“This?” Bri held the book up, glancing at Isla hesitantly. “Um, yes, it is.”
The elderly man brushed his fingers against the spine and immediately jerked his head up to lock eyes with Isla. His stare was searching, knowing, and something passed between them.Whowasthis man?
“You are—” Akir coughed and cleared his throat, breaking his stare. “Come, Miss Brielle. We must get you to safety. And find you that strong drink.”
“I like you already,” Bri said with a chuckle before she swiftly pulled away from him and rushed back to Isla. Throwing her arms around her neck, she bumped Isla in the back with the book.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, okay?” She squeezed tightly. “I love you, Isla.”
Isla breathed in her best friend, the scent of home and late nights and laughter. “I love you, too. I’ll see you soon.”
Bri let go and walked back to Akir. “You all stay safe, too, alright?” She smiled and saluted the elementals before taking Akir’s arm. The two walked into the lush trees of the jungle and disappeared from view, the tightness in Isla’s chest mounting.
Isla turned back to face the line of rocks separating the sandy beach from the jungle now behind them. The white sands stretched out from where she stood all the way to the clear water, and on either side as far as her eye could see. The only object that stood out for miles was a large outcropping of rocks, taller than a person, resting a little ways to their left. The midday sun was shining on the waves and sand, almost blinding her in its brilliance.
“The king is almost here,” Kai grimly said beside her.
“Ah, on the contrary,” shouted a voice from her left, behind the large rock formation. Isla’s stomach dropped, heat and nausea and dreaded anticipation lancing through her. “I’m already here.”
She locked onto Sebastian’s form as he casually walked out from behind the boulders that had concealed him. He moved gracefully, his white tunic loosely tucked into tight, black pants, the top opened slightly and exposing his chest as the breeze made the fabric sway. A sword was sheathed in his belt, but Isla knew it was for show. His weapon was not made of steel.
He stalked toward them, his eyes penetrating hers the entire way. She almost didn’t register the audible gasp that came from Kai until her gaze shifted to the figures shuffling a ways behind Sebastian.
He had not come alone.
There, with gags in their mouths and ropes tied around their wrists, were Arden and her father.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Isla
Awaveoficeswept over Isla.Her family.He’d brought them here.
Isla frantically ran a hand through her hair and started to spring toward him, ignoring the elementals as they yelled after her.
When she slammed into a wall of solid air, a growl left her lips.
Isla turned to shoot Rynn a glare, cold determination clouding her thoughts. “If you don’t let me go and he hurts them, I’ll take the Dagger of Volnus and kill you myself,” she snarled, rolling up her sleeves. “That goes for all of you.”
Rynn met her stare for a heartbeat. Two. Then he blinked and flicked his wrist, and the pressure against her palms disappeared. She pounded through the soft sand to the king and his prisoners.
Sebastian slid in front of her before she reached them, her chest colliding with his.
“Trouble in paradise?” he asked smoothly, his words mixing with the familiar scent of sweet wine and cypress as they wrapped around her.
“You said you wouldn’t hurt them!” she yelled. This was all wrong; his eyes were pitch black and endless, with no hint of the conflicted, broken man from the night before.
“Do they look harmed? Really, love, you have so little faith in me.”
“They’re tied up and gagged, Sebastian!”
“I’ve never had any complaints before.” He sighed when she continued glaring at him. “It’s a precaution. I’m sure you understand. Now, you know the deal. You can’t get any closer to them until I have the dagger.” He held his hand out expectantly, but the smirk on his face said he knew she wasn’t giving it to him yet.
“We don’t have it,” she forced out. “Sebastian, please—”
Hetsked. “Don’t lie to me, love. We’re far past those games. I know your pretty little sea witch over there has it.” He nodded his head toward Kai. “I would make her give it to me myself if I could, but nothing is quite that easy.”
“What do you mean?”
