Even at her young age of twenty-five, Jordana was surprisingly powerful. Being of the royal Atlantean line, it came as no surprise. But Selene had not been boasting when she reminded Zael and the others at the colony of her matchless strength as one of the eldest of their kind and their queen.
Still, leaving the realm and combatting the group at the colony had taken its toll.
This struggle with Jordana was costing precious energy as well.
Selene deflected yet another attempted blast from the young woman’s glowing palms. She couldn’t let it continue. Not only for her own wellbeing, but Jordana’s as well.
Using the power of her mind and the energy that lived inside her, Selene wrapped Jordana’s wrists in manacles of soft white light, immobilizing them.
“I’m sorry, Jordana. This is the only way.”
Jordana vigorously fought their hold, but she would not get free. Tears streaked her face. “What kind of a monster are you? Dammit, let me go!”
The words cut deeper than expected. It wasn’t the first time Selene had heard them flung at her by someone who meant the world to her. She could hardly look at Jordana and not see Soraya.
Was she making a similar mistake again?
She didn’t think she could bear it if her impulsive actions today ended up hurting Jordana any more than they already had.
“I am sorry,” she repeated, then turned and quietly departed the room.
When she stepped outside and closed the door behind her, she found Sebathiel standing there. His blue eyes narrowed on her, stern with disapproval.
“Tell me that’s not who I think it is inside that room.”
She stepped past him. “I don’t have to explain myself to anyone. That includes you, High Chancellor.”
“Selene.” He reached for her arm, halting her. His face softened, though not by much. “What have you done?”
“What I would’ve done years ago, if I’d had the chance.”
Seb shook his head and let out a low curse. “Where was she? Who brought her to you?”
Selene pulled out of his grasp, lifting her chin. “Does it matter?”
“It does to me. You, of all people, should understand why.”
She bristled at the intimacy of the statement, despite the fact that there was no one else around to hear it. “And you, of all people, should understand the only one with any say over my heirs is me. In case you need a reminder, I suggest you take another look at the rich temple you named as the price of your discretion.”
His reply was cool. “Yes, Your Grace, I do recall the terms of our transaction. But that has never prevented me from caring. About Soraya . . . or about you.” He glanced down at the arm she drew tight against her body and his golden brows rankled. “What’s wrong with your hand?”
Alarm shot through her. “Nothing.”
Using her skirts to better conceal it from his view, she stepped away from him without any excuse.
He bowed as she passed, wisely saying nothing and remaining in place behind her as she continued toward her royal apartments.
She couldn’t get inside fast enough.
Her legs felt unsteady as she hurried through the spacious quarters to the chamber no one but her was permitted inside. The locks on the heavy stone door to this other room responded only to her light. It swung open on silent hinges, revealing the otherworldly treasure that rested within the chamber.
The glowing, egg-sized crystal hovered atop a slender pedestal of snowy-white marble and gold.
Selene approached, realizing she’d likely only had minutes left before her legs would have sagged beneath her had she not been able to reach the crystal in time.
The hand she’d kept tucked against her looked almost withered. The skin on her arm was turning pale gray and translucent, revealing spidery blue veins that started at her fingers and spread up to her elbow. Her heart rate slogged, making her breath labor and her vision spin.
She had known leaving the realm was a risk. All the more so when she’d used even more of her life force to wield her light against Zael and the others. Including Jordana.
