Page 152 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

Just give in. Let me take over. He seeks to hurt your future bonded, he seeks to kill you. I can protect you . . . just give in.

The darkness whispered, coaxing Kora into a red-hazed slumber as her rage exploded from her chest, breaking Zephyr’s bonds. She didn’t spare a minute to wonder what being bonded meant, not when the one person she wanted, that she needed, was going to be ripped away from her. She advanced, snarling at Zephyr with words she’d barely heard over the sound of her raging heart.

Raiden was hers. No one would hurt him. Not ever again.

He’d watched and protected her for ten years. He’d brought her back from grief’s slippery edge, and it was her turn to save him.

Kora brimmed with tantalising power, a new well she’d not discovered before. Her element came freely, winding around her arms like snakes from her back—that was new.

“Kora Cadell!”

That voice. The whispers banked, hiding from the fiery warmth lingering behind Kora.

“You will stand down, now!”

The command ricocheted through her, the familiarity forcing her to stop. Years of training, years of comfort and respect made her turn slowly on her heel.

The haze faded, and Kora blinked as three figures stumbled down the carpet. Aryn came into focus first, his grim smile causing that stone in her chest to settle, her skildaj bond rejoicing at the proximity. Aryn was pale, his skin clammy, his windswept hair sticking to his forehead from the flight. Sirona’s wild blonde hair caught her eye next, and she hesitantly smiled at Kora.

And between them . . .

Kora cried, running to Erick, slamming into him as her arms circled him. He was awake. He was walking. He was alive.

“What have you gotten yourself into now?” Erick murmured.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she sobbed.

Aryn stepped back and Kora reached out, grasping his forearm. Aryn visibly relaxed as that warm anchor in her chest settled. It was strange, and definitely not the mated kind. It was the kind of strength that would see them through a war. Was that what being bonded meant?

Sirona dipped her head, a spark in her eyes promising to tell Kora all as she slunk away to the wall, hiding from Zephyr’s wrath.

“Perfect,” Zephyr clapped. “Now we can sentence you both at the same time.”

“Zephyr,” Erick stepped forward carefully, his legs shaking from the effort. He was so thin, his hair long, the mix of grey and brown reaching his shoulders. Sirona had kept up with shaving his face, but that was the extent of his grooming.

“You have no place here, traitor.” Zephyr’s ire was palpable, and Kora blinked at the steam rising in the room.

“I’m sorry!” Erick implored. “I put my faith in the wrong person. I was blind, I was misled. Nothing will be enough to repay what you have lost because of me. But I beg you, old friend, don’t let your anger guide you. I know what it’s like, and it was the worst decision I made.”

Old friend?

Raiden met her gaze, his brows raising. In what world could Erick ever be friends with this male? Kora guided him to Raiden’s kneeling form, and she helped Raiden to his feet as the four of them stared back at the King of Galen.

“You have no right to dictate to me.” Zephyr’s eyes flashed, his jaw ticking. “I am still king, Commodore.”

Erick bowed his head. “I can bring him back.”

Zephyr froze and Hector stood, his spine as straight as a mast.

“Ye lie,” Hector joined the fray. “He cannot still live.”

“Who are they talking about?” Kora asked, but Raiden remained silent, observing the exchange.

“We can bring him back,” Erick spoke louder. “We had a plan, so that when the time was right, I could bring him back from the trench. I don’t know if it will work, but it was our failsafe.”

Kora’s gut roiled, trepidation skittering across her skin.

“How?” Zephyr asked. “How can it be so?” His evident anger dissipated, whomever they were discussing interesting enough for Kora to potentially escape with her life by a thread.