I crept down the side of Elias’s ship, hiding near the hull, the sea water spraying me as the ship cruised portside to Sereth’s ship. Now I could see her, barely.
The wicked queen stood waiting for Elias, her eyes dark and menacing, her expression smug.
Sereth had always been beautiful, and it was quite embarrassing that I once had mercy on her for her beauty. It wasn’t only that though. I had made an oath to her mother, the queen, that I would kill her, but when I took her to the woods, I knew I couldn’t do that. She was too young, too innocent… or so I thought.
And I didn’t want her blood on my hands.
Now I do.
Someone was brought next to her and my heart pounded in my chest, only intensifying the feeling.
“Malia…” It was half a whisper, half a prayer. She was pale, wounded, terrified, but proud. Her sleeve was ripped, with dry blood smothered all over it. Perhaps she had given the twins a fight.
That’s my girl.
And then I noticed her entire upper body tangled in chains.
Sereth intended to drown Malia, sinking her into the depths of the sea. It was what they did to witches, and it made my blood boil.
Prince Elias stood at the prow, flanked by armed guards. He called out across the water, his voice steady. “Sereth, you are hereby charged with treason, attempted assassination, and unlawful imprisonment of the rightful queen.”
Sereth laughed, bitter and dismissive. “You don’t have a spine for justice, Elias. You never did.” How could she demean him so publicly?
Two figures stood to the side of Sereth and at first their expressions were hard, steely. “You lied to them,” Elias said. “You lied to all of us, and this is the end, Sereth.”
Lilo and Niko’s faces changed from that of anger and numbness to… confusion. Jonah must have appeared next to Elias, but I didn’t get a chance to see the rest because I slipped into the water and swam towards Sereth’s ship.
When I pulled up onto the bow, I could hear Lilo’s voice, cracked with anger and bitterness. “She told us the witch was going to poison us. She didn’t say it was for her.”
“They’re lying to you, darlings,” Sereth said, her voice cool. “Don’t be ridiculous. Your fatherabandonedyou.”
“And I’m back to make things right!” Jonah’s voice called out. “I’ve looked everywhere for you, and when I finally found you, she wouldn’t let me see you.” He was crying.
“I’m so,sosorry I left you.”
I was getting closer to the deck, knowing that any wrong move could reveal where I was, and that it might put Malia in danger.
Now I could see the twins looking back and forth from their father to Sereth. Niko’s fists clenched as he said, “We hunted witches, but we were hunting the wrong one.”
And that’s when Sereth’s face fell, her pale skin seeming to turn even whiter. Lilo nodded to her brother and they turned on Sereth.
Her guards quickly stepped in to defend her, and then it was chaos. The teens were skilled fighters, but they were outnumbered. I jumped into the fray, going straight for Malia when Sereth saw me and screamed. “Gethim!”
This only confirmed the truth: she wanted me dead. Elias ordered his men to board Sereth’s ship, but my crew–experienced seamen–had already swung over. With the amount of people on the deck, and the guards trying to stop me, it was chaos.
Swords clashed.
Men roared.
And Sereth screamed orders.
Then I saw what I hoped wouldnothappen.
Desperation.
Sereth dragged Malia to the helm and held her at knifepoint. “Stop!” she exclaimed.
Everyone froze, all eyes turning to the queen’s dagger at her stepsister’s throat.
