Sound rushed back in with a loud boom pulsing from the joined swords.
Ice exploded.
A wave of ice and water tore from the fissure and raced toward the soldiers.
They had no chance as an enormous wave crashed over them, obliterating them before they could even scream.
The river crashed and roared ahead of her. Terena looked out in horror a second before the ice beneath her feet cracked. She jumped back, bringing her hands back to her sides. Terena sheathed her swords and turned, bolting toward the shore.
Rydon screamed her name as she leaped. The ice buckled beneath her as she stretched out her arm. Rydon ran onto the ice and grabbed her as the ice collapsed and they both plunged into the freezing water. He tugged at her, dragging them both to the shore. Gabriol kneeled and wrapped his cloak around her.
Coughing and sputtering, Terena scrambled over to her brother, awhimper tearing from her throat. As she reached him and turned his face to her, his eyes fluttered open, a half smile on his lips.
“Always so dramatic,” he said, his voice weak. Terena choked on a sob and dropped her forehead to his.
“Sonah,” she sobbed as her body convulsed.
“What?” Croak said in with a crack in his voice. Terena cried harder.
“Where is she?” Gabriol yelled, falling to Terena’s side.
“They took her!” she screamed in Gabriol’s face. She shook her head in misery.
The sound of hooves made her spring back up, her sword in her left hand as she crouched over her brother. Rydon and Gabriol had daggers raised.
“That is quite the entrance,” a familiar voice called out as the riders pulled up.
Terena tensed as she watched soldiers wearing unfamiliar armor stop a few feet from them. They moved their mounts aside so the man who’d spoken rode closer.
“Orry?!”Terena exclaimed. Her vision blurred and tears stung her eyes. He dismounted and rushed over to them, throwing his arms around Terena.
“He found us a week ago,” the man beside him said. Glancing up, she saw he was tall—even mounted on his warhorse. His dusty blond hair fell over his forehead and down to his neck as he leaned forward and grinned down at them, his deep blue eyes locked on hers. “He had a marvelous story to tell about what delayed your arrival. He assured me you’d be here soon, though, and here you are.”
Terena’s mouth dropped open when she glanced to her right and saw both Rydon and Gabriol drop to one knee, their heads bowed.
“Your Majesty,” Rydon said, and Terena whipped her gaze back to the blond man.
He dismounted and Terena shifted, unsure what to do.
The blond man grinned and sauntered over to them. He held out a hand to Terena as she eyed him warily.
“We meet at last, Terena Luca. I am Hermes.”
Sonah stoodwith her arms crossed, staring out the window at the thick clouds obstructing her view of the city. King Altos had assured her more than once she was not a prisoner, yet she refused to leave her rooms.
After arriving back in Sparta a few days ago, the servants had put her in the same rooms she’d had the last time she’d stayed in Arestia Castle. The dresses King Altos had had made for her were still in the wardrobe, but Sonah had refused to wear anything other than the leggings and worn shirt and corset Terena had bought for her. Her boots now had holes in them, yet she’d refused his offer to have new ones made.
Sonah would rather die than take anything else from that man.
When Daris had brought her before him, the king had told her she was brought back for her own protection, but she knew she was leverage to use against her sister. Daris had said as much on their way back. He’d said having Sonah with him ensured Terena’s return. Burning to ask why he wanted her back after how he’d betrayed her, Sonah kept silent. Daris was not the same man she’d come to know. The man who’d left her at her bedchamber door was cold and scary.
And very dangerous.
The doors opened and servants bustled in carrying pails of steaming water. Sonah looked over her shoulder with disinterest before turning back to the window. She could hear the sounds of water being poured in the room off to her right. Soon, she’d go through the ritual of taking her bath while the servants laundered her outfit, then wait patiently wrapped in nothing but a towel while she waited for them to return with her clothes. For some reason, that small bit of rebellion made her feel better.
When the servants hurried from the room, Sonah made her way to the bathing chamber. She had removed her corset when a thump sounded on the other side of the wall. Clutching the garment to her chest, Sonah stilled.
This again?
