Page 10 of Claimed By the Depths

“Conviction is a powerful tool.” Turning toward the docks, my shoulders rose with a steadying inhale.

There was still far too much for us to accomplish, far too much that could go wrong. But if there was one thing I knew, it was that we all shared the same desire—seeing to it that the king, his rule, and the Others met their demise. Stubbornness wove through our veins; our promises detailed vows and executed actions. We wouldn’t sleep until the lands settled, and we wouldn’t stop fighting until we pierced the veil of darkness shrouding our realm.

We were far more powerful together, and that was something I wholeheartedly believed. Even if Alastair wished to deny it because of his history, there were far too many things Caspian knew that gave him the upper hand. And, without him, there was no possible way we would win the impending war, just as there was no chance he would be able to do so without numbers, without us by his side.

The fates had woven our paths together for a reason, and it was becoming clearer that the Damned had far more planned for us than we’d ever realized.

“What do you say?” Glancing over my shoulder, I extended an offering to Kael. One I knew he wouldn’t pass up. “Time to go find the rest of the crew and kick off this fucking war?”

He dipped his chin, and I didn’t miss the spike of darkness that slithered through his lagoon-colored irises. “To war,” he agreed without wavering before adding, “it’s about time we spilled some fucking blood.”

CHAPTER 5

King of Wraelira

KAEL

Ionce cherished the streets of Serevalen. They carried stories of my childhood and the simplicities of life before my father befell psychosis. Every alleyway was a patchwork of my memories, most of which had blurred with time, leaving behind the darkness that encased my soul. And each chunk of cobblestone harbored years of my footfalls, clinging to portions of me that had long since died.

Hell, my soul had left this plane as soon as Percy took his last breath. All that remained now was a hollow shell, but even amidst my lack of desire to continue, I could sense a dense weight clinging to the air. The oxygen that incessantly filled my lungs carried a tang of something dark, something malicious, and I knew it was only the beginning of all that was to come.

Leilani’s timbre pulled me from my wallowing. “Do you follow?”

I blinked once, glancing in her direction. “I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?”

“From what I’ve gathered from my link with Parran, they were able to collect enough power to guide both crews and vessels through their Voidstep. With the streets being mostly clear, our best bet is to head back toward the docks.“ Hope beamed in her eyes, but the saddened smile she offered told me everything I needed to know. “Keep your head up. Distracted minds can weave together fates that may otherwise be avoided.”

Stopping in my tracks, I shook my head. “What? You told me we would slaughter these motherfuckers, and now you want to toss me back onto that godsdamned boat just because⁠—”

“Kael, you lost someone important to you. You deserve time to mourn.” With a lengthened inhale, she stepped toward me, settling her hand on my shoulder. “My promise reigns true, and we’ve made our statement here about which side we are on, but I refuse to dive into the palace or anywhere near potential danger when you are not okay.”

“I am perfectly⁠—”

Leilani chuckled softly. “No. You’re not. Believe me, in being one of the only women within the Scarlet Tempest, I’ve become rather adept at reading men. And right now? You’re lying through your teeth.”

She wasn’t wrong. But how would my being upset change the trajectory of anything? How would I ever avenge Percy when my mind, body, and soul would never be able to let him go? If I couldn’t fight for him now… If I couldn’t fight for my people, then how the fuck could I ever claim that throne as a king? How would those on the continent of Wraelira ever look at me as if I was something when I backed out once things got hard?

I was far too weak, far too pitiful, and my internal struggles only proved that.

Nipping the inside of my cheek and savoring the coppery taste that followed, I felt the tension clinging to me begin to dissipate. Its flavor had always served as a grounding cord, calling to a portion of myself that remained buried. A piece of me that sang with unfamiliarity, as if it existed in another realm, another timeline.

I took in a steadied, yet poisoned breath before responding, “You’re right. I’m likely far more of a liability than an asset at this point in time.”

She squeezed my shoulder as she shook her head. “I couldn’t disagree with you more, Kael. You’re far more than an asset. You’re the prince of the throne of Wraelira. You’re the soon-to-be king of these lands. That should never be written off, but an aching man can only protect once he has taken the time to heal. You can only offer yourself and your care once you have given yourself the same. A wounded soul can only last so long, and I refuse to watch you wilt away. You are far too beautiful a flower to allow your petals to fall, and if you won’t take time to honor that for yourself, then I will force you to.”

The ferocity in her eyes spoke loudly enough, and the sharpness with which she spoke further solidified it. After seeing the countless bodies she had slaughtered, I knew Leilani wasn’t one to test, and I was more than certain that carried into the relationships she held with those around her.

My mouth curled upward, though I knew the smile never reached my eyes. “I suppose I’ve never been the best at taking care of myself…” Stare hardening, I lifted my hands in surrender. “But I will do a better job at it. The last thing I want is you cleaving my head clean from my body.”

Leilani flattened her palm against her chest in feigned offense. “Oh, Kaelivan, I am far too womanly to ever commit such a heinous act.”

Attention sweeping down her frame, noting each freckle of blood dusting her honeyed skin and every arc of lineage that worked languidly to dry. “Right. You would never butcher a man with your bare hands.”

“I would,” the feminine voice called out from a few yards away.

Lifting my chin, Rohen came into view first. Her vibrant red strands were tousled as if someone had taken a wire brush to them, and my mind wandered to a variety of possibilities. As she got closer, a smear of crimson became visible, spreading across her neck and through her hair with a stickiness and viscosity that blood could never mirror. Accentuated by the deep scarlet dress she wore, I couldn’t help but grin.

With intention, I pulled my lips into a flat line, struggling to keep my laughter at bay. Emerald gaze drilling into me, her brows narrowed to hood her stare, a testing glare. “What the fuck is so funny?”