Understanding flowed between them, and she was relieved that he wouldn’t try to argue with her. He knew better than she did how, in the end, nothing could thrive when shadows of an impossible future had clouded them from the very beginning.
Rynn nodded once before beginning to turn away, but then stopped and said, “While I have made many mistakes in my existence, finding you was not one of them. You have reminded me why we once walked among humans, why your kind is so deserving and capable.” He swallowed. “You reminded me of what peace is like.”
Isla smiled faintly. “After all this is over, I hope you can find that peace again.”
She wasn’t sure if it was possible for the elementals to ever have true peace, but she sincerely desired that for each of them. She did not envy their power, their immortality. It seemed a long and lonely life, to exist in a world one was destined to outlive.
As Rynn walked off, Isla shifted her attention to the island across the reflective waters, wondering what oncoming chaos awaited them at those shores.
Isla stepped out of the small dinghy that had carried them from the ship, which was anchored half a mile offshore and away from prying eyes, to the sandy beaches before her. August and his crew had stayed aboard theMekaisa; it was the only way to ensure they were out of harm’s way when the Karstos ship approached.
She took in the salty scent of the island, with a hint of sweet grass and oranges on the breeze, and the cool morning wind against her skin. She knelt and let a handful of sand glide between her fingers like silk. Seagulls called to one another, flapping overhead and into the vast greenery beyond the beach. There was not a soul in sight, nor any indication that humans had once occupied the land. It was free, open, and wild—and it was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.
Isla had denied her connection to the island when she first learned of her heritage, yet she couldn’t turn away from Iona’s call any longer. It almost felt like she wasn’t runningfromanything, but runningtowardsomething.
Kai came up behind her and nudged her shoulder. “So, what do you think?”
“It…it’s perfect. I can’t believe I’m standing here, on an island we thought was a myth.”
Kai chuckled. “Well, it’s definitely real.” She pulled a small bronze spyglass from her pocket and lifted it to her eye, looking back out into the ocean.
“What are you doing?” Isla asked.
“Checking to see if I can spot the Karstos ship. We’ve got to stay alert.”
Isla nodded. “Do you still have the dagger?”
Kai patted her other pocket. “Safe and sound.”
Isla wondered if they should’ve left it on the ship, but if Sebastian caught up to them, it was best to have it nearby. They’d decided one of the elementals should hold onto the dagger since it affected Isla too severely. They didn’t want to take any chances, even if she promised she had it under control. And Kai wrapped it inplentyof thick cloth so it wouldn’t accidentally prick her skin.
Isla turned back to the view before her, taking in a breath of fresh air to calm her nerves. It was like breathing in the spirit of the island. A smattering of trees began inland on the edge of the white sands, growing thicker and thicker until they turned into a dense jungle. Even further in the distance stood the vast peak of the tallest mountain Isla had ever laid eyes on. It reached into the clouds, with white frost and fog surrounding the highest point she could see.
“What’s the mountain called?” she asked Kai as they continued walking.
“Elani,” Kai replied, pride in her voice. This was the elementals’ island, after all. Isla wondered how much of a hand they’d had in crafting this kingdom, in forging the wondrous sights before her and naming the lands she walked on. There was so much history here, and so many more stories Isla wanted to hear. But they didn’t have time for that.
A question she had thought of back when they’d set sail came to mind. “How has nobody found the island? It seems like we got here rather easily, and it’s only a few days from Evonlea. Surely people have traveled this far before.”
“There’s spirit magic surrounding the island that Celesine put in place to stop mortals from getting too close. Even if they’re coming straight at it, they wouldn’t be able to see it until they pass a boundary a little ways out from land,” Kai answered.
“What’s stopping anyone from going past the boundary?”
“If they get too close, the magic suddenly urges them to shift course, effectively drawing them around and away from the island.” Jade, who walked behind them, jumped in to explain.
“I’m guessing it doesn’t work on you?”
Kai shook her head. “No, we can get past the boundaries. Actually, August and his crew tried to redirect the ship several times because the magic made them think we were getting lost, but I told them to continue going straight.” She chuckled. “They thought I was crazy and kept showing me maps of the empty ocean. They were rather shocked when we got past the boundary and spotted land.”
“Okay, so doesn’t this mean Sebastian shouldn’t be able to get to the island?” Isla inquired further.
Aidan scratched his short beard. “Ah, well, that’s the tricky part, little island. We’ve never really dealt with someone like him before. We don’t know if the boundary will work on him the same way it works on the rest of you humans since he has magic.”
Suddenly, Kai cursed next to her. Isla whipped her head around to see the water elemental snap her spyglass back into place and throw it in her pocket. “I can see the Karstos ship. They’ve made it past. He’ll be here soon.”
“I guess that answers that question,” Aidan said dryly. “Excellent timing.”
The tension was palpable, the air tingling with adrenaline as they processed what was coming. Isla caught the elementals glancing back into the jungle, worry written across their faces.
