Page 18 of The Lost Nation

Luci frowned. “I’ve never been able to control my fire magicks. Baila has helped me greatly with that. Then Wren came, but I only hurt her. I...it’s just better if I’m here. I can’t hurt anyone here.”

“You’re a half-breed.”I muttered, understanding.

Luci shrugged. “So I’m told.” She reached over and patted the creature’s side gently.

I cocked my head to the side.“Did you know there are a few dozen half-breed children in the witch’s village? Wren saved them from the demon fortress.”

I expected her to act shocked, or be angry. Instead she sighed. “For now. I can’t imagine they’ll be here long.”

I balked at that.“What’s that mean?” I asked, and a strange sense of foreboding crept underneath my skin.

Luci sighed.“Demon magick isn’t really compatible with witch magick. We have to learn work arounds and can only really bridge them with blood magick. Baila has been great helping me experiment and learn a few things. I suspect none of the half-breeds will be in Dorea for long.”

She casually conjured a small flame, and twirled it around her wrists and hand. I didn’t want to openly argue with her, so I simply nodded.

Baila.

BAILA.

I shot into the air, flying up so I was level with the creature’s eyes. They weren’t the right color, but the shape and gazewerethe same if you knew what you were looking for.

“Ohgods,Baila!”

The creature stretched its face in an odd pantomime of a smile, now that I hadfinallyfigured it out.

My face twisted in sorrow.“Oh, what did theydoto you? I have to tell the others. I have to tellBenedict.”

I flew in a half circle, unsure what to even do first. “Luci, why didn’t youtellanyone?”

Luci frowned. “Tell them what?”

I met Baila’s eyes with full recognition, and landed on its outstretched hand as I leaned my forehead against its hard, unyielding stone. “That this creature is Benedict’s sister.”

Chapter 9

Kali

Isat on the dais constructed just for me in the town square. My throne had been moved to the platform to oversee the games, but already the sun was hot and making me sweat through my silk gown.

A few dozen men milled around the arena built in front of me, with the crowd lining hastily built bleaches on either side. Lord Harrow stood to my side, sweating just as badly in his court clothes and giving me an exasperated look. “Are you determined to go through with this?” He inquired snobbily.

I glared at him. “If no one will accept me as a proper queen until I’mmarried,then I might as well pick the strongest one since I have no interest in marrying a Cantradian. Get on with it.”

He sighed, then stepped forward. The crowd went silent, and the men in the arena ceased to jostle each other for position. “Citizens of Aldur: today our queen begins her search for a consort!”

Murmuring broke out amongst the crowd, and I couldn’t blame them. These men were risking themselves for what they thought was the chance to becomeking, not a simpleconsort.Well, that was too damn bad. After my backstabbing father, I would never again allow a man to have such control over my life.

I felt a spike of magick swirl from the stone in my crown, bestowed upon my mother as a gift from the sea witches. When she had shown nothing but disdain for it, I took it.

After her death, I had the stone removed and transferred to my crown. My father had been afraid of magick, and spurned everything to do with it.

Except when it came to betraying us to the demon Overlord, apparently. I shoved my emotions away. I was moving on, and taking my kingdom with me.

I stood, my crown heavy and the train of my seafoam-green gown pooling behind me. I wished to be off sailing with Zara, but I'd pushed her away. She’d left the bay this morning, sailing out to who knows where.

I guess she really didn't want me. Just like these squabbling men, who even now muttered darkly upon finding out they weren't competing for the title of king. No one wantedme.I glared at them. “If no one wishes to compete for such an honored title, leave now.”

The men all eyed each other, but no one was brave enough to make the first move. None of them wanted to miss out on a chance to live at the palace and possibly bed me. I could see it in their greedy eyes.

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