So why did her chest tighten beneath his stare? Regardless, her vicious grin remained in place.
“He abandoned you,” Kaelypso reminded her. “Just as Irah betrayed me. Do. Not. Fucking. Falter.”
Before Esmyra could make sense of it, Atlas broke the silence with a sharp, furious snarl.
“You treacherousmurderer!” Shadows curled violently around Atlas’s feet as he gripped the hilt of his sword.
“Easy, princeling.” She tilted her head, rolling her shoulders back.
“Atlas,” Draevyn warned. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him take a step closer to them, a single arm stretched outward.
“No.” Atlas shook his head. “I’m going to put this bitch backwhere she belongs. Back down in the depths like the fucking monster she is.” Venom dripped from every syllable.
Esmyra’s eye twitched.Monster.
Atlas saw the way her expression flickered and pressed further, moving closer to her as she stood in the center of the room. “That’s all you’ll ever be. A monster. A beast. A fucking godlessthing.”
Her jaw locked, brows creasing as she tried to steady her breathing. The room trembled beneath her power, dust falling from the ceiling as the jewels of the chandeliers above chimed together.
“Atlas, stop!” Draevyn bellowed, flickers of flame now thrashing at the edge of his fingers.
Esmyra could see on his face he didn’t know what to do. He was likely trying to think of a way to trick her into falling in a trap.
The moisture in the air thickened, and the great pillars lining the hall groaned as seawater seeped through the cracks in the stone.
“Just as I informed your daddy moments ago… Iama god.” Esmyra’s smile was sharp. Her magic thrashed, clawing at the edges of her talons, begging to be released.
“But if it’s a monster you consider me to be, Prince,” she said softly, raising her hand, “then let me show you just how monstrous I can be.”
“Esmyra,no—” Draevyn ran for her, but his plea was cut off by the roar of water as the throne room erupted.
Tendrils of darkness lashed through the air, seeking her throat. The moment they reached her, they hissed and evaporated, turning to a dark mist as the salt in the air ate through them like acid.
“Holy fucking Irah,” Draevyn gasped, his run coming to a halt.
Her eyes snapped to him. “Actually, it’s Kaelypso.”
Atlas snarled, his sword already drawn, dark magic crackling along the blade.
And then he lunged for her.
With a flick of her wrist, water swirled up from the marble floor, a twisting serpent of liquid that struck him before he could even swing. Atlas was lifted off his feet and slammed back against a pillar with such force that the stone cracked beneath him. He coughed,struggling, but she kept him pinned, the water squeezing around his chest like an iron vice.
A searing wall of fire burst between them.
Draevyn.
She whirled on him, sparks of lightning jumping from her fingertips, ready to lash out.
He staggered back, eyes wide at the sight of her. She imagined her own blazed brightly as a silvery glow cast on the floor in front of her.
“Esmyra, stop this!” Draevyn shouted, his voice cracking. “You don’t have to do this!”
Her lips curled. “Don’t I?”
A violent crash echoed as she flung his brother to the ground, releasing him from the water’s grip. A gasping cough sounded, but she barely spared him a glance.
Draevyn was still staring at her, taking small steps closer, acting like she was a cornered animal he was trying to cage. He dropped the wall of flame, but they remained at his fingertips as though unsure whether to fight or plead.
