My annoyance halted as two sets of hands slapped against the wood beneath my feet, bony fingers curling around the knotted surface. Forcing myself to breathe and stay put, I watched in a mix of awe and horror as Yxalune resurfaced once more. Heads dancing over the dock's lip, they craned back to look at me.
“Rohen Levitte, Daughter of the Sea.” Its inflection was a mix of various voices, as if they worked together to make speech possible. “How may we serve you?”
With a smile, the demand came with ease. “Kill them all.”
CHAPTER 40
Lethal Lineage
KAEL
Maneuvering the alleyways of Veilmar had been easy, the small island streets gridded in a way that made travel effortless. The numerological system they put in place guided tourists in a way that felt mechanical.
With the docks serving as the zero to their twenty and beyond, we advanced past the well-crafted structures and into the forest that sat nestled against the last wall of man-made architecture. Overhead, large palms blocked out the storm, cocooning us in the surrounding foliage. The consistent drum of rain created a melodic tune that would tempt anyone to lie down and rest, to take a break in the bowl of Mother Nature’s embrace.
It was as if the land itself were singing, its steady percussion an enchantment.
Ignoring the sensation of watchful eyes, I continued, admiring the lush vegetation and vibrant colors that continued even beyond the exuberance that was Veilmar. Like an interwoven network, roots darted from the mossy earth and branches hung with a mix of red and orange leaves. Above them, the deep green of their towering counterparts created a beautiful contrast, making the weeping limbs of each treeappear as if lit on fire. A molten lava that ebbed without the purpose of destruction.
Ahead, dashes of pink, sapphire, and indigo entwined, blossoms speckling the grassy clearing with vitality that seemed to breathe life into the world. Water slipping through a break in the canopy caught the forest's glint of light, the rivulets turning reflective with a near-rainbow glow. And nestled in the breathtaking sight, ethereal elegance bloomed—a shimmering white flower that spilled outward, an illuminated gold pouring from its center.
It was a sight I’d never seen before, a relic from a realm lost.
“Kael,” Percy’s timbre came from behind me, but not with urgency or concern, and instead, awe. “This is…”
Answering for him, I continued to take in the artistry that fueled the talent that Veilmar harbored. “Otherworldly.”
The forest carried a mystical sensation, something spiritual clinging to the air. Every breath was sacred, and each footfall was an honor, for it seemed Ysalyne created it specifically as a healing ground.
“Do you think the Goddess of Life had a hand in nurturing this forest? That she may have?—”
“Forged it with intention?” Percy asked before dipping his chin. “Yes. I do. That, or something is lingering within it that is giving rise to this ambiance.”
His utterance carried a realization that made my arm hair stand on end. It was as if even speaking of such a possibility peeled back a curtained veil, something none of us had seemed capable of doing until we… Until…
“The Eye of Ellira.” Each syllable was a hesitant whisper, but a whisper filled with knowing nonetheless. Whipping toward Percy, my shoulders rose with a shuddered inhale. “The second Eye. Ithasto be here?—”
A deafening explosion cut off my claim, shaking the earth with a force so unnatural Iknewwhat was happening. Taking two steps forward, I wrapped my fingers around Percy’s forearm, dragging him with me back toward the direction we’d come from.
“What… What are you doing?”
He pulled back against me, but I refused to waver. “They’reattackingVeilmar, Percy. I said it already, but I will say it again. I willnotabandon them while my father’s men have their way with this land!”
Ripping himself free, my grip was swapped with his as he yanked me toward him. “It is notsafeout there. Not for you!”
“I will be damned if I do not go provide aid, Percival. I refuse to live in my father’s shadow, to allow such corruption when I can try to do something about it. If that results in my execution, then so be it. But as a Marellan, as the king’sson,I have to make a stand. Or all of this…” My throat bobbed as I swallowed my building emotion. “Us joining Alastair, us sailing the seas and working to uncover the truth, it will be fornothing.”
His emerald stare faltered, a mix of conflict and protectiveness carving into his features. “If it leads to your execution,Iwill not survive. If there is no you to worship, then I have nothing.”
Gathering his linen shirt in my hand, I hauled him toward me. “Then come with me, for I cannot live without your touch, your lingering kisses, or your breath. Our world is vile, my father has curated it to be as such, but there are things within it that are not—things and people worth saving.”
Striations danced over his jaw as he held my stare, his attentiveness brushing against my soul with a caress only he could provide. “Fine. We will go, but I need you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“That after this is over, once your father has been annihilated and his reign has vanished, once the evil slithering through the veins of Serevalen has been flushed clean with the generosity and genuineness you harbor, I want to have a life here. On this island. Withyou.”
A soft smile curled my lips. “A life with you has always been my plan, with or without freedoms, and that is something I will happily entertain now and always.”
