Page 9 of Songs of Retribution

Gone.

Magic gathered in my chest. It would solve this issue and enable us to get Neia safely to shore. I owed nothing to these pirates who'd chased after us, attempted to kill Sai, and planned to steal our heart stone.

Lennox scraped his thumb slower over my knuckles, breaking his rhythm. I shook my head and snapped out of my brooding.

Guilt flooded through me at the direction my thoughts had taken. There was no circumstance where I could justify taking someone's life, no matter how much they might deserve it. Killing wasn't the answer—my parents had raised me better than this. I didn't understand what was happening to me.

Kalin.The click of magic grabbed me, and I shifted towards Lennox, but he didn't break his focus on Neia. I opened myself to it and his voice slipped into my mind, worried despite his calm exterior.What's wrong?

It's nothing.I couldn't burden him with my crisis while he attempted to keep Neia balanced and not further damage her.

His lips pinched at the corners.That's not true, but we can talk about it later.Once we knew Neia was safe, he meant, and Elisa wasn't hovering at his elbow as she had the entire trip, her focus as fixed on Neia as Lennox's. I bobbed my head but hoped he'd forget. This magic made little sense to me; I wasn't sure how to discuss it. I didn't like possessing powers that could so easily kill others, didn't enjoy that they rose unbidden and seemed hungry to escape. How ridiculous to complain about having magic that could protect us, protect our court.

Sai turned and shouted something to Orman, who steered the boat so that it weaved into the waves. The sun had nearly set and streaks of indigo and magenta gleamed over the sea’s ripples and shimmered across rocks. The sails thrashed in the wind that had carried us here as water lapped against the ship’s side.

Lennox licked his lips, and I couldn't help but study his features in the dimming light. His cheeks were sharp-edged and dark smudges curved under his eyes, but it didn't change his beauty. He was no longer the smooth-skinned, not-a-hair-out-of-place prince I'd once met. His jaw was rugged with gritty stubble, and his golden locks blew about in the breeze.

He was more beautiful to me now. Something new radiated in his eyes and straightened his posture. He'd changed during his time with Elisa, and it made me long to peel off his clothing and see what else might be different about his body, press my lips over his ribs and curl my thumbs over his hips until I was certain I understood every inch of this new him.

But I didn't have time to think about that as we approached the siren city’s ragged cliffs. Musing on my attraction to Lennox was a better mental direction, at least, than focusing on the power of death that lingered at my fingertips, waiting for my call.

Sai let out a sharp whistle and nodded towards us. Luz pointed at a narrow boat and Lennox tightened his grip as we walked, Neia floating beside us. Elisa and Luz climbed down into the vessel. Lennox reluctantly released my hand so he could climb down, and his gaze remained glued to Neia's form. He dropped into the boat, finding his seat only with Elisa's help as he lowered Neia as well. I met my brother's eyes as I climbed down the side. Sai gave me a nod, which I returned before reaching the boat.

The sun dipped into the rippling sea as we rowed towards shore. Neia hovered between us all. She was deathly pale, her hair sticking to her sweat-soaked face.

The shipwreck’s sound behind us was deafening and I flinched. Wood crackled as it ripped apart, metal screeched, and pirates yelled in a burble of languages. I swallowed and looked back. The ship that had followed us approached and smashed into rocks as well, and the noise doubled.

Some pirates jumped from the pursuing ship, their forms slick black shadows in the early evening light. Then they climbed aboard Sai's ship, pulling weapons.

My heart hammered. My powers surged through me, aching to release. It would be so easy. I could end all of them easier than snapping.

A dozen had made it onto the ship, swords swinging. Cries rang out from our crew. At that distance, I could barely make out what happened, then I saw Sai stumble and fall. The outline of a pirate loomed above him, sword raised against the dark sky. My heart lurched like it wrecked as well. I leaned into the magic of my zevar and let the powers flow. The pirates surrounding him dropped. It ricocheted through my bones, a snap as their souls ripped from their bodies. Something in me startled at the intensity of it, at realizing I'd just killed, but another part of me warmed. My magic wanted more. It wanted to rid this world of any threat to my family or people and wouldn't be satisfied to rest until it had achieved that.

"Shaan," Luz called. I turned towards them, and they stared at my glowing zevar before lifting their eyes to meet mine. "Are you going to help Lennox?"

Right. Lennox and Neia and Elisa all waited for me. Neia had to get to the siren aaspatal. The rest of Sai's team and the pirates who we'd sailed with had already gotten into small boats. They didn't need my help anymore. I swallowed and grabbed Lennox's hand as those powers surged and clawed through me.Releaseme, they seemed to hiss.Stop resisting.

I firmed my jaw and walked with the group, refusing to look back. I couldn't focus on the fact that I'd just killed yet. Sai wanted me here helping boost Lennox's magic, and that's what I needed to focus on.

When we reached the sirens’ gate they called Rainoe. She arrived swiftly and sighed as she took in our group. "For the love of the gods, what's happened now?" She gestured for Lennox to lower Neia and, at the sight of her, dashed a glance at Elisa who bit her trembling lip. Lennox drew closer to put his free arm around her.

Rainoe sucked air over her teeth before looking at Elisa again. "We'll do our best, love."

Elisa bobbed her head but seemed to choke over any response she tried to form. Lennox hugged her tighter. "Thank you for your help," he said, his voice steady, although I could feel the anxiety coursing through him.

"Can you keep her bubbled like that?"

"I can do my best."

Rainoe took over, and it was a relief to have a healer in charge. That's how we found ourselves in the curved room of an aaspatal house a few hours later, several groups of sirens having rotated through to work on Neia. The sirens had washed her and had her lying on a bed in a healing sleep when Sai stepped through the door. His steps were even, his skin dirty but unmarked. He’d avoided any new injuries. A breath rushed out of me.

Lennox had pulled Elisa into his arms and urged her to rest while Neia did. She curled against him and fell into an uneasy sleep, shivering and wincing occasionally. Lennox kept rubbing her back, and I wanted to beg him to lie down as well. He hadn't had more than a few minutes of sleep in days.

Sai grabbed Rainoe's hand and shook it. "We owe you more thanks than I can say."

She frowned at him. "Those pirates still on our shore?"

"They're gone now. I thought it would be more trouble, but something seemed to spook them."

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