerged from the marshes and entered the open sea. The moon now hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the dark water.
His body was tense, rigid. “Do you know what they saw?”
A faint, orange glow emerged in the distance, catching our attention. I sprang to my feet and leapt to the very front of the pinnace, eagerly leaning over the edge to get a better view.
My eyes widened. “NOX!” I shrieked.
“Is that the ship on fire?!” Avery asked, jaw gaping.
I turned to Veli. “We need to get there faster. We’ll never make it in time.” She looked at me hesitantly. “I willnotlet them take Nox!” I screamed. “The coven knows you still live, Veli. Stop being afraid of using your magic!”
“Everyone, hold on,” she warned, and her eyes began to glow.
A moment later, her hand lashed out toward the back of the boat, and a wave picked up behind us, thrusting us forward by the powerful current and toward the floating inferno.
I lost my balance from the force of our takeoff and flew backward, stumbling over the bench and falling onto Jace.He turned me over and wrapped his arms tightly around my chest as we soared over the waves.
We were nearing the burning ship, and as the pinnace drew closer, I could feel its heat intensifying. The scent of burning wood and smoke filled the air, making it difficult to breathe.
Veli’s magic brought us to a screeching halt, sending us flying forward. I leapt to my feet and was back at the bow a moment later, staring in horror at the raging flames that were ravaging our way home, and the crew who had stayed behind.
“No,” I whispered, as my eyes darted back and forth. I pivoted to face them behind me—their horror-filled, wide-eyed expressions were accentuated by the fiery orange hue cast by the blaze.
“What are we going to do?!” Avery shrieked as Gage held her steady in his grasp.
I let out a loud, ear-piercing whistle, but it was lost in the roar of the fire. “Why didn’t he fly away?” I whispered to myself.
A cackle filled the night sky, erupting from the thick, black smoke, followed by a ferocious roar from Nox.
My lips parted as my breathing became heavy. I turned to my mate.
“Don't you dare,” he said, his voice filled with desperation. “We are not repeating what happened at the war camp.”
I pivoted to the others. “Stay in the boat.”
“Lia!” Avery shrieked.
“Veli, can you put the fire out?”
She glanced at the raging blaze and then back at me. “I will try, but the ship will be lost.”
I gave her a curt nod before turning back to Jace. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pressed my lips aggressively to his as a tear streamed down my cheek.
“Then come with me,” I whispered onto his lips right before I jumped out and dove off the pinnace and into the dark depths.
As soon as my body submerged into the water, I sensed a splash behind me, signaling that Jace had followed my lead. I kicked and paddled my way closer to the ship beneath the cover of the freezing waves, avoiding the embers and ash filling the air.
My face broke the surface, and I gasped for air, only to be choked by the surrounding smoke. Jace popped up next to me then, and we both grabbed onto the side of the ship, circling the outskirts until we came across the side ladder built into the wood.
“Lia, be careful!” he called as I climbed up with him right behind me. “We don’t know what we will meet up there!”
Another roar sounded from Nox, and my pace quickened. I would carve the heart out of every last witch that sought to sink their claws into my wyvern.
I pulled myself over the ship’s rail, and the intense heat of the flames licked my face. Beads of sweat mixed with the seawater clung to me and dripped down my brows. The crackling of burning timber mixed with the coven’s cackles roared in my ears.
“Mother of the gods,” Jace breathed as he heaved himself over the edge and stood at my side.
