He reemerged, spitting water as he said, “What the Hel was that for?” Caleb’s blond curls loosened around his face, dripping salt water as he wiped his eyes.
“You should know by now not to sneak up on me. You’re lucky I haven’t killed you yet.”
“You’d never do such a thing,” Caleb replied with a mocking smile, shaking his head at her like a wet dog.
Asher swam over to them, joining their conversation. “You do realize we’re ageless, right? We could all live for centuries, but I don’t think Adara will put up with us for that long.”
“If I wanted you dead, I’d have done it a long time ago.”
“What about Dominic?” Caleb challenged.
“Yeah,” a smug voice Adara would recognize from anywhere said. “What about me, love? Does that mean you don’t actually want me dead?” He wore a cruel, taunting smirk as he sauntered up to them, muscles gleaming underneath the water and stardust sprinkled all over his skin. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.
Adara had never reallywantedDominic dead. He was much more useful alive. His key tempted her far more than his death. And now—after everything they’ve been through, after everything she discovered—Adara still didn’t know if she had the power to kill him.
“No,” Adara said, stepping toward him. She angled her head up at him, lips dangerously close to his.
He stiffened at her nearness.
“I need you alive for something much better than the satisfaction I’d get from your death,” she replied smoothly, her hand drifting over his bare chest as she stepped past him.
He chuckled softly. “I do seem to be more useful alive.” He flicked droplets of water and stardust at her.
Specks of blue glittered on her cheeks. She splashed the water back at him with more force.
“Oh, you want to play that game?” he said. “Because you’re out of your element, Phoenix.” Something dark and mischievous glinted in his eyes. Dominic raised a hand and water followed,climbing higher and higher until a massive wave towered over her.
“Why do you always have to pick a fight with him?” Caleb chastised, standing only a few feet behind her.
Adara shrugged. “Because it’s fun. Especially when you two get caught up in it as well.”
Asher and Caleb fruitlessly tried to swim away. Dropping his hand, the wave crashed down on them with such force that Adara barely had time to throw her hands up. A wall of fire ignited in the wave’s path. Steam billowed into the air, clouding the bright stars for only a moment before Dominic sent a gust of wind to blow the smoke away.
Adara smiled victoriously, turning to Asher and Caleb. “See? I can beat him.” Coils of blue flame that matched the stars swirled around her arms.
“Can you?” Ace replied from behind her.
She whirled to see a knowing smirk on the second’s face.
Before Adara could react, someone grabbed her from behind, throwing all their weight into her and sending her back into the dark ocean, dousing the flames in her palms. Adara shot out of the water to see Dominic peering down at her, with a triumphant smirk plastered on his face.
Out of all the unexpected things Dominic had done in the past few days, Adara never would have thought she’d see him like this, laughing, smiling, and teasing her and the others. The sight of him without weapons, without hostility, made her heart lurch. For a second, she wondered if it could always be like this. Maybe, at the end of their war, no one had to die.
She shook her head, silently scolding herself as she walked to the shore, shivering not entirely from the cool water, and pulled on her clothing. Silently, she watched the Andreilians celebrate in the sea, stardust from the twirling constellations raining down upon them. Caleb sat atop Tobias’s shoulders, trying to shoveAsher off his perch on Evreux’s shoulders. Vesper and Niran surfed a wave, diving off the wooden boards as the water crashed over them. Tyson, Desmond, and Sawyer sat in the sand, laughing as they played a card game. Zephyr tried to mold the sand into a fortress next to them.
And then there was Dominic, water spraying as he shook out his hair. A grin that radiated pure joy lit his face as he amicably shoved Ace’s shoulder.
How could she still think of Dominic as merely a boy who was made out to be a monster? How was she still thinking he could be redeemed?
Deep down, she knew the answer. She didn’t want to admit that it was because they were two sides of the same coin. That the Shadow Empire had screwed them both. That Adara still hoped the gods would forgive her, just as he hoped she would forgive him.
Hope was powerful, but when misplaced, it was destructive. Adara knew by now she shouldn’t hope for anything.Dominic Nite carved out his own heart and tossed it into the Plagued Sea. Who’s to say he won’t do worse to you?She reminded herself of the words Damon had repeated to her a million times aboard theValen Wind.
But Dominic had loved before. He’d been through so much pain and heartbreak. Adara saw the hate in his eyes when he spoke of his past. She saw how much he despised himself. He believed it was all his fault. That everyone he lost was because of him. He’d been just a boy once, lost and alone and broken. Desperately trying to mend the wounds that he believed he had created on himself and others.
Yet he hadn’t tried to mend the wounds with Adara. He was perfectly content with wiping them away, letting them fester and scar with no memories of how they got there. She didn’t care whether he remembered now or not. He hid the truth from her.
She deserved to know.
