“She—she’s your brother’s—”
“Thatdoes not matter.Sheis from Ramel. Freeing you would mean not meeting my end of the bargain, andIhave an example to set here.” I took each word bitterly. The acid in my stomach boiled.
“His end of the bargain entailed returning with a Water Wielder or a Nymph, yes, but he is here telling you that he found notonebut over five hundred Nerithians. He returned with much more than you asked for. Isn’t that more than enough?”
He had the audacity to curve his lips and scoff at me. “More than enough, butnotwhat I asked for. Where’s my proof?”
I pursed my lips together, my fingernails digging in my palms so hard I knew they left crescents.
“Proof? I’m telling you there are Briartides on that island! They’ve been waiting for your aid for over ten years. Isn’t my word enough? Is who I am not enough?”
“Not really.” His cruel gaze fell on Marshen once more. “As your lady friend here said, I asked for a Nymph or a Water Wielder.” Then he looked beyond us and gestured with two fingers. “Guards, escort him to the basement.”
The basement?
My hand itched for my pocket, but Marshen’s serrated breath made me hesitate. Especially since his nervous huffs weredirected at me. “I’m sorry, Delia,” he whispered. Then he turned towards his king and said, “It’s what you asked for that I deliver. She is not Rameli, she’s an Ilman.”
For a small second, I stiffened, and in that moment I realised I never thought myself any more stupid. I tried to counter my earlier hesitation and instead tried to appear as nonchalant and as convincing as possible. “It’s true, I’m from Ilma. I couldn’t say it earlier because I was sworn not to, but now you know, so you can set him free and provide refuge to the Hydrans trapped on Mistgeil Island.”
I used the term Hydrans on purpose—to remind him that the Ilmans and Silchans were one. That they were also his people.
The king let out a low, spine-chilling laugh. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry to break it to you, but acting is not your best talent.” Then he turned towards Marshen. “Based on your lady friend’s reaction here, she does not seem to agree with you.”
“Yet what I’m saying is true, even if she doesn’t believe it. I saw her power. It was nothing like I’d ever seen before, she—she calmed the Wrathwater Depths and emerged from it like some sea goddess. And her eyes, they shone blue.”
I tried and failed at hiding my confusion—he sounded so convincing. I wanted to play along with his lies, yet I found myself with a jaw so clenched, my face hurt.
“I think that’s enough drama for one day.Guards,” the king called flatly.
Four males—Ice Wielders—surrounded Marshen. I blinked as one of them formed iced cuffs fromthin air, then secured them around Marshen’s wrists.
My heart stammered. Marshen was going to die because of me. I should have known I was not enough. The wordsnothingandnobodycarved deep into my skull, and I blinked hard, pushing them away.
I reached for the green box, but Marshen bellowed my name with such foreign seriousness, I froze in place.
“Delia! Listen to me.” Marshen resisted the guards’ pull, feet planted to the floor.
The guards were about to force him away, but to my surprise, King Ryvar lifted two fingers and nodded at them. The guards eased.
I moved in front of Marshen and with wobbling lips, I murmured, “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have made you come—”
“Just shut up and listen to me!” My brow creased and I gave him a small, quick nod. “What I said about you is true. You are from Ilma. Whoever gave you that intel was right. When we jumped into the Depths, it was not me who saved you, the waves were too strong, and to get a hold of you without impaling you with my teeth was impossible. Delia, I’m sorry, but you were going to die that day…but you—you calmed the waters around you and emerged out of it. The water moved at your command—you are a Water Wielder, Delia. I’m sorry I kept it from you.”
“I’m not buying it,” the king remarked at our side, his hand going to his chin. He watched us as if he was amusing himself with a theatrical performance.
The king’s words assured me that he had made up his mind, so instead of playing along, I found myself asking, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“It’s true, Delia, those people, they areyourpeople.”
“You’re lying!” I all but roared.
“I swear to you it is the truth.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Then if it is the truth…then why!? Why didn’t you tell me?”
What about the guilt I felt for dragging him to his death?
No, I had the right to feel all of it, because he was lying and I wasnotone of them and he was going to die because of me.
