Page 13 of Storm of Shadows

Nolderan drifts away, growing smaller and smaller. Grief swells in my throat. I bite it back.

There’s nothing left here. How can a home be a home when it’s missing those you love most?

My resolve is nearly undone when we burst through the aether shield encasing the island. I was so focused on the city behind I didn’t realize we were sailing into it. I expected it to offer some resistance, but it’s like passing through air. Highly energized air, though. Every inch of my skin tingles with aether, but it makes me feel no more alive.

On the other side, the barrier appears solid, and the silhouette of Nolderan’s spires is faint. The island is already so distant, as if I’m stepping into a new world.

One where Nolderan no longer exists.

I don’t let myself cry, though my heart weeps bitter, angry tears. I cling to the ship, fearing I’ll fall if I let go. And not only because of my grief. There’s a reason I never rowed with Eliya again. Every sway of the ship threatens to send my breakfast hurling up—or at least the little I ate. Now I’m grateful I barely touched it.

Zephyr settles onto the ridge beside me and stretches his forelegs, his scales rippling in the noon sun. I’m sure I’m terribly pale, and I wonder if he notices when he gazes up at me with his inquisitive eyes. I flash him a smile, and he must be satisfied with my expression since he lies down, resting his head in his tiny talons, and stares out at the endless blue around us.

Wind blows harder into our sails, and then we’re hurling over the waves at an alarming rate. Sea spray splatters across me, soaking my cheeks with salt water, and my hair runs wild behind me, galloping through the breeze. Waves lurch upward, black as night thanks to the Void Prince’s dark magic.

“If you fall overboard,” he sneers, “I won’t save you from drowning.”

Seasickness makes snark a challenge. Nonetheless, I peel myself from the ship’s side and lean against it, using it to support my weight. “It seems you’ve already forgotten the nature of our relationship. I only need to give the word, and you’ll be unable to help yourself from saving me.”

His expression creases into a snarl, and he whirls around. Apparently, the mighty Void Prince has no retort for that. The victory distracts me from seasickness for a short while.

five

EvenwiththeVoidPrince’s magic, it takes the rest of the day for us to reach Lenris Port. The demon lets his shadows fade as we near the harbor, and we sail slowly into the port, propelled only by our previous momentum.

I turn to him and frown. “You should do something about your eyes.”

He folds his arms across his chest. “There’s nothing wrong with my eyes.”

“Maybe you think that, but the people of Lenris Port won’t. What sort of moon elf has red eyes? You’ll draw too much attention.”

“None of these peasants will be well acquainted with my kind. How will they know what color my eyes should be?”

“Your kind? Aren’t you a demon?”

He glares at me.

“Touchy subject?”

“A subject which is none of your business.”

“So, youareadmitting you’re touchy because I pointed out you’re not a moon elf?”

“If I’m ‘touchy’, it is because I was dragged to this accursed world by a mage too pathetic and useless to save her city from a boy necromancer—”

“Stop.” Blood pounds in my ears. I swallow back my fury, and it scalds my throat.

He isn’t wrong I was too useless to save my city, but what he doesn’t know is that it was far worse than that. I served Nolderan to Arluin on a silver platter. I destroyed my city. But I’ll never grant him the satisfaction of knowing the sins which burden my soul.

He tilts his head as he considers my expression, a smirk curling onto his lips. “Touchy subject?”

Every moment I spend with this monster, I discover new depths to my hatred. “I commanded you to stop.”

“I did.”

“Be silent until I tell you to speak again.”

His crimson eyes glint. I can’t tell whether it’s in delight at my rage or annoyance at the order.

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