Lia strode to the edge of the cliff. She dumped the contents of one small jar into another, then threw it out over the water. It exploded with a loud bang, and Ahnna took a deep breath as her people began pushing the Amaridians off the deck of the ship.
Terrified screams merged with the roar of the surf hitting the cliff base below, and the guardians heard the call of Ithicana.
And came in numbers Ahnna had never before seen. Dozens and dozens of fins, sleek gray shapes shooting through the water with jaws open wide.
It was over quickly, the water soon dark with blood as the ship sank into the sea.
“It’s done,” Aren said, his eyes on bloody surf, but then a hand closed over hers.
Ahnna turned her head to find James at her side, his expression unreadable. Yet she knew what he was feeling, because she felt the same way. Not righteous justice over the deaths of those who’d aim to inflict such harm, but hollow.
Would it ever end? Would there ever come a day when this sort of carnage was nothing but a distant memory? Or would the villains who ruled forever paint the world red in their desire for more?
“We should head back to Midwatch,” Aren said, not looking at her as he headed into the trees. “We need to talk, Ahnna. Lia will get His Highness a place in the barracks until we figure out our next steps.”
Frustration filled the hollowness in her, because Aren had to have seen that James was more than just a travel companion and comrade. Heknew,he just didn’t like it.
She’d been raised to obey Aren. He wasn’t simply her brother—he was her king and her commander. Ahnna had always been the rock at his back, never choosing anyone over him.
But not this time.
When she didn’t move, Aren frowned at her. “Ahnna,now.”
She stood her ground, ready to fight this fight because no one else would.
“Ahnna will remain with me, Your Grace. Her place is at my side, not yours.”
James’s voice filled her ears, his tone the cool, cultured accent of the Harendellian court, and Aren slid to an abrupt halt and turned. “What?”
“Did you not hear me, Your Grace? Or did you not understand?”
Aren’s hand went to his weapon. “You have a lot of fucking nerve, Ashford. Just because a shark decided you weren’t fit to eat doesn’t mean you have any power here.”
James slid an arm around Ahnna’s waist and pulled her back against him. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart and the tension singing through him, no part of him unaware of the risk he was taking. Yet he was taking it.
For her.
“Ahnna is going to be my wife. So unless she desires otherwise, where she goes, I follow.”
Machetes slithered out of scabbards and arrows were fitting to bowstrings, but Aren lifted a hand telling them all to hold. Lara stepped away from Aren, her arms crossed and expression unreadable. Not willing to intervene no matter what she thought, for which Ahnna didn’t blame her.
“Let me get this straight,” Aren said quietly. “You, the son of the king my sister was framed for murdering. You, the asshole who incarcerated my cousin and trussed up my wife’s sister like a hog. You, who pursued Ahnna across Harendell withdogs,are asking me if you can marry her?”
“No.” James’s voice was steady in her ear, his grip around her body tight. “I already asked Ahnna to be my wife, and she said yes. I’m only informing you out of courtesy.”
Aren drew his weapon. “You arrogant Harendellian prick.”
Every part of Ahnna wanted to intervene, but Lara gave the slightest shake of her head.
“If you wish to fight over her, I will oblige,” James replied. “But perhaps this time you’ll do the fighting yourself and not have your soldiers hold me down while you swing your punches.”
Aren’s cheeks flushed, the muscles in his jaw bulging as he ground his teeth. Slowly he turned in a circle, as though hunting for composure, but then he met Ahnna’s gaze. “This is what you want, then? Of all the men in the world, your choice is this asshole?”
“Yes.” She swallowed hard. “Aren, I love him.”
Her brother scrubbed a hand through his dark hair, then let out a long sigh and sheathed his weapon. “I know I’ve done an awful job of showing it, Ahnna, but I want you to be happy. If marrying a pretentious Harendellian prince is the way that happens, I won’t stand in your way.”
“Thank you.” She had to fight back tears. “It means more to me than I can say to hear that from you.”
