Page 92 of Heir of Broken Souls

“She wants to talk,” Knox drawls. “Alone.”

* * *

With a flourish of his shadow magic, Knox opens a small window on the lowest level of the ship. It’s just big enough for both of us to pop our torsos out, and come face-to-face with the mermaids only a few feet below.

I’m surprised water hasn’t leaked into the cabin, considering how much it’s been leaning. I make a mental note to secure all the lower-level windows.

“I see our visions aren’t needed,” Naia begins coldly.

“Your visions are always needed,” Knox says dutifully.

“Elysia just beat you to it,” I blurt.

“Yes, I can see that, child.”

A small spark of hatred ignites within my chest. The mermaids always love to remind me of my place in their eyes. Help or not, friend or foe, they are superior in their minds.

With those powers, they might be.

I flash her a sickly-sweet smile. “Of course you do. You see everything.”

And never tell anyone, for whatever reason.

I know Naia is cutting me slack, taking my verbal jabs with stride, but I suspect her patience is beginning to wear thin. But I find myself struggling to care for the repercussions after everything.

Knox clears his throat, drawing Naia’s attention. “Is there more that you saw?”

Naia dips her chin. “This is no ordinary storm.”

“What exactly did you see?” I ask, too quickly.

“Oh,” she muses, a brow arching. “Now you wish to know of my vision?”

“Don’t play coy, Naia. This is no time for games.”

“Certainly not, considering this is man-made.”

Knox frowns. “Man-made? Are you telling me the storm coming for us is?—”

“Not one of nature’s doing?” Amelia purrs. “Well, it certainly isn’t a gift from Mother Gaia.”

A muscle in Knox’s jaw flexes. “That’s impossible. Dark magic can’t manipulate the elements, only pure elemental power can.”

“I never said anything about dark magic,” Naia answers coyly.

Knox and I turn to each other in sync, the confusion on my face mirrored in his own. “Is he possessing the Fae he’s captured to perform?—”

Naia’s cold voice cuts me off, filling in the blanks we so greatly missed. “This one is not being forced to do anything. Her choices are all her own.”

Her.

I flinch, as if I was struck by a physical force, but it was just a word.

A word that changes everything.

Knox bristles, his entire body tightening as he fists his hands at his sides. His voice lowers to a dangerous growl. “Who?”

“You know who.”