Page 105 of Tears for a Broken Sky

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Not the dinner bell.

Not the change-of-watch bell.

Thewarningbell.

Leo stiffened beneath me. I froze.

A single sharp clang, followed by two more. Fast. Urgent.

Footsteps pounded overhead. Someone shouted something I couldn’t make out.

Then Maddie’s voice—muffled through the wood, but unmistakably sharp.

“Elira! Get up here!Now!”

I was on my feet before I realized I’d moved.

Leo groaned, pushing himself upright. “Gods, tell me that wasn’t the pirate bell.”

“I think that was theeverything-is-about-to-go-to-hellbell,” I said.

He muttered something unrepeatable and grabbed the bucket for support. “I really hate the sea.”

I grabbed his coat off the hook, threw it over his shoulders. “I know. But right now, we fight.”

He looked up at me, still pale—but his eyes burned. “Let’s go.”

I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.

Not one ship.

Not ten.

Scores.

All in the distance.

All flying red and blue flags.

The garrison sat beyond the land bridge, its walls already silhouetted in flame.

The ships were on the far side of the land bridge—too distant for arrows, but close enough to see the smoke.

Flames already licked the sky.

Even from here, we could hear the faint thump of cannon fire—low and rhythmic, like a death drum.

Slade returned to my side, breath sharp. Vael’s fleet. And Ashton’s. “They’re working together.”

Phoenix swore under his breath. “That’s a lot of ships. Fuck.”

“They’re not coming,” I said hollowly. “They’re alreadyhere.”

Behind us, the other ships burst into motion—orders shouted, boots slamming against wet wood.

Sails unfurled. Steel was drawn. Maddie appeared at my side, eyes wide, wind whipping her hair back.

“We’re not going to make it to the beach, are we?” she asked quietly.

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