He claps his hands and air comes flooding back in. I heave great, ragged breaths, watching as Fox does the same.
‘I find I grow tired of our games today, little dove. I wish for us to be friends. And one does not steal from one’s friends.’
‘Steal?’ I choke out, my fist closing round Syla’s Eye. ‘It doesn’t belong toyou.’
‘Incorrect, sweet one. What with my brother’s untimely death, as the Eye was once my father’s, it is now mine by right. So be a good girl and hand it over.’
I shake my head.
King Balen clicks his tongue. ‘Stubborn little thing. I could take it from you, you know. I could rip it from your neck. But I would so much prefer it if you were to offer me it willingly. After all, if you are to be my queen we must learn to trust one another.’
Your enemy is close, girl. If only you knew what he has in store for you.
My throat tightens. ‘What do you meanyourqueen?’
‘You didn’t really think I would let my nephew take the Imperial Crown, did you? Dear Haldyn is too much like his father to ever be a true leader. Too soft. Too easily distracted by pretty things. No, that burden should fall to one who istruly worthy of it. And, with power itself in my possession, who would dare challenge me?’
Fox gets to his feet, but he’s blasted backwards by a gust of air before he can take so much as a step towards us, landing with a dull thud next to Queen Hydra. The blood from her wound has mingled with the water on the floor, the remnants of my fallen waves. She held on longer than the other Council members but she’s dead now, I’m sure of it.
‘Just think,’ King Balen continues. ‘Just think of what we could achieve together. The world we could create, the kingdoms we could raze to the ground.’
Perhaps I’m imagining it, but I could have sworn that Queen Hydra’s arm just twitched.
The Ventalla King holds out a hand. ‘The Eye, little dove.’
My mind spins, my fingers skimming the chain round my neck.
‘No,’ Fox whispers, his voice hoarse.
Slowly, I pull the chain over my head.
‘That’s right,’ croons King Balen. ‘Now, give it to me.’
Behind him, Queen Hydra’s eyes flicker open. I watch in astonishment as her hand begins to move jerkily through the water.
My gaze snaps back to the king. ‘If I give you what you want, do I have your word that no one else dies?’
King Balen inclines his head. ‘Oh, sweet one. You have my solemn vow.’
Queen Hydra’s hand is still moving. Beside her, Fox’s eyes are trained on me.
‘You and I, little dove,’ King Balen says softly, leaning forward. ‘You and I will conquer all.’
I look down at the talisman in my palm. Power itself. Power that should never belong to someone like King Balen, who would take it by force and use it to exploit others for his own gain. And if he were to get his hands on all three …
The king moves closer. His voice is as silky smooth as ever, but I can hear the note of impatience in it. ‘Give me the Eye.’
I get to my feet. ‘Fine.’
‘No,’ snarls Fox.
King Balen smiles. ‘I knew you’d make the right choice.’
‘Yes,’ I tell him. ‘So did I.’
I draw back my arm and throw the Eye with all my might towards Queen Hydra. I watch as it flies through the air in a great soaring arc and falls through the portal she has drawn in the blood-soaked water, disappearing from sight. The portal closes behind it and the Aquatori Queen’s eyes flutter shut for the final time.
An enraged scream tears apart the room. King Balen turns on me, his face contorted with fury. But at that moment the doors around the Choosing Chamber burst open and in pours the Imperial Guard.
