Page 35 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

Blake yelled beyond the barrier and darted towards Raiden. She swooped under a sword, sliding across the slick floor to Agatha first, as Ivar wrestled with two Talmon guards.

She clasped Agatha’s face, turning it towards her. Kora froze as her fingers glided over youthful skin, wrapping into Agatha’s voluminous hair. A sob wrecked her body as she closed Agatha’s eyes, her hands violently shaking as she tried dragging Agatha back to Leto’s blockade.

“Get her!” Barron’s command caused everyone to freeze as all eyes turned to Kora. Disbelief simmered from Raiden, whereas Blake smiled devilishly.

Kora chewed the inside of her cheek as a pair of emerald eyes begged her, pleaded with her. Despite Blake’s fury, eternal remorse radiated from his all-too familiar eyes. Time slowed as Kora connected with his stare, memories of hushed whispers, inviting shadows, and forbidden passion filling the space between them.

“Blake! Stop him!” Barron commanded, shattering the palpable tension as Raiden knelt before Erick.

Kora shook her head, mouthing please, but Blake’s demeanour shifted. His second shadow leered around his shoulders, his face tightening, lips twisting. Those veins—the diseased shackles Kora had sported not too long ago—wriggled, and Blake wrung his wrists before withdrawing his sword.

Kora’s eyes shuttered as her chest caved with deflation.

He’d made his choice.

Raiden whipped out a hand and invisible bands of power stroked down Kora’s body, lifting her. She yelled, hands clawing at the floor, not ready to leave Agatha. But Ivar and Theron were in reach. Ivar panted as he kicked back, freeing himself from the enemy’s grasp.

“Ivar! Grab hold!” Kora shouted, her arm outstretched as she flew past. With one hand fisted in Theron’s shirt, Ivar lunged, dragging his body along the floor.

It was too late.

Leto’s magic passed over Kora as she landed behind the pirate, her hands empty. He glanced at her quickly as a bead of sweat dripped down his neck. Ivar crumpled as multiple pairs of hands grabbed onto his legs, dragging him behind the swath of darkness.

Raiden directed his hand above and the glass ceiling shattered, the present cracks in it deepening. Giant shards of glass rained down beyond Leto’s protective bubble, trapping the enemy in a whirlwind of transparent blades.

“Cover!” Barron roared, and him and Blake ducked into a circle of armoured guards protecting them. With enviable strength, Raiden hoisted Erick onto his shoulder and rushed back with such speed it made Kora dizzy.

“Let’s fucking go!” Kora raced after Raiden as they left Leto to hold the barrier. Guilt and anger crashed through her as he stood alone against the wave of soldiers and Barron yelling.

As she escaped from the dining room, a single tear rolled down her cheek, Agatha’s body disappearing behind the mass of booted feet.

Kora followed Raiden out the marbled front doors lined by golden rivulets. It was absurd when he’d told her they’d simply walk out the front and down to the cliff, but the castle was devoid of life, so quiet she could hear the moans of the Emerald Forest.

“Where’s Leto?” Skylar approached from where they waited at the foot of a wide pebbled path leading from the grand entrance, lined by perfectly trimmed hedges and flowers.

“He’s fine, holding the fort,” Raiden panted, shifting Erick’s weight on his shoulders.

“No. He needs to be here.” Panic flared in Skylar’s doe-like eyes. “Rai . . . where is he?”

“He’s following the plan.” A shimmering current emitted from Raiden, and Kora followed it with her eyes as it branched off, weaving through the air and disappearing through cracks in the stone walls.

“You stopped to collect the traitor, but you didn’t check that your brother-in-arms was present?” Skylar glared at Erick’s unconscious form.

“It wasn’t my idea,” Raiden muttered, refusing to meet Kora’s gaze.

“I didn’t want to leave anyone behind.” She lifted her chin and Raiden stepped closer, his frustration palpable.

“When I tell you to stay, I say it for a good reason. This whole plan was nearly jeopardised.”

“I don’t care about your plan. People I love are back there!” Kora seethed, her chest puffing. Raiden was so warm and his heat confused her. Did he always feel like a hot summer’s evening, or was that from the battle?

Raiden stilled at her response, his gaze sweeping over her. At his silence, Kora huffed. Agatha was dead, Theron near enough was, still trapped within that castle along with Ivar. And Samuel . . . how long had he been suffering?

Aryn touched her arm, and nodded meekly, his now-muted eyes saddening. Traces of hazel had returned to their hue, and he looked more like the young boy who’d joined her crew. Aerion lingered behind him, warily observing the interaction with his rounded eyes. Kora paused, only just realising how many people had come . . . for her.

Raiden had heard her call.

“Please, I can’t leave them.” She pushed the thought out. But Raiden didn’t answer, he didn’t so much as blink. Kora frowned, sensing a block somewhere between them. Hadn’t they just communicated telepathically mere moments ago?