Page 95 of Ocean of Silver

“What are you talking about?” Arcane asked, glancing between me Dovelyn and me. “This better not be what I think it is. You can’t go to the mortal territory. You will puthimin danger.”

“Then come with us, brother,” Dove said. “I know you love him. You don’t agree with the King, so why do you obey him?”

“Because you guys want to go back to Allium. Father wants to stay on Earth. If we rule over the mortals, I can stay with him. Our kinds can mix, and once I take over as King, I’ll change things. We can live together.”

“Arcane,” I said slowly, “all that mortal boy will be is a slave. If the King knew you loved a human, he would force you to kill him in cold blood. You can’t pretend that what he is doing is good, that it will somehow work in your favor.”

“Doesn’t some part of you want that, Dove?” He pleaded as he pointedly ignored me and turned toward our sister. “To be able to fly anywhere we want? We are trapped on this stupid island. I want to explore. I want to be free. I don’t want to live for forbidden moments, only enjoying life when I can sneak off to the mortal world. I want to live together. I want every second to be free.”

“There is no living at peace with the mortals with what the King has planned, you know this,” I said. “And Wells will never forgive you if you attack the humans.”

“Do not mention his name,” Arcane screamed, bending over and swiping the dishes off the table. They came crashing down and shattered around Scottie’s bare feet. “Do not presume you know what he will do.”

“Tezya, this is getting nowhere. He won’t see our side. I’ll fetch Kallon. Just do what you need to,” Dove said. She walked over to me and pulled me into a hug. “Are you sure about this, though? I still believe my vision will come true.”

I nodded, pulling her tighter into me. This wasn’t how I planned it. We were all supposed to go together. It terrified me, leaving Dovelyn behind, but I knew she wouldn’t go until she found Brock. But seeing Scotlind like this… I couldn’t wait anymore. I had to get her outtonight. If I didn’t, I had no idea when I’d get to see her again. It was now or never, and my opportunity was slipping through my fingers. I had to act fast.

“I won’t let you,” Arcane yelled. “All you two will do is get him killed. If you go against Father, he’ll be caught in the crossfire.”

Dovelyn ignored Arcane as she pulled out of my embrace. “Be careful.”

“You too,” I said to Dove before I walked over to my brother. Arcane tensed as I placed my hand over his neck, finding that soft spot until he passed out. When my brother’s silver eyes rolled into the back of his head, I gently laid him on the floor, away from the shattered bits of plates and bowls he’d broken. At least it would make it look like he put up a fight. I prayed the King’s punishment for him wouldn’t be too severe because I was getting Scotlind out of here, and after tonight, he would be missing his favorite prisoner.

FORTY

SCOTLIND

I sawTezya’s feet step toward me. I wanted so badly to meet his gaze. Arcane was lying on the ground, away from the shattered glass. Dovelyn had already fled, and their whole conversation left me confused. I wanted to speak. I wanted so badly to just be able to look at him. I had so many questions, but Kole’s compulsion was weighing heavily in my veins. I couldn’t do anything but stare at the ground before me. Tezya crouched low, his white hair entering my vision as he started to unlock my chains from the bolt carved into the floor.

“We’re leaving now, Scotlind,” he whispered as he stood back up, the ends of the chains now in his hands. “I’m getting you out of here.”

I nodded my head, still looking at our feet. He grabbed my hand, the chains rattling between us. “You can’t stay any longer. Things are only going to get worse from here on out,” he added as he started to guide me out of the room.

Peter.

I couldn’t leave without him. I grabbed Tez’s arm and frantically traced the spelling of my friend’s name over his skin, praying he would understand. I couldn’t leave without him.

Tezya stopped, realizing that I was trying to communicate with him. I could feel his gaze on me before he looked down at what I was drawing on his forearm.

He grunted. “Rumor, I know you care for him, but do you realize how dangerous that is? He is heavily guarded. Getting to him would be near impossible.”

I kept tracing his name again and again. I didn’t care about the risks. I wouldn’t leave without him. Guilt already consumed me that Sie was suffering from my actions. I couldn’t leave Peter to the same fate. I couldn’t leave him with the Lux King.

Tezya mumbled a curse under his breath, then grabbed my chains and started walking me toward the dungeons. “You are going to have to trust me for this to work,” he said, his voice low.

I nodded, just thankful that he listened to my request and was helping me.

As soon as we reached the entrance, Tezya stood straighter, reaching his full height. I never really paid attention to the doors leading inside the horrid place. I’d only ever stared at the inside walls. Four men were stationed at the door on high alert, armed with enough metal that it consumed them. The normally open, silver walls of the castle turned a musky gray. A hint of what horrors were behind the metal doors they were guarding.

“What is your business, Prince?” a soldier asked.

Tezya pulled my chains taut, causing me to trip into him. “I thought it was obvious. I’m delivering a prisoner.”

“We weren’t made aware of this,” one of them said to the other. “We’ll have to check with the King.”

“This is an orderfromthe King,” Tez demanded, his voice booming with authority. “He was growing sick of her and needed a break. I’m just dropping her off for a little, giving her a taste of what to expect if she keeps disobeying.”

The soldiers shared a confused look with one another, trying to decide what they should do. Do they risk upsetting the Fire Prince, or do they wager the wrath of the King? It dawned on me how easily Tezya fit into the role. He was daunting and lethal. Even I had chills running through me at his tone, at how similar he sounded to his father. The four soldiers stepped aside, allowing us entrance into the dungeons.

---