We hauled ourselves onto the warship as sailors swung from our mast to theirs like monkeys. I unsheathed my swords just in time to cut down a soldier who lunged at me with his own sword.
Rain pummeled us as we shouted and fought our way through Renwell’s soldiers. No Wolves. No sunstone weapons.
Skelly’s crew took advantage of their distraction as I intended and boarded the warship, brandishing their weapons. Outnumbered, the remaining Rellmiran soldiers surrendered.
“Cease!” I roared until our forces backed down.
“We don’t have time for prisoners,” Maz muttered to me, his axe coated in blood and his armor undented.
“There’s always time for mercy,” I replied quietly, staring at the drenched, miserable men huddled on deck. “I will not make enemies of my people if they don’t wish to be so.”
Maz nodded and shouted for the warriors to collect the soldiers’ weapons and march them belowdecks. We locked them in the brig and brought the rest of our warriors over from the rapidly sinking Wolf ship. Skelly’s crew returned toMynastra’s Wings.
We set sail once more. The storm cleared enough for me to see the Rellmiran palace glittering in the distance. Was Kiera there, watching me?
My gut clenched. If so, Renwell could see us, too. He’d know we were coming.
Chapter 62
Kiera
The knock camewith the first clap of thunder.
I’d been pacing my room since dawn, waiting for news of Aiden and Henry. Or for guards to escort me to the palace dungeon, if Renwell discovered my treachery with the gate.
What happened to me didn’t matter as long as the plan worked. Itmustwork.
I’d already barricaded Everett and Delysia inside one of the secret passageways they were sure Renwell didn’t know about.
I’d fought with them all night on this plan, and they’d eventually given in, knowing I was the one Renwell wanted. That I couldn’t do what needed to be done if they were around to use as hostages.
Pierce opened my door before I could answer his knock. “Apologies, my lady, I’m to bring you to the throne room.”
It was time. All the Death and Four tiles were laid out. All the truths and lies would be revealed. No more hiding.
I drew my shoulders back, even as my knees trembled. Mother’s knife was safely tucked into my boot. My hair was tightly braided, and I wore the pants and shirt I’d arrived in.
Taking one last glance around my room, I followed Pierce to the throne room. I brushed my fingers along the glass doors that led to Mother’s garden.
Be with me, Mother. Give me your strength. Help me defeat the monsters, Nikella.
Itried to breathe steadily through my nose. Tried to align my head, heart, and body as Nikella instructed me. But the fear was an icy river, determined to suck me down. The names and faces of everyone I loved and my fear of losing them drowned out every other thought.
Pierce gestured for me to enter the throne room without him and shut the doors behind me.
The cavernous room was empty. The gold throne bare.
A brutal storm lashed at the many windows that faced the sea.
Unable to help myself, I hurried over to them and peered out. The rain made it difficult to see anything in their shifting gray curtains. But... was that a ship?
It was there, and then it was gone. Shadows chased each other under the lightning. Or it was my imagination.
“He’s coming for you,” came a deep voice behind me.
Gasping, I whirled to see Renwell standing a few feet away. Crowned and armed with a sheathed sword. His face was unreadable. The wind howled against the windows I pressed against.
“But he can’t have you,” Renwell said, an eerie echo of what Aiden had said to me when we escaped Aquinon. “Your loyalty belongs to me now.”
