Page 16 of Court of Dragons and Ashes

Kian sighs when we are out of the castle, patting my hand. “My people are stubborn, but give them time and they will give you a chance. A real chance.”

“I don’t think they will ever give me a chance. They will ever only see me as the person who is the daughter of them, who betrayed your king, essentially,” I remind him.

“You have a choice in everything, and we are not our parents,” he reminds me. “If they knew you like I did, they’d know that you did not have a choice back then and you’re trying to make it better. We all make mistakes. Trying to fix them is what makes us better people.” I don’t answer him about that. Mostly because I don’t know what to say to him. Can you ever be forgiven for what you’ve done? I killed people, innocent people. I lied to and betrayed someone who’s my friend. I lethimout, my father calling back my mother with him. The pair of them are lashing out havoc on the world as only gods can do. I might not be my parents, but I’m as terrible as they are with my past actions.

We stroll along the beach for a while, and Kian is right about one thing. The gentle beach here is one of my favourite places. The golden sands, the crystal green water, and the peace here lures me in. The sun shines down brightly on us as we walk, and people at the court are in the water themselves, playing, swimming, ignoring us while they enjoy their families. I suck in a breath of the salty air as we walk until it’s just me and him on an empty beach. I can finally breathe a little without the prying eyes of the court. “Arty, can you?—”

“Help!” a panicked young voice screams. We both stop, looking around, but there’s nothing but sandy beaches, a fewpalm trees, and the sea. That’s it. I hear the splashing first before Kian sharply looks across the water. He lets go of my hand, and in seconds he’s running, jumping into the sea, the water moving around him, almost propelling him through the green, almost blue waves. He is so fast in the water, the water prince indeed, and he heads right towards the small dot of what I think is a floating child. Kian swims faster and faster before diving under, and for seconds, there is nothing but the waves brushing against my feet, my heart pounding in my chest. I ready myself to swim in after them, having no idea if I can move fast enough to even help them.

I watch the shoreline like time itself has stood still, until quickly Kian breaks out of the water nearby, holding a boy that can be only about eight or nine. Water pours off them both, and the boy is floppy, hanging off Kian’s arms. He is completely unconscious…maybe not even breathing. Kian carefully drops him on the beach next to me and puts his fingers on his neck to check his pulse. “He’s not breathing. Fuck.”

The pale, blond-haired boy is very still as my hand cups my mouth. “Oh god. Do something, Kian!”

Kian places his hands over the boy’s chest and closes his eyes. Powerful blue healing magic swirls around him and the boy, water pouring out of his hands and from the very sea behind him, covering the boy from head to toe except for his mouth and nose, willing him to breathe.

This has to work. Kian is a powerful healer. He can—“I’m not strong enough to start his heart again. He’s been out too long. I’m not my brother.”

Kian doesn’t give up, even when he sounds defeated. My heart races as I look down at the boy, and I reach over and put my hand on Kian’s shoulder to comfort him, tears falling down my face. Suddenly his magic amplifies, exploding out of him, rays of blue light shining in every direction. The boy gasps,coughing, choking on air in the middle of us, and Kian’s magic snaps away like a switch just turned off.

I quickly turn the boy onto his side, patting his back firmly as he coughs out water for a good few minutes, my heart racing with him. When he stops, we both help the boy sit up. Kian looks right at me in shock. “How did you do that, Arty? I’ve never felt anything so strong, not even from Lysander…”

“I-I didn’t do anything,” I splutter, shaking my head. “I don’t even understand how this happened. It was your power.”

“It was mine but—” Kian is cut off by the sound of a woman shouting. We both look over to see a woman in a silver dress rushing down the beach towards us. No, towards the boy. She flings herself at the boy, pulling him on her lap and kissing his head. Kian softly tells her what happened, finishing with a suggestion to see the healers just in case.

