Page 65 of A Story of Sinners

Over my dead body.

A golden power coiled from my hands in pursuit of her, striking her backside and sending her body reeling through the doors.

Her eyes widened as she lay sprawled on the ground, and golden tendrils pushed against the doors, smacking them right in her face. The oomph that followed from behind those doors drew a smirk into my face. Golden tendrils continued to wisp about the room, knocking over vases, flipping paintings, wreaking havoc and reveling in the feel of it.

Amazing.

Eulalia dropped her fork and placed her hand on mine, pride shining in her eyes at the newfound ability, but also warning.

“It seems we have a new skill to train. Very nice. Now, draw it back.”

So, I did.

For now.

* * *

The four of us traveled to the Dragon Lands by ship. Fin could have easily sifted us, but he claimed the only way one would receive the full impact of his lands was through a water arrival.

He was correct.

Gabriella and I stood at the bow of the ship sifting its way through turquoise waters so clear, every minute detail of the rainbow fish swimming beneath us could be seen. The sunlight streaked through the water, lighting up the waterline with its rays. The reefs below were filled with life, and I found myself transfixed by the colors of the fish—pink, green, blue, orange, and even purple. I hadn’t noticed our arrival until Gabriella elbowed my side and pointed in the distance.

The sight was jaw droppingly gorgeous—numerous limestone buildings were planted on the face of a cliff, barely teetering on the edge of oblivion. Small shops and restaurants littered the shoreline at the base, and fae could be seen strolling around and enjoying the bright day. On the tallest cliff sat a castle, its long turrets pointed into the sky, so tall that the tops were barely visible through the wide expanse of clouds.

Dragons burst through the misty cloud surface, their wings stretching wide as they soared around the island, the occasional puff of smoke and flame shooting from their mighty maws.

“Amazing,” Gabriella stated beside me, her voice filled with awe.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Eulalia stepped up behind us and breathed in the fresh air. “We hid here for three months after you freed us from that dungeon, all while plotting your mate’s next moves. The coven is here, as are the last few groups of mages and witches from the continent. There are a lot more mages than there are witches, but I suppose being able to host witch magic as well as elemental affinities benefited their survival during the collections. Kathryn is married to one now, and she’s pregnant.”

So that’s where Isadora’s sister had been. “It’s truly breathtaking,” I answered, my eyes scanning the surroundings. “What will we do here?”

“I’ll train you, and so will Fin. Every magical group here spends their days training and honing their abilities. Asylum seekers are under the protection of Fin’s father, the dragon lord. He is a kind male, as far as fae go.”

“I’m not shade like I thought. How can you train me if we don’t know what I am?” I asked. My brow furrowed as I eyed Eulalia apprehensively. “Wait—do you know what I am?”

“No.” She shook her head in disappointment. “Matilda wouldn’t tell me, even if she knew. There were some things she managed to keep secret, no matter how desperately I attempted to glean the information.” She paused for a moment and chewed on her lips, thoughtfully reconsidering her actions. “I know what I did was wrong—using her for information. The same thing played out just as poorly as before, but when I was thrust into the position as head of the coven, I found myself unable to handle the responsibility. I still struggle.”

“I can’t imagine,” I said.

“I suppose the best thing we can do from here is nothing.” Eulalia shrugged and retreated, and my eyes focused on the distance, observing the dragons who dove into the surf and plucked out fish. They tossed them into the sky and roasted them midair, and then when the fish came spiraling down, they swallowed them whole.

The ship came to a halt at the docks below the cliffs, and I inhaled, trying to ease the nerves in my stomach. The deckhands reeled us into harbor, and Gabriella reached over to grip my hand. A nervous smile lined her lips as we faced a new world, both terrifying and exciting, filled with limitless possibilities.

When it was time, we stepped off the ship together and ventured into our new home.

Chapter28

Ryken

Redmond and I stood on the banks of the Central Kingdom, watching as Dahlia’s ship departed, traveling west. When the last mast disappeared over the horizon, I was finally able to breathe. She might be furious with me, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that she would be safe in the Dragon Lands, watched over, trained to the best of her abilities. It hurt that she lumped me into the same category as Aiden, but I couldn’t argue that my actions weren’t similar to his.

She was gone now, though, and I had a kingdom to rule, treaties to sign, and work to do.

“It’s not too late to join her,” I said to Redmond. “I could sift you to the Dragon Lands before she even arrives.”

Redmond inhaled. “No. She needs time to recover on her own. Many things have transpired over the past year, and independence will help her sort through all the trauma she’s experienced. Besides, there are more pressing matters at hand.”

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