“She’s lying,” Niko said. “That ship was sent by Prince Elias and the crown of Corallure.”
“No it wasn’t,” Lilo argued and Niko faltered. “Alaric showed us the letter, and this confirms it.”
“It was a setup.” I pleaded with them. “You must listen to me. She’s not who you think she is. All she wants is power, and she’ll get rid of anyone who stands in her way. She sees you as a threat because not only are you both strong, powerful assassins and witch hunters, but you’ll eventually become stronger than her. You’re getting older, and you’ll be harder to control, which she hates.”
“Let’s go.” Niko grabbed his sister’s arm, but she hesitated.
“Wait.”
A spark grew within me. Lilo was listening and pondering my words. I pushed on. “You are both smarter than this… and kinder. I know who you are because, when I cared for you, you cared for me too. You were just little children who needed to be loved, and I loved you.” At that, my eyes watered. “I still do, even if you despise me. Even if you think I’m evil. I would’ve loved to keep raising you as my own. You didn’t deserve to be turned into murderers. You should’ve been able to have a childhood, like any other child.” My heart ached. “And I’m sorry your parents abandoned you. No parent shouldeverdo that to their children. Your father searched for you—and he found me instead. He cried because he wished he could go back and never abandon you.”
Silence.
Lilo looked at Niko. “See? He is looking for us…”
“But we can’t just…” Niko sighed, looking confused as ever.
“I know how you feel,” I said. “My mother abandonedme—maybe not physically, but in other ways. It’s why I ran away years ago. I know how that feels.”
Lilo’s eyes began to water, and I knew she felt the pain, the isolation, the feeling that nobody in the world cared for her. Niko steeled himself, turning away and rubbing his face.
“It can’t be,” he said to himself, over and over. Then…
“Come on, Lilo.” This time he grabbed her arm more forcefully. “Let’s go.” And she followed him. With my blurry vision I did see her turn once, and I hoped with all of my heart that she would give my words some time and thought. Because, truly, my life might depend on it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ALARIC
“After all these years, you’ve found out the truth, haven’t you?” The prince folded his arms. Looked me in the eyes.
“Most of it.” I held out my hand. “I owe you an apology, Elias.” I was shocked that it was so easy to get an audience with Elias. Even more shocked at how easy it was to apologize. He raised an eyebrow.
“For what?”
“Blaming you for ambushing us.”
Elias shook my hand. “Apology accepted.”
“But we have a problem,” I said. “And we need to act. Quickly.”
“Are you going after Sereth?” Elias asked.
My crew stood behind me, ready to help. When we arrived at the palace, Elias didn’t keep us waiting, as if he was afraid this was the news I’d share. And now, his eyebrows furrowed when I nodded.
“Her ship is anchored in a bay off the east coast,” Elias said. “It seems like she’s trying to hide and slip by unnoticed.” He walked to the window, where the morning lightbegan to pour in. I knew we were running out of time, and I hoped that Elias might be able to employ horses and ships so we could get to Snow White’s ship in a matter of hours.
“I haven’t seen her since I left,” he admitted. “Just the thought of her makes me sick.”
I drummed my fingers against my side. We had to go… now. Jonah, beside me, also fidgeted nervously. We’d been disarmed before meeting with the prince, but he didn’t seem concerned at all.
“She’s good at that,” he said after a moment.
“At what?” I asked.
“Spreading lies and rumors, manipulating situations and making them seem like they’re real.” He faced us. “I didn’t leave her. I tried to work things out. She cast me out and it was in that moment that I knew nothing I tried would help her or appease her. Her mind was set, and she had her way of ruling–a cruel, unmerciful way. I wanted to help the people of Moanalei. I wanted to do more… but she had everyone wrapped around her finger. It was easy for her to frame it in a way that I walked out on her.” He sighed. “I don’t care about that though. What I care about is that our people are safe. That her people are safe. They’ve been under her rule for too long. It’s time her sister stepped up.”
“Malia?”
