When the rage within threatens to destroy everything...
As if firestarter wasn't bad enough, adding assassin to her resume isn't exactly the teenage life Halen Windspeare always imagined. Facing a sinister demon, Halen must unleash her power to van...
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Bile rose to Halen's throat as memories of their battle with the mermaids flooded her mind. Nelia jumped in front of Tage and took the hit from the mermaid's curse to protect the mission. She sacrificed herself for a siren she barely knew without hesitation. Now Nelia belonged to Rania for this crime against Elosia.
Her chin rested against her collarbone as if her head were a heavy stone. She wore nothing more than swim skins. Blood coated Nelia's flesh from her neck to her waist.
"I'll make them pay." Dax lunged.
Halen shoved him back to the ground. His energy charged, and as his anger rolled through her, she fought both Dax and the urge to unleash her magick on the crowd below. "You can't help her if we get caught."
"They know she's Tari. They're punishing her because she helped us. We have to do something."
"I wouldn't be so quick to go down there," a voice said at their backs.
Halen rolled, thrusting her hand outward, ready to cast her sparks, but dropped her guard as soon as she spotted the bald head poking up from the entrance. "Catch!" Halen said a little too loudly, and he shot her a warning glance.
She stood and wrapped her arms around his bony frame when he climbed into the alcove. Pulling back to get a better look at him, she gasped. His eyes sunk deep within his skull and his cheeks, too, were drawn as if he hadn't eaten or slept in months, though it had only been a short while since she had seen him last.
"Where's Pepper?" Dax asked, his gaze never leaving Nelia.
"Thankfully, she's not down there," Catch said, "and neither should you be, so don't go getting any ideas."
"What's happening?" Halen asked.
"They're calling it the 'Tari trials'." His gaze shifted to Dax. "The Huntress Aurelia came to Elosia looking for the Hunter's soul a few days ago. She reported the fire rings to Rania. We sealed off the liquibrium pipes to prevent further damage to your realm.
After that, Rania issued a decree stating any Elosian found in open water would face trial as a Tari traitor. She evacuated the domes and forced everyone underground. Those who didn't comply ended up in the prison chambers. Huron tried to reason with her and your mother—" His gaze fell to the ground.
"My mother? Where is she? Is she still imprisoned?" Dax rolled to his side.
His eye twitched more than usual, and his words caught in his throat. "Um..."
"Where is she?" Dax asked again.
"Your mother tried to protect Nelia."
"What do you mean?" Dax stood. His jaw was tight, the little muscles on the sides popping.
Catch's eye twitched, blinking in overdrive. Dax grabbed his arms, shaking him. "Tell me where she is!" Tears flooded Catch's eyes. "I'm so sorry, Dax. Rania killed her first. I couldn't do anything."
