Page 36 of Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice

Reva studied them each in turn, frowning. “What’s a Death Pearl?”

“It’s dark magic—the forbidden arts,” Rency whispered. “A relic from before the formation of the islands—before Etthan. Before Seriposa. Even before Desta.”

“From the Dark Elf war that tore Rhuin apart,” Jareth said in a hushed voice. “My people suffered much in the war.”

Reva frowned as she searched her memories for the lessons she’d been forced to study on ancient history. “We all suffered in that war,” she pointed out. “We all sacrificed. Everyone did. That’s how our island realms were formed. Humans fled the Dark War and took to the seas in search of a new home. But that was 500 years ago. What does that have to do with us? With now?”

Rency raked her with a condescending glare. “My dear child, the dark elves used weapons in the war that nearly destroyed the world.”

“Death pearls.” Jareth rested a hand over hers and searched her eyes as if looking for answers. “They’ve been lost all these centuries. But my people still tell the stories of the Trident. Of the magic that was stolen from our waters to wage the dark elf war.”

“Aye,” Rency said, “and the sirens paid dearly to regain their magic.”

Jareth dipped his head as if to thank him for the admission.

“And you think someone is stealing magic again?”

Rency shook his head. “No. The Trident was lost long ago. The magic returned to the sea.”

“But if someone has found a pearl…”

Reva’s blood ran cold at the somber tone in Jareth’s words. A premonition of something horrific pressed down on her shoulders. “If someone has found one of these death pearls, we could all be in danger.”

“Not just the islands,” Rency said without emotion. “All of Rhuin.”

Chapter Eleven

All of Rhuin.

Surely he wasn’t implying that they were on the edge of another war. Her people were already starving. She needed to secure trade routes…not lead her people into a battle that would rip away the last vestiges of their resources.

“I can’t allow war,” she whispered, the blood draining from her face. “My people wouldn’t survive it. We don’t stand a chance.”

Neither of them answered her, but Jareth’s fingers tightened over hers, and even Rency’s playful eyes darkened with understanding. It hurt making such a declaration—admitting that her kingdom and her people were so vulnerable. They were truly at the mercy of the highest bidder, and Reva’s hand was in the balance.

Somehow it always came back to this.

But if Cassandra and Felix were working together against her…how could she fight them both? She was exposed on all fronts, without enough information to come up with a plan. She didn’t know who was the mastermind in this coup, who was controlling the dark magic that had already taken the lives of Felix’s crew and could come for her people next…

As much as she wanted to keep herself out of danger, she couldn’t think like that.

Reva took a bracing breath. “I-I need to return to Black Rock.”

Jareth and Rency exploded into denial simultaneously, but Reva threw away Jareth’s hand and jumped to her feet, hands on her hips.

“I am returning to Black Rock,” she said, her voice echoing across the deck of the ship. “I am Princess Reva Morrigan, heir to the throne of Etthan, and I command you to return me to my ship!”

The authority in her voice left a startled calm in its wake. Jareth and Rency both stood to face her, their expressions mutinous. This wasn’t a battle she’d win without a fight. She glared at first Rency, then Jareth, and then back to the pirate captain. With no thought to the consequences, she took a menacing step toward him and pointed her finger into his face.

“You,” she breathed, her body trembling, “will take me back.”

Rency’s mouth thinned into a taut line, his nostrils flaring. “I will not. Not when I worked so hard to save your life the first time.”

Reva spun to face Jareth. “Then you will take me back.”

Contrary to Rency’s defiance, Jareth practically melted with horror and misery. “I can’t, Reva! I’d be taking you back just to let you die! You need to think clearly about this.”

“I am. I can’t hide on this ship and avoid my duties. Every minute I am here, they are scheming behind my back and taking my island from me. And I can guarantee you the well-being of my people isn’t high on their list of priorities.”

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