Page 57 of Prince of the Phantom Sky

26

Kora

Bodies spilled from the throne room, groups of people hurrying into large chambers leading to endless, sunshine-filled rooms and warm hearths. Kora followed the largest crowd to the grand foyer, connected to the ballroom, main stairwell, and front gate. Intoxicating relief flooded her system, weeks and months of tension unwrapping from her soul as she paused in the foyer, soaking in the faint sunlight.

She had bought time.

Time for her and Erick. Time to end Barron and stop this war. Time to achieve long-lasting peace. For once, she had a chance to relax. For just a moment.

Aryn was hot on her heels, with Raiden grunting behind him. She rolled her eyes. She didn’t need Raiden invading her mind, reading her emotions. And she especially didn’t need him speaking for her.

“You don’t need to follow me.” She jabbed a finger at the male’s broad—extremely muscled, good gods—chest. He peered down at it.

“Someone needs to keep you alive. You entered a private audience with my father. He would’ve killed you just for stepping into that room!”

“Would he have killed Kordelia for the same?” Kora remarked and Raiden’s mouth snapped shut.

Pirates spilled into the warm, pearly space behind Raiden, glares targeting Kora’s back as they circled around them to the open front doors. Fresh air circled in, brushing over Kora’s flushed skin, and Raiden inched closer as Hector approached.

“Don’t think I don’t know what ye are up to,” he sneered. “Once a traitor, always a traitor.”

“Your opinions aren’t welcome here,” Raiden growled.

“Neither is she,” Hector snapped. “Ye’ll see. She’ll ruin us all.”

“Your rumours aren’t helping,” Aryn quipped, folding his arms across his bowstring. “The city fears her because they see her through your eyes.”

Hector paused, his weathered skin paler than usual, the lines deeper. He flapped his striped longcoat behind him, his thick falchion sword glinting in the sun. Grog wafted from his scraggly beard as he leaned forward, dark eyes narrowing.

“Whatever they’ve heard, is what they should know. Ye are blind. If I had my way, ye’d be in the Locker with the rest of the souls ye tormented.”

“Spreading lies across the city is punishable,” Raiden replied dryly.

“Punishment?” Hector laughed and revealed a brown bandana from his pocket, securing it around his long hair with thin fingers. “This life is punishment enough. I can’t stand to be near ye anymore. This is a mockery of the old world. Ye father will soon see the right path.”

Hector swaggered out of the castle without a second glance, passing where Leto stood, holding his arm out to Mara as she flew down to perch. As Hector’s unfavourable clothing disappeared down the hill, Kora’s attention shifted to the mute and deaf pirate lord. His slicked-back hair attracted the shadows of the castle entrance, his eyes near glowing as he stroked Mara’s chest with a single finger.

“He’s an Avarian,” Raiden spoke quietly. “He’s always had a special affinity with birds.”

Mara ruffled, her curved black beak pointing upwards as Leto smiled, his finger circling her neck.

“I’ve never heard of an Avarian,” Kora murmured. “It’s not in the Devanian mage factions.”

Raiden’s surprise was momentary before his face smoothed out, waving at Leto as he noticed them with a wry smile.

“We have ancient scriptures in Skybell Castle. Centuries of history. Magic wasn’t always contained to five factions.”

Kora hitched a breath, spinning to face him. “You . . . have a history library? An archive?”

Raiden paused, his left brow raising a fraction, as his crystalised stare softened. “Yes . . . are you into reading?”

“Could we vis—”

Cassidy’s boots echoed on the floor as she glided past them, her watery stare snapping to Kora briefly. Kora tracked her movements, her presence causing her to feel on edge. The coldness in Cassidy’s blue eyes was an echo of Bree, but the sorrow that lingered beneath reminded Kora that she’d taken Cannon away from Cassidy. She crossed the foyer, passing multiple hallways until she met Skylar beside a set of reinforced doors on the opposite side, a familiar healer huddled between them.

Mara squawked, grabbing Kora’s attention back to the equally mysterious and dark pirate lord. Leto waved enthusiastically, a grin plastered on his face, and Raiden waved back with a light chuckle before the entrance doors slammed shut, a cool breeze rushing in from outside.

“Where are they going?”