Page 18 of The Princesses of Ruin
And now it’s weaponized for anyone to wield. They’re truly going to build an army to kill a goddess. Perhaps there’s still hope for my family…
Andrew steps up beside me, the reins of my horse in his hand. There’s a tiny smirk pulling up the corner of his mouth. “Knocked off your horse? I thought you had good balance?”
“Sea legs aren’t horse legs,” I say, shooting him a nasty gesture.
He snorts, something that could’ve been a laugh. He’s become so stoic in his old age.
“Well, are you a gentleman?” I ask, reaching my hand out for help.
“I left that life behind.” He grimaces but pulls me up anyway.
I take the reins and look around at the quiet soldiers rolling over bodies for loot. “Seems like your new life is more trouble than it’s worth.”
“The future we will build is worth it,” he says, the tenor of his voice strong with an undercurrent of challenge.
I nod and pat his shoulder. “Let’s hope that ipsain didn’t blow up the wagon, or that bright future of yours is kaput.”
Chapter eight
Jasper
The frigid wind blows off the north, trying to divert us from our destination. Seawater carves around my foot, and I sense the sandy floor below. Not many creatures stir this far north. A good meeting point.
“The crystals are secure,” Reina reports as she comes up from the hold. She’s buttoning her skintight leather shorts, rousing my interest. This isn’t the time, and I don’t allow myself to make space for those thoughts.
“And our supplies?”
She sits next to me. “Just enough to get home.”
When her feet touch the water, she hoots and pulls them back. I can’t help but laugh.
“It’s not the most ideal meeting place for a little human.”
She scowls at me, then lights her feet up with blue fire. They sizzle as she puts them back in and the warmth of her washes over my skin.
She smiles. “How much farther north?”
“We’re nearly there,” I say.
Our craft is small purely so my selkie magic can help push it along when—like now—the wind decides it doesn’t want to cooperate. I coax the water behind the ship to push against our hull.
Her hand slips around my waist and she leans her head on me. I wrap my arm over her shoulder and kiss her temple, taking in the scent of her golden hair. Even the sea can’t hide her smell.
“This is nice,” she whispers.
“Peaceful.”
She hums in agreement.
It’s been months of war, and the fire in the Upper Kingdom was a breaking point. We’re all overworked, underfed, and sleepless. I think Scarlett could see how exhausted Reina was and sent us away for more eksteinvas crystals as an excuse to reignite her fire.
After another few moments of blissful quiet, I feel the precipice in the distance.
“It’s time to drop anchor,” I say.
She sighs and nods as she pulls away. I throw our small, enchanted iron weight over the edge and watch it catch on the water with my magic. I turn to the open edge that will let us into the sea. Reina is staring into the dark water, her gaze almost vacant.
I hate not seeing the light in those eyes.