“Thank you,” the woman cries, cupping her son’s face. “What are you doing here? You ran off.” She’s obviously not from the Water Court. I would guess Air Court from just the look of her and the silver clothes she wears.

The boy hiccups. “I wanted to see the sea, and then I was paddling, but it pulled me in. I was scared…”

“Are you from the Air Court?” Kian asks. “I heard refugees had been taken in yesterday.”

“Oh, you’re the prince!” the woman exclaims. “And yes, we are.”

Kian looks at the shocked boy. “You should be careful near the oceans. The sea is alive and playful. It pulls you in, thinking you are a Water Court child who can breathe underwater. It didn’t mean to hurt you.” The boy nods, looking fearfully at the water. “Why don’t I teach you how to swim another time? It is safe, with the right tips.”

“I’d like that.” The boy nods and his mother smiles brightly at them.

After many more thanks and expressions of her gratitude, she leaves us, and I lie back on the sand. Kian lies next to me. “Do you really not know what happened there? It was likely all your power.”

Kian takes my hand, linking our fingers. “It wasn’t my power. You’re the child of two gods, Artemis. You’ve been told that you’re powerless your entire life, but you did something then. One day, your power is going to break free, and I will be here for you when it does.”

I don’t know what I did to deserve Kian. “I was born powerless; that doesn’t just change.”

He tightens his grip on my hand. “Something has changed. Everything can change. You are not powerless.”

Maybe he is right.

CHAPTER 9

The Fire Court walls look like amber, like they’re glowing alive with real flames instead of crystals. The crystals are designed within the very walls themselves, like the fire dragons flying outside the castle built the walls, the archways, and amber doors from the flames of their mouths. I run my hand against the smooth, cool amber walls, seeing the light making the crystals dance within it. It’s beautiful, unlike my dreams, unlike my reality. Everything is broken, including me. I couldn’t sleep, not for a moment. This time, my nightmare is not just about the commander, it’s about Arden and Lysander too. The hate that has built in them has exploded into this living thing between the three of us. I can’t fix them, I wouldn’t know how to start, and sometimes I feel like I’m going to burn trying to get close.

The Fire Court is now safe from Ares and Aphrodite, back in the hands of their king, who they openly adore. It turns out most of the Fire Court hid, protected by deadly fires that the gods couldn’t slip through. However, there were many, many deaths of nobles who chose to stay to keep the gods busy and their families safe. Their bodies are being looked after by the Twilight for now. I’m a stranger here, but I like how loyal they are toArden. No one in this court was under Aphrodite’s magic; they were too strong willed. The Fire Court lost a few hundred people, including important nobles, but the majority of the Fire Court was safe. It was apparently hard for the gods to invade, to get into the court, and they didn’t have enough time here to do much in the way of ruling.

They were gone when we came back, and part of me wishes they weren’t—just so I could see Emrys and Grayson one more time. I feel like I’m living for seconds with them, moments where they don’t even know me. I don’t even know which court they’ve gone to next, but I hope Arden or Lysander have sent out spies to find out. I don’t think Lysander’s in the castle anymore. I didn’t look or even dare ask Arden, who was silent at my side, but I can feel Lysander’s not close. Arden is close, his emotions like a firestorm. I search for him in the castle, knowing I want to see him, even if he doesn’t want to see me right now. Sleeping is not happening either way.

“What are you doing out here alone? You’re in constant danger, and you should have guards. Where is Arden?” Hope demands, making me jump. I turn to see her storming down the corridor to me, like a wolf that’s found her prey. She looks at my face, and her expression morphs from anger to concern. I don’t want her concern. “You should be sleeping.”

Crossing my arms, I turn away from her and carry on walking. “No, I shouldn’t. I also don’t need guards. I have my powers. Today’s test wasn’t exactly hard work, so I’m fine.” I want to add that I don’t sleep much anymore these days, but I don’t. I hold that truth close to my chest, including how I slept for the first time when I had Lysander there and actually felt safe. “What are you doing in this court?”

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