Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms 4)

“Now,” she said, turning back to Jonas, “about that earth Kindred you stole from me.”

Jonas had heard all about Lucia’s visit to Limeros, and he didn’t underestimate the sorceress for a moment. “Sorry,” he said, “but I don’t have it.”

“Oh, please, Jonas. Do you really think you can fool me so easily? Let’s try again.”

“Princess Lucia . . .” he began, but then he was interrupted by a sudden crackling of lightning above. The storm had begun to gather again. A sickening feeling seeped into his stomach. This storm was made from magic, he realized. Summoned by a sorceress who could conjure darkness and evil without even a single crack to her calm, collected exterior.

“Yes, Jonas?” Lucia replied, a menacing smile creeping over her beautiful face.

“You want the earth Kindred?” His mouth was dry, his heart was pounding, but he tried to keep his voice steady and confident.

“Obviously.”

“Then I propose a partnership.”

She raised a brow. “And I propose that you hand over the Kindred before I light you and your friends on fire.”

“All right, all right.” He held up his hands, wracking his mind for the right way to deal with this dangerous girl. “Not the time to consider a partnership. Understood.”

“Trust me on this, rebel. You have no idea what you’ve stolen.”

“Kill her!” came a shout from the crowd. “The King of Blood’s daughter deserves to die!” A chorus of cheers and cries for justice followed, and Jonas turned to scowl at his unwanted and vastly unhelpful audience.

This was all his fault. He’d just had to intervene when he saw that thief snatch a bag of coins from a pretty girl.

Good deeds had never served him well.

Jonas looked up again at the roiling storm clouds above. “Princess, listen to me,” he said. “I am not your enemy.”

A roll of thunder rumbled. “Everyone is my enemy.”

“I want you to know that I wasn’t the one who killed the queen.”

“I’m disappointed to hear that,” she said. “That was the single thing I liked about you before now.”

“Enough talk,” Lysandra growled. “My parents are dead because of your father. Because of your father, my village was enslaved. Because of your father, my brother was executed right in front of me!”

“I am sorry for your loss, Lysandra. Truly. But King Gaius is not my real father. Queen Althea was not my real mother. I hate the Damoras every bit as much as you do.”

Surprised by this sudden admission, Jonas sent a furtive glance at Olivia. Could she help if this got out of control?

Most likely she would only prove herself to be nothing more than a common witch, powerless against a prophesied sorceress with her heart set on vengeance.

But he knew there had to be a way to resolve this without anyone getting hurt.

“If that’s true, then I have an excellent suggestion for you,” Jonas said slowly, evenly. “You should become a rebel.”

Amusement flickered in the princess’s sky-blue eyes. “And bumble along with the lot of you, failing at every turn? What a brilliant suggestion.”

Jonas ignored the bite in her words. “Well, why not? By joining us you could help bring peace back to Mytica, end the suffering of its people.”

“And how do you think you’re going to do all that? By using me and my magic to achieve your goals? Apologies, rebel, but my charitable days are over.”

Jonas had to bite back the snarky, smug responses to this incredibly abrasive girl as they shot through his mind. He took a deep breath. “If King Gaius’s daughter were to stand up in defiance against him, everyone all over Mytica will wake up and begin to see through his lies. Not only would even more Auranians and Paelsians band together and rise up against him, but Limerians, too. It’s Limeros that’s been trapped under his thumb for all these years, and it’s those citizens who would benefit most from the demise of his regime. It will be a revolution of both body and spirit, and your magic would have very little to do with it.”

“Jonas,” Nic growled. “Look at her. She’s clearly not interested in listening to reason.”

“Now, now, Nicolo, be nice,” Lucia said. “I’m perfectly capable of thinking and answering for myself.” She turned back to Jonas. “You make excellent points, Jonas. But you mistake me for someone who cares about peace or ending the suffering of common citizens. Don’t look so surprised. After all, even if I don’t share their blood, I was raised a Damora.”