Page 152 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Matthias looked up.

“What have you done?” the king bellowed.

“What I should have done years ago,” Elijah replied.

“You will pay for this.” The old man’s voice sounded breathless as the energy released from the destroyed gem had taken all his strength.

“And now, you shall meet the same fate, Father.”

The prince took a slight step back as his father clamored to his feet, holding his own sword outstretched. Right as Elijah jumped forward, a large, red dragon wing came out and knocked the king back. That time, he struck his head against the side of the railing and rolled to the side. A low groan left his lips, but he did not move.

Elijah turned as Lincoln held his sword up to his brother’s throat.

“Where is she?” Lincoln asked.

Elijah swallowed. “I don’t have her, Brother. She stayed on the island.”

“What?” Lincoln said, not sure if he believed him. “She stayed? Elijah, she will die there.”

The prince quickly shook his head, reaching into his pocket. “Here,” he said, handing Lincoln the Kroneon, with the ruby inside. “Out of good faith, Brother. I do not want to kill you. I did not change anything from the past. I could not. You were right.” He placed his sword into the sheath and held up his hands. “We can fight our father together.”

Lincoln looked to where the king had fallen, but he was not there. They both turned as they heard a shot ring out.

“No!” Lincoln cried, pressing on Elijah’s shoulders as he collapsed forward into his arms. “Elijah,” he said, shaking his brother, who felt limp in his arms. Elijah’s fingers dug into Lincoln’s skin as they both fell to the deck.

“Hand me the damn Kroneon, pirate,” King Matthias said, holding a pistol at level with Lincoln’s chest. When Lincoln did not move, the king repeated.“Hand me the weapon!” Matthias’s nostrils flared.

Captain Lincoln looked down at his brother. The bullet had grazed the side of his waist—his stomach still rose and fell. He was alive but bleeding badly.

The king staggered when Lincoln looked up to meet his gaze.

“Wha—?” the king said, but his words stopped in his throat as he recognized his child’s eyes. “Tristan, is that you?”

Lincoln slowly lowered Elijah to the deck and rose to his feet, holding out his sword. The magic hovering over the ship was fading as the prince’s strength weakened. The king’s guard slowly opened their eyes and began to stand up.

A look of heartbreak and disgust flashed over Lincoln’s features. “Matthias, you have let this nightmare go on for too long. You are no king!” he said before looking up, right as Anaru swooped down, breathing fire at the Zemiran King.

Matthias shielded his face with his arm, the blaze of fire scorching the skin at his elbow. He screamed and ripped the sleeve of his tunic from his arm. The sails of the ship quickly became engulfed in flames.

Suddenly, the boisterous band of pirates approached Matthias's ship from the clouds.

“Fight, buccaneers of the Portland Sea,” Mazie said. “Protect the Sybil Curse! Protect the Captain!”

Lincoln’s eyes grew wide as they came down, soaring through the air.

They are...flying?He thought. How?

The noise of the buccaneers dwindled out into a faint sound of music in the sea. Lincoln recognized the sound immediately.

“Cover your ears!” the captain shouted to his crew.

Lincoln began searching the skies for Anaru, while Mazie, Kitten, and the rest of the Sybil Curse’s crew peered down, watching a swarm of sirens move beneath the turquoise surface.

“They are headin’ towards the king’s ships,” Kitten yelled as they all covered their ears.

Then, all at once, the sirens emerged from the water, jumping high onto the deck. The savage women clung to each of the royal guards. Without warning, they sank their teeth into men’s flesh, and their claws dug into their arms. One by one, the sea creatures threw the guards off the deck and into the water.

“Holy shit, they’re fierce,” Mazie giggled, watching the scene from above.

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