Page 37 of In Violent Waves

Lyra clambered to her feet and shoved him.

“What,” she shoved again, “was that?”

Wilder stood and gripped her hands in front of him to keep her from touching him anymore.

“Someone knew we would be there. The humans found you too quickly, and the wulvers shouldn’t be anywhere near this village. Someone is after you.”

Maelys, Otto, and Ridge shifted on their feet, watching the exchange with a hint of amusement.

Lyra gave Wilder one scathing sweep of her eyes before she crossed her arms over her chest.

“You have a traitor in your midst.” She flung the accusation with precision before turning her glare to his guard.

Wilder took great offense at that. He had battled beside the three of them since he could hold a blade.

If there was a traitor, it was in his father’s court, or hers.

“Or you have one in yours.” He stood tall and smirked at her with all the arrogance he could muster. “Who else knows about your power?”

Lyra floundered for a retort and snarled her upper lip before shifting her attention to the crew and then back to him.

“Oh, trust me, they’ll know everything that I know. I don’t keep secrets from them. Tell them about your magic, Lyra.” He flung his arms out wide. “That’s why you’re in this mess, isn’t it? You wicked siren.” He spat the words venomously and watched as they cut her up.

Her chest heaved, and her eyes were lined with silver as she stared at him.

“I don’t use my magic,” she ground out, balling her hands into fists.

Wilder snorted. “Funny, I seem to remember feeling differently under your thrall.”

Maelys, Otto, and Ridge volleyed their heads back and forth but stayed quiet.

“It was an accident,” she screeched. “I never use my magic. I haven’t used it to save myself from you or the humans. It will consume me. It will destroy everything. And I hate it! I loathe myself for holding that power!”

Her words echoed around the silent forest.

Not a leaf rustled, nor a bird chirped in the early morning light.

Wilder felt her words like a punch to the gut. She hated herself, hated the part of herself that she had no control over.

Lyra stood in front of him, her lip trembling, but her shoulders squared.

“If your father seeks to use my power—kill me. Just kill me now and get it over with. I will never touch it.”

When she dropped to her knees and bowed her head in front of him, his chest tightened unbearably.

What kind of horror must she have lived through? Before he could respond, Maelys’ voice cracked like a whip.

“Enough.”

She stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Lyra. “That is enough.”

Lyra’s head rose as Maelys embraced her.

“We do not treat people this way, regardless of their kind or magic.”

She pulled Lyra to her feet and led them away from the men.

“Let me tell you my story …”