His hard face was carved like stone, his eyes burning with rage. Von drew out two more knives. “You are going to burn on this damn ship, even if it means I go with you!”
Von sprinted for him. The clash of steel rang out as Tarn’s blade deflected every attack with swift agility.
“I knew you survived,” Tarn said as they circled each other. “You returned because we both know your place has always belonged with me.”
“I came for your head,” Von snarled. His knives cut through the air, inches from taking Tarn’s neck.
But he was too fast, too skilled. Tarn dodged Von’s next attack and delivered a kick that threw him into a stack of barrels.
“I didn’t order her to be burned alive, Von.” Tarn stalked toward him. “I didn’t need to. She never would have made it on her own.”
Von rolled to his feet. “Nothing you say matters. She still died because of you.”
“Was it really because of me? Or was it because you once again disobeyed the holy law?”
The question stumped Von. He froze among the roaring flames, and the knives shook in his hands.
Dyna ran up and grabbed his arm. “Don’t listen to him.”
Von flinched back, staring at her with wide eyes. “Dyna?”
“Tell her, Von.” Tarn sneered. “How did Dalton die?”
Pain and anguish crossed Von’s features. She held her breath, but his answer was blown by another detonation. A hot wave threw them all back. Her back slammed hard against the mast. The ship let out a horrid groan, and the wooden planks cracked in half.
Dyna wheezed for the air knocked out of her. Her ears rang again. She almost thought she heard a distant voice shouting her name.
She pushed up on her hands and knees with a cry. Her shoulder was dislocated. Bracing, Dyna slammed herself against the mast and bit back a scream as it went back into place. She stumbled to her feet, searching for Von.
“Dyna,” Tarn groaned as he sat up where he was slumped against a cabin wall. A large splinter of wood had pierced his leg. He slipped on a pool of his blood as he struggled to stand. “Help me.”
But she didn’t move.
His pale eyes looked up at her, his jaw clenching at the heartless look on her face. “You’re a healer. Leaving me to die goes against your oath and everything you stand for.”
It did.
Dyna went to him. Tarn’s answering smirk faded when she clutched his head with another feather in her hands. “My healer’s oath does not apply to you.”
With a violent snatch of her magic, she tore the memory of Mount Ida’s location from his mind.
Tarn’s chest heaved, furious. But as she walked away from him, he laughed. “What did I tell you? Isn’t she glorious?”
Dyna paused by the railing and looked back at the man who had plagued her life for the past six months. It should have been her who defeated him. It gave her a sick satisfaction to leave him to burn, and she hated that a part of her condemned her for it.
“Jump!” Von sprinted toward her. “The ship is going to blow!”
He tackled her over the railing. An explosion ripped through the air, hurdling them into the sea.
CHAPTER 34
Lucenna
“Lucenna!” Hands patted her cheeks, and she focused her blurred vision on Klyde’s frightened face above her. “Are you all right, lass? Can you hear me?”
She wheezed, gasping for air. The back of her head throbbed painfully.Gods, what happened?
The last thingshe remembered was chasing Klyde through the pier, calling his name. He had run up the gangway of Tarn’s without a plan, and she tried to stop him. But when they reached the top, a flash of green light flared out.
