She searched Kai’s bright blue eyes for any sign that the elemental would concede. Finally, Kai sighed and gripped Isla’s hand tightly before letting go. “I could stop you, you know.”
A smile formed on Isla’s lips. “But you won’t.”
Kai closed her eyes. “I’m definitely going to regret this. Okay, where is this river?”
Isla released a breath and walked toward the back of her house. “This way.”
She still couldn’t believe what they’d just discovered. Why had the dark god—theKing of Karstos—revealed his true identity? It seemed like that would be giving up some of his power over them. What game was he playing?
And how did the King of Karstos even have these powers? Had he been born with them, or were they granted to him later in life? How had the world failed to notice one of its most powerful rulers harbored magic all this time? She was curious to see if the elementals had ever heard of something like this happening.
The fact that he knew of her secret hideaway by the river behind their property terrified her. The idea that he had been watching her, that he’d anonymously pried into the hidden areas of her world, made her shiver.
It was almost dusk. The sun was barely past the horizon—only faint paint strokes of gold, blue, and pink lit their path as they ventured further into the woods. Leaves and ice from the last snowfall crunched under her feet, while thin branches scratched at her hands as she shoved them away. The night came alive as the day departed, leaving behind steady hums of insects and twinkling lights from stars opening their eyes.
Tonight, those stars whispered a warning.
She and Kai made their way past the thick trees, the space growing tighter and tighter, branches catching on their cloaks. The gentle babbling of the nearby river drew closer. She pushed aside a hanging vine, and the trees gave way to a riverbank, the navy waters of the Abaddon River pushing at its edges.
“You should stay here. The clearing is just over there,” Isla said to Kai as she motioned to the right, past another copse of trees. “I’ll yell as loud as I can if I need you, I promise.”
By the way her lips twisted from side to side, Kai was obviously still wary, but she thankfully didn’t argue again. She simply nodded and said, “I’ll be here.”
With one last look at the water elemental, Isla continued down the edges of the river until she came to the familiar thicket of bushes and scraggly trees. Ducking beneath a low-hanging branch, she followed the short, well-worn path leading to her little clearing, her personal solace from anxieties and cares of the world.
At least it had been, until now.
She stepped into the open space, the fresh night air twisting through her hair. Standing underneath the waning light, his body a mere silhouette against the orange haze of dusk, was the king.
He looked…different. Perhaps it was simply Isla’s newfound knowledge that he was a human, like her, and not some evil deity drawn from the depths of hell itself. With his back to her, all she could see was his dark jacket ruffling in the breeze, his elbows bent, his hands tucked into the pockets of black pants. The grass rose to his mid-calf and swayed in her direction as a strong rush of wind shot through the clearing. Hints of sweet cypress floated to her, caressing her, kissing her senses.
She didn’t think he knew she had approached yet. He still looked up at the evening sky, and in that moment, she had the strangest desire to see his face. She wondered what he was thinking. Perhaps he was plotting his next course of action. Or did he, like her, find peace in the solitude of the night, in the vastness of the expanse above them?
Isla shook her head and walked toward him, fingering the dagger she always kept at her belt. At her footsteps, he turned to reveal half of a smirk that did odd things to her stomach. She ignored it, welcoming the rage simmering just beneath her skin.
“Good evening,” he said smoothly, facing her fully. His features held the same mischief and confidence they always had, but seemed…softer, somehow. There weren’t as many harsh lines and sharp edges. He wore a white shirt tucked into pants instead of his normal all-black attire, the fabric clinging to his chest beneath the cloak. His nonchalance made her even angrier.
“Cut the act,” she seethed, moving closer to him. “Tell me where my family is.”
“You know, this is quite a magical place you’ve found.” His head swiveled, studying the scenery as he spoke. “You must have come here often throughout your life. I can see why you love it—being able to get away from the world, even if only for a moment. To have only the sky looking to you instead of a host of people.”
Isla blinked, unprepared for how genuine his observation felt. She waited for some thinly veiled threat to follow, but when none came, she said, “If you’re not going to say anything helpful, I’m leaving.”
She feigned turning on her heel when he reached out an arm and brushed against her shoulder. “Wait,” he called, and when she met his gaze once more, the color of his eyes shifted from blue to black in the span of a heartbeat.
She almost stumbled. It must have been an illusion, the moonlight catching them at the right angle. Letting out a short breath of frustration, she said, “Well, Your Majesty?”
He smiled and ran his tongue over his teeth. “That has a rather nice ring to it, yes? But you may call me Sebastian.”
“Thank you for the gracious offer,” she sneered and shook off his hand. “What have you done with my family? You said you wouldn’t hurt them if I agreed to your deal, and I did. So why did you take them?”
Sebastian sighed and steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. “I didn’t harm them, Isla. I took them to ensure that—”
Anger exploded in her chest, white-hot and acidic. “You didn’tharmthem? The house was torn apart! What do you—”
“To ensure that you aren’t tempted to try any tricks.” He raised his voice to overpower hers, then tutted at her. “So dramatic. Your brother put up a bit of a fight, but my men had strict orders to leave them unharmed, as per our agreement. They are in my custody now, where I can watch over them until I have the dagger.” He picked an invisible piece of lint off of his shoulder.
Her chest heaved from her outburst. A strand of copper hair had escaped her braid and rested against her mostly healed cheek. “Why should I trust you?”
