Part of me just wants to run. To cut ties with everything and everyone and disappear until I’m nothing more than a forgotten word washed away in the current. But then I think about Lyre and my promise to her. Her hope for the future with her babe. I think of what my mother is capable of—of what she is already doing to ensure she gets what she wants. Her legion is lethal, but at least right now, they are preoccupied. With her attention on healing her legionaries, there is still time for me to take advantage of the temporary distraction.
The most dangerous person is the one willing to do whatever it takes.
I’m not willing to run from this—not now.
Still, to get their weapons, I will need to not only find them in the legion’s arsenal, but I’ll also need to sneak them out. Considering they are guarded day and night, this is a mission that I need to admit I can’t do on my own. Especially not with Nia attempting to make good on her threats. I let out a resigned sigh and tuck the crystal back into my bag. It is time to ask for help.
Ten minutes later, my heart thrashes against my ribs as I swim back to the palace. I can’t tell if the feeling of being watched is there because it’srealor I’m just nervous for what I’m about to do. The front of the palace comes into view and again, I repeat Myla’s words.
The most dangerous person…
I have never been considered dangerous to anyone, but that certainly doesn’t mean that I nevercouldbe. That perhaps even I—in all my perceived weaknesses—have the potential to be someone formidable. The thought bolsters me, and I decide now that if Nia has already gone to Sade or Allegra in my mother’s absence, I will fight them to maintain my freedom. I don’t wantto be someone thatneedsto rely on others. I want to be someone thatIcan rely on.
With that thought in mind, I abandon the old mantra, the one that hid me behind a shield as fragile as glass.Jaw and shoulders relaxed, lips flat, spine straight, and attitude vicious.I thought that mantra was one that could hide what I believed myself to be, the antithesis of what I truly was. I am not the most vicious. I am not the strongest or smartest or most capable at fighting. But to protect Lyre? To repay the debts of my mother’s unfounded bitterness to those who deserve the chance to live a life free from her wicked revenge? I can forge a new shield for that. One constructed of the confidence that has just started to blossom. One that is layered with those words Myla had spoken to me. Strengthened with the fact that I love my sister more than I hate myself.
Just because I have failedso fardoesn’t mean that Iama failure.
I swim above the manicured sea floor near the palace, glowing anemones and plants lit with bioluminescence dotting it. When I reach the pathway that leads to the palace entrance, I spy Karina and Hova guarding it. They cross their spears in front of the door, and I adopt the bored look I always give them. But this time, I’m not pretending to be tougher than I am. They may have more training than I do, but I’m no longer afraid to draw blood if needed.
“Well, if it isn’t Princess Aria,” Sarina drawls, narrowing her topaz eyes at me. “What are you doing here?”
I cock my head to the side, brushing my braids back over my shoulders. “I live here.”
Hova snorts, but doesn’t remove her weapon from my path.
“General Sade declared that with two pregnant princesses residing within the palace, we must show extreme caution with who we let past these doors.” The corner of Karina’s mouth liftsin a mocking smile. “We all know that Princess Aria has never exactlyfit in.”
My fingers curl into my palms as I resist the urge to let my talons show as my magic begins to gather low in my throat. I stare at them, my muscles tense with the anticipation of an attack when Hova lifts her spear and swims back to her side of the door.
“Let her through before you earn Sade’s wrath. She’s been crankier than usual.” Karina relents though doesn’t mask her snicker of disapproval. I roll my shoulders back and swim past them, their attitudes forgotten at the chaos that immediately greets me.
Inside, the palace is bustling with more sirens than I have ever seen here at once, despite the late hour. And all of them are legionaries.Shit. My eyes dart from female to female, my pulse fluttering in my chest as I wait for the moment they realize I’m among them. If Nia has already informed Sade or Allegra of my betrayal, then surely, they will apprehend me the moment they see me. Yet, though a few of them look my way, they spare me nothing more than a cursory glance. I cautiously glide forward, water and bubbles sliding along my skin as I make my way through the throng of gathered legionaries. If they aren’t here for me…
“They say they can pass through the Spell now!” one says as she swims by me.
“Can we trust it? How do we know it is actuallytrue?”
More murmurs of the Spell—of the first group of legionaries that came backchanged—ring in my ear as I pass, the reason for those gathered abundantly clear now. An involuntary shiver draws my shoulders up to my ears. My mother hadn’t wasted time informing everyone of what Rhea did.
I pass by the yellow sea glass door of the throne room, stopping in front of it for just a moment before the sound ofAllegra’s voice on the other side sends me scrambling to the ramp up to the second floor. Lyre’s bedroom is on the opposite end of the hall from my own, and relief hits me when I find her door open, my sister sitting on her bed.
“Aria,” she says, giving me a soft smile. I shut the door behind me as I enter, taking in her room as I make my way to the bed. Its layout is similar to my own, only larger and decorated with pale shades of purple, yellow, and pink. On the wall behind the bed is a mosaic of crystals made to look like a flaring sun. Their light is subtle, setting the room in a soft glow of gold. Unlike the barebones room of Sade’s and the mismatched quality of mine, Lyre’s space is one that represents her.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, settling in next to her.
“Tired,” she answers with a chuckle, leaning back on her hands, “but well.” Her eyes shift to mine. “How are you?”
“Fine.” She sends me a look that says,liar, but I shake my head and gesture to her belly. “And the little one?”
“She’s moving a ton now. Particularly while I’m trying to sleep.” I laugh, my own tension seeping away while I watch emotions play across her face.Happiness. Excitement. Joy.But then her smile shrinks and her brows draw low over her eyes.
“What is it?”
“Whatever Mother is planning has me nervous,” she starts, shifting to sit up. I join her, my gaze meeting hers in concern. “It was one thing when what she preached was all talk—the ramblings of a female lost in her own rage. But to hear that she is one step closer to getting what she wants… Aria, I don’t know if it’s safe for us to do this anymore.”
My throat constricts tightly. “What?”
“She is becoming more powerful, and if she gets what she wants on land? There is no telling the lengths she’ll go to in order to ensure her reach into every part of Olymazi. That will include us,” she says, her hands cradling her belly more tightly.
