Page 165 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

Leto’s stare flickered, but he didn’t move.

“He’s loyal to only me,” Barron laughed. “I can give him what he’s lost. What have you ever done for him? You only took. You used him. You used his gift. Leto is an advanced spy. The best of the best. He even unleashed Kora’s buried power for me.”

She froze. Her mouth gaped, as more pieces of the puzzle she’d mulled over for weeks clicked together.

“The velesma? But I found that by accident!”

“What?” Raiden frowned, glancing between them. His arm remained raised, and a shimmer of diamonds encased him and Kora. She breathed a little easier knowing his power was still active, and his nose or ears hadn’t started bleeding yet. There was still time.

Leto began erratically signing, and Raiden recited what he said for Kora’s benefit. “I learned you’d become a pirate hunter and were looking for us. I took my chance and arranged a meeting at Peril Cove, where I planned to scout and capture you and take you to Talmon. It all worked out by chance with Raiden luring you there. But you bested Cannon. You killed your own kind.”

The rain continued, growing heavier as time passed. The ocean crested, but not from Kora’s power. A maelstrom was approaching. Leto’s eyes flashed as he continued signing, his fingers swift, cutting through the thick raindrops.

“Despite Leto’s failure, knowing you had fulfilled my design for you was positively thrilling,” Barron smiled.

Kora thought she was going to be sick again. “But he didn’t fail, did he?”

“We had a last resort,” Raiden spoke for Leto. “Should I fail on my priority, I would leave a sign for Blake.”

“The velesma,” Kora supplied, her fingers trailing around her throat. “But . . . you weren’t . . .”

“Come now,” Barron shook his head. “Surely the infamous Kora Cadell can work this one out?”

Raiden scowled as Kora frowned, her fingers probing her collarbone, remembering the cool chain from the talisman. The very one she’d worn for weeks, leeching her power without her realising. Her gaze snapped to Leto’s, the strong purple hue he’d somehow repressed. Just like those who consumed iridweed, which stained Mara’s small talons.

Leto shifted, the edge of a pipe peeking out from the folds of his longcoat. Kora groaned, leaning towards Raiden as the realisation hit her. The heavy weight of Blake’s deception coming to light, and the extent of Barron’s manipulation.

“There she is, the clever girl Erick always told me you were,” Barron crooned.

“Don’t say his name,” Kora snarled. “Not after what you did to Eleanore.”

Barron’s eyes flared. It was hard to surprise him, and Kora revelled in the fact that she did, despite the horrible context of Eleanore’s death.

“You hid in Cannon’s ship with your power,” Kora swung her glare to Leto, as Raiden reluctantly signed for her. “You planted the velesma. The pipe in the desk wasn’t Cannon’s, it was yours.”

Leto nodded, somewhat thrilled she figured it out. “It was my signal to Blake.”

“No,” Raiden shook his head. His disbelief washed over Kora. His heart breaking at his brother-in-arms betraying him through the bond. “You fought with us at Mossfell!”

Barron smiled. “All for show, and you know I love a good show.” He winked at Kora and she gagged.

“The hawks,” Raiden added, his words clipped. “Leto has an affinity with aviaries. The shadow hawk was also yours. The one that attacked Kora.” Barron’s stare slid to Leto at that last part, thunderstorms swirling in the darkness of his eyes. That was unplanned then.

Mara’s chirp in response confirmed it, her once beady eyes now glowing purple, her feathers ruffling with shadows weaving throughout them. Raiden’s arm wavered, and Kora tried to flood the bond with light, with warmth, with support. She’d been here before. She knew the painful cracks that tore within when those closest caused betrayal. Raiden’s pain drowned her, a hiss singing through his teeth.

Footsteps sounded behind Kora, and Aryn charged up the dock, his longbow raised. Sand and blood coated his hair, his eyes blazing golden. Barron faltered, paling slightly at the magic lurking within his stare.

“Aryn, I’m so glad you’re here, too.” His voice was anything but glad.

Aryn released a short laugh. “So am I. I’ve been waiting to do this.”

He fired his arrow, and Kora gasped as golden light wrapped around it. Barron leapt, a blur of motion, dragging Leto in front of him. The arrow pierced Leto’s bubble, destroying it as it shot into his shoulder. Mara flew away, crying out, and Leto sagged to the ground, gasping as he clutched at his chest, blood flowing from the wound. Barron paid him no mind, but Raiden stiffened, his stare pinned on Leto as he bled out, the vibrancy of his stare fading.

“Such a waste.” Barron waved a hand, and Leto gurgled, blood spurting from his lips as Barron’s shadows wrapped around him, pushing him off the side of the dock and into the sea. Raiden choked, uncertainty tearing through the bond. Kora clasped his hand, raising her dagger with the other.

Barron pulled on the chain and a figure was hauled forward. Hair of burning red flames cascaded down her back, and Raiden stilled as her head whipped up, eyes of embers boring into them both. And they were framed with some kind of tattoo, bearing a mark similar to the insignia.

“Do it now, Larissa,” Barron purred, yanking on the chain connected to her neck. Kora’s blood boiled. “Or I will kill every witch.”