“The Lykren?” Adara echoed, a frown of disapproval tugging at her features. “Why name your ship after such wretched beasts?”
“Well, Dominic hasn’t officially named the ship, but that’s what I like to call her.” Caleb affectionately patted the hull. “Because they’re formidable—invincible—and so are we.” His eyes darted to the tattoo on her chest. “A Searling, huh?”
Adara huffed, tired of everyone using that term, though she couldn’t blame them. With Blemythia gone, Flamecarriers were unheard of. But it still felt like an insult, a way of degrading her power. She could do so much more than a Searling, who merely controlled fire. Adarawasfire. It was in her blood, scorching and fierce, demanding to be let out to burn and burn until there was nothing left. It came from deep within her, a power born from the bloodline of the Goddess of Fire and Courage she had been named after. She would not let anyone dishonor that name by calling her anything less than what she was.
“Flamecarrier,” Adara seethed.
Caleb waved a dismissive hand. “Sounds like the same thing.”
Adara balled the collar of his tunic in her fist. The joy drained from his eyes, mouth hanging agape. She raised her other hand and snapped in his face, fire sparking at her fingertips. “I summon from nothing.”
He tried to blow out the fire—a futile attempt as it only burned brighter.
“I wasbornwith fire in my veins. I did not receive it from any object or event like your pathetic King of Keys.” She held the flames closer to his face.
Caleb pulled back, sweat beading on his brow, but Adara held him firmly. Red flushed his cheeks.
“I could set this whole ship ablaze right now if I wanted.” A Searling’s power would seem pitiful in her presence. “Do you still think Flamecarriers are the same?” she asked.
Caleb’s throat bobbed as he swallowed down the fear choking him. He frantically shook his head, hair almost singeing on the embers.
Asher gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it,” he said calmly, like trying to pacify an enraged animal.
The flames snuffed out, and Adara released Caleb. He staggered back, brushing out the wrinkles of his navy tunic.
Adara gave him a sickly-sweet smile. “Lesson learned then.”
Surprisingly, Caleb grinned back. “I like you,” he said lightly, all previous traces of terror replaced with content. He glanced at Asher. “Maybe Dominichasfinally met his match.”
Adara’s heart swelled with pride.
Chapter 8
Tallgrassgrazedherlegs. Adara stood barefoot with a wooden sword in her hand. Her opponent—her twin brother—swung his wooden sword in an arc overhead. She threw her weapon up, blocking his strike. He pulled away from her, then lunged again. Adara hooked her foot around his, knocking his feet out from under him. Agni fell hard on his back with a grunt. Before he could make a move to get up, Adara had the tip of her wooden sword at his throat.
“I win,” she said, a grin plastered on her face. “Again,” she added. She tossed the practice sword to the ground and held out her hand.
He reached for her, grasping her forearm, then tugged her down. She crashed to the ground next to him. Her brother laughed at her for falling for that—again.
“Not fair!” Adara said, punching him in the shoulder. “I was trying to be nice and help you up!”
He lightly punched her back. “In a real fight, not everyone plays fair.” He ruffled her brown hair. Adara batted his hand away, smoothing out the disheveled strands. “And not everyone is as kind as you.”
She rolled her eyes. “They might be if they’re shown the good in this world, that being mean doesn’t always get you what you want.”
Agni stood, offering his hand. Reluctantly, Adara grasped it, and he pulled her to her feet.
“Yeah, well, not everyone was taught to be a hero like Mother and Father taught us.”
She heard his unspoken words.Not everyone was born to be a hero like you.
“There’s some people in this world that just won’t change. They’ll take and take until there’s nothing left. And sometimes, the only way to defeat the bad . . . is to get rid of it entirely.” He brushed the dirt off his trousers and picked up both their practice swords.
“Agni,” Adara started as her brother turned to walk back up the verdant hill.
“Yeah?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at her.
Her lip quivered at the thought of his words, of hurting someone.Killingsomeone. Gods, what if she destroyed themall? “I don’t want to hurt anyone,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She shook her head, eyes wet with unshedtears. How could she hurt someone? How could shekillsomeone just because they saw the world a different way than she did? Maybe their perspective caused others a whole lot of pain, caused others to believe them to be evil, to be monsters. But what about who caused the monsters’ pain? Couldn’t she heal them instead of hurting them more?
