Page 42 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

“I can’t speak back,” she huffed. “Whatever magic you use, I don’t possess it.”

“You can,” he urged. “You replied in the castle. Clear as day.” He tapped the side of his head with a lopsided smile.

“That was . . . different. Barron had taken control of my magic, fused it to his own. It wasn’t me.” Kora’s brow furrowed as she focused projecting into his mind, imagining screaming her thoughts. “You’re a massive Galenite prick with a ridiculous body!” Raiden blinked, clearly not receiving any kind of communication from her mind. “See? You’re not hearing anything.”

Raiden’s gaze swept over her, methodically assessing in more scrutinising detail than Erick could. “You need more rest. Whatever you’ve been doing in your room, it’s not resting. There’s always a limit to magic, if you push too far it may be years before it returns.”

Kora shut her mouth. She’d barely touched the food Aryn had brought her, had barely slept. It’d been an endless cycle of crying, and painfully practising magic until she collapsed, blood dripping from her nose, only to start again. Except her magic could never progress further than minor healing and a couple floating droplets of water without a weight smothering her chest, and her newly expanded scar alighting with so much agony she’d nearly contemplated rejoining Thanos.

The dark force that’d constantly wiped her mind whenever she tried venturing into the past rose, chilling her bones. Whatever block it possessed, whatever it was preventing her seeing from her past, had been so detrimental to her power that it’d been repressed for ten years. Only to surface when drawn out by the dreaded talisman.

Now, it had diminished once again, along with her strength.

“It’s not any of your concern,” Kora muttered.

It irked her that Raiden conjured uncontrollable feelings with anything he said. Whoever he was, he’d been important in her past. Some kind of childhood sweetheart perhaps. There’d been nothing substantial in her memories, nothing more than playful magic and empty words that meant nothing in the face of survival.

A wall slammed down behind Raiden’s gaze, his diamond stare hardening as his jaw ground. “Well, at least let me help you with this.” He reached forward and Kora flinched at his hand, unwanted memories surfacing combined with soiled eyes and a lisp.

She stumbled back towards the bowsprit and Raiden froze, his eyes flaring. “Holy Haizea.” He exhaled, approaching cautiously. “I’m not going to hurt you. Just tell me to stop if you need.” His index finger gently brushed her metal collar in a peculiar pattern, and the metal popped before collapsing to the ground.

Kora sucked in a breath, her lungs finally fully expanding. Sweet, fresh air graced her neck, cooling her clammy skin as she massaged it gently. She stilled as a familiar scent of rain swarmed her, followed by what she could only describe as sleek metal.

“Could’ve done that earlier if you hadn’t hidden in your room.” He winked, his face so close to hers she could count his eyelashes.

“I don’t want to hide,” she whispered.

He smiled, his eyes darting around her face. “Good.”

“Thank you . . . How did you do that? They’re impenetrable.”

“I learned a trick from someone.” Raiden shrugged, but his eyes sparked.

“Anchor!” a pirate yelled. Behind them, the warbled chatter of the crowd heightened as the ship approached the docks. As it turned within the bay, listing on its side, Kora stumbled forward and Raiden gently caught her elbow.

Sparks flew, consuming her skin from his touch, right down to her water beast which slumbered deeply. A gasp tore from her lips as Raiden’s thumb swept across her skin before releasing her, and Kora closed her eyes, savouring the small ignition of life.

Until she saw Raiden covered in Agatha’s blood behind her eyelids, seared so deeply she was unsure whether she’d be able to see him in any other way. He’d stood and watched her death, then left her body with little thought or care.

“I’m going to find Aryn,” Kora mumbled, swerving around Raiden’s large form down to the main deck. She refused to look back to see whether he watched her as her heart dangerously fluttered.

18

Raiden

Raiden’s fist met the iron cannon, and it flew off the edge of the ship, passing through Leto’s barrier. Kordelia’s reaction had stunned him. That flash of panic in her eyes, followed by the shake consuming her body. She’d been hurt too many times, and Raiden tucked his fists away to contain his rage before destroying more of Leto’s already wrecked ship. He didn’t even know how to console her, to be the male he’d always been for her.

How could he, when she’d become a different person? Maybe Skylar had been right, maybe there was no redemption for Kordelia. She wasn’t a weapon or threat in Raiden’s eyes, but she’d lost her fight, succumbing to a shadow of herself.

No. Gods damn it. He couldn’t live with knowing she was in pain and suffering. As Leto’s bubble faded, the ship docking gently against the stone promenade, Raiden stormed to the main deck, following Kordelia’s winding path to the skildaj.

Aryn gently smiled at Kordelia, their shoulders lightly brushing as she leaned into him, her arms still wrapped around her slim torso. Raiden’s jaw twitched at the sight. Her moonlight hair fanned around her shoulders and Raiden ached to touch it, to cup her cheeks that were far too hollow. Leto’s crew cheered as the gangplank descended, and a chaotic stumble ensued as waves of pirates spilled into Mistros City, the citizens of Galen joyfully welcoming them all.

A dark cloak appeared around Kordelia, Aryn motioning her to cover her hair. Raiden wrestled with his frustration as she hid within the hood, obscuring her face from the crowd.

A momentary precaution. The citizens would recognise her instantly, would swarm to her, a protector returned. They knew nothing of the lives she’d taken, the hunter she’d become. And the Windwards weren’t ready to break their hearts.

Raiden’s siblings and Aryn guided Kordelia down, her eyes widening as she approached the heart of the port. Rows of market stalls had been erected for the end of summer, each awning a decorative shade of blue, white, and iridescent purple.