Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms 4)

“Am I right? Ashur gave me books to read about the legends,” Amara said, trying now to inject some uncertainty into her voice. “The air Kindred is said to be an orb of moonstone. Is that really it?”

“It is.”

The emperor stood, strode briskly over to Gaius, and peered at the orb. “How interesting.”

“I’ve come here to warn you,” Gaius announced, pulling the orb closer to him and away from the emperor, “that if you attempt to conquer Mytica, my daughter will fight back with the power of a sorceress who can capsize entire fleets of ships. Who can freeze the Silver Sea with a single thought. Who can incinerate your soldiers into piles of ash and dust. Who, with the swipe of her little finger, can steal the breath of any enemy who dares cross her path. No army, no matter how large, can compete with the strength of her elementia.”

The emperor’s lips were thin, his gaze fierce. “And your offer?”

“I am offering you a share in my treasure. This,” he said, indicating the orb, “will be yours. Once I reveal the secret to unlocking the power within this crystal, it will give you the gift of air magic. In return, you will agree to embrace Mytica, not as a conquest but as a partner, and you will share your empire with me equally.”

So this was why the king had come to Kraeshia. Amara was both stunned and impressed by his audacity.

The tension now hanging in the air was nearly as visible as smoke.

“Half of my empire in exchange for a polished rock?” Despite his sarcasm, there was a glimmer of worry in the emperor’s expression that made Amara believe he no longer found any of this funny.

“That’s right,” Gaius said, calmly gazing at the crystal.

This banquet was far more exciting than Amara had anticipated. Even though she knew the king had lied and bluffed his way into this situation, he did possess at least one Kindred. And Lucia was the prophesied sorceress.

Her father would be wise to take the king very seriously.

“You say you know how to unlock the magic within the Kindred,” Amara said. “Can you share with us how you came to know this secret?”

Gaius gripped the orb of moonstone and studied Amara for a moment. “I know this secret because my mother told it to me. She was a witch, one with vast knowledge of the immortals’ world. She knew that one day I would be the one to find and possess the Kindred, so of course she told me what to do once I claimed my destiny.”

Amara considered his words. “Your story is sweet, but it makes me wonder why so many accused witches in Limeros have been executed on your order over the years if your own mother was one herself. I’m sure there’s a fascinating explanation there that has nothing to do with the laws of your goddess.”

When he met her gaze this time, his eyes were black and cold and bottomless. “You have no idea, princess.”

The emperor stepped forward, halting the conversation between Amara and the king. “What’s to stop me from taking that crystal and killing you right now, Gaius?” Felix and Milo rose to their feet, and the emperor flicked his hand dismissively at them. “Unless you’re a couple of sorcerers, you can’t protect your king from me.”

“You could kill me and take this Kindred,” the king acknowledged. “But it will be useless to you if you don’t know how to unlock its magic.”

The emperor scoffed. “I could torture the secret out of you in minutes.”

The king didn’t flinch. In fact, his gaze grew hard and steely. “You would do so at your own peril. Besides, such a secret would do you no good at all, here in Kraeshia. And should you arrive in Mytica without me, my daughter will be waiting to destroy every last one of you.” He pocketed the orb. “I’ve had my say and I’ve made you my offer. Surely you’ll want to take some time to think about it. This meeting is over.” He nodded at his guards.

Felix offered Amara a slight shrug and another small grin as he accompanied the king out of the room.

“Father?” Dastan said quietly when all had fallen silent in the hall.

“It seems I have a great deal to think about,” the emperor replied.

Yes, Amara thought. You certainly do.

• • •

Later that evening, Amara wandered the hallways, feeling too energetic to retire to her chambers for the night. She couldn’t stop thinking about the way the king had taken full command of that meeting. She’d wondered why he’d been so foolish to come here, thinking it was a mistake for anyone to try to confront her father.

She’d forgotten King Gaius’s reputation.

He was ruthless, power hungry, and now claimed his mother had been a witch.

Fascinating.

Her reverie was broken when she bumped into Felix.