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“Who’s Taran?” asked Nicolo Cassian, whom Felix remembered as Jonas’s redheaded friend who’d helped them rescue Lys from her execution.
He’d asked about Lysandra, but hadn’t gotten a satisfying answer. Likely, she’d stayed behind in Mytica to keep an eye on Prince Magnus.
That, or perhaps she hadn’t been as forgiving as Jonas, and still blamed him for what happened that terrible night in Auranos.
He’d have to deal with her later.
“Taran’s a rebel,” Felix replied. “You might even know him already. He’s from Auranos originally.”
Nic shrugged. “It’s a pretty big kingdom.”
“Amara and the king should be nearing Mytican shores by now, right?” Jonas asked.
“They probably have two or three days left ahead of them,” Mikah confirmed. “And the rest of the ships are only a half day behind them.”
“We need to get a message to the prince,” Felix said. “To warn him what’s coming. If this so-called peaceful occupation has anything to do with Amara, then Mytica is in for a lot of violence. She’s the one who’s taking over, and if the king gives her any problems, she’s going to kill him.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Nic said.
“For all his greed and ruthlessness, the king values Mytica,” Jonas said, pacing back and forth, his arms crossed. “What Amara must want most from him is to get her hands on the rest of the Kindred.”
Felix had admitted his stupidity and confirmed that the king had the air Kindred, but Jonas assured him that that was the only one the king would have in his personal possession.
Amara, that wicked, deceitful black widow spider, had the water Kindred the whole time, and Felix had had absolutely no idea.
“A raven won’t get there in time,” Jonas said. “Olivia?”
She came to his side. “Yes?”
“How fast can you fly?”
“Very fast.”
“I need you to take a message to the prince. You’ll need to leave immediately.”
She scanned the group, her expression pinched. “I can’t leave. If I do, you’ll be vulnerable to attack.”
“And if you don’t, many people in Mytica will be in terrible danger.”
“And?” Her tone held an exasperated edge. “Am I to understand that you’re counting every living soul in Mytica a friend, and that I need to protect them all?”
“That’s exactly right.” Jonas took her by her shoulders. “Please, Olivia. This is important. Please do this for me.”
“Mortals,” she said, shaking her head. Olivia studied Jonas for a moment of stony silence. “Very well,” she finally said. “Compose your message. But if you die before I return, I refuse to be held responsible.”
Jonas nodded. “Fair enough.”
CHAPTER 25
LUCIA
PAELSIA
The deadly events in the Paelsian market had stayed with Lucia ever since, troubling her thoughts by day and stealing her sleep by night.
Kyan had grown increasingly irate ever since, his violence more easily triggered. Moments of calm and introspection were few and far between as they continued searching for a way to draw Timotheus out of the Sanctuary.
That search had brought them to two neighboring Paelsian villages—five miles apart.
