Page 53 of In Rising Tides

The scent of sorrow crept from behind Wilder.

It was sharp, and so full of anguish Wilder found himself swiveling to aid whoever it was coming from.

He found Otto standing behind him, sadness in his silver eyes as he reeled back.

Wilder didn’t have time to react, as Otto launched himself forward and punched Wilder right in the mouth.

Darkness swept in, claiming him.

“An execution?” Lyra stammered. “For surviving what Drystan forced me to undergo?”

She waved at him with an open hand.

Lyra could hear murmurings between Lir and Caspian.

Hadrian’s voice interrupted them. “If there is no threat from the prince, surely we could overlook the Princess’ actions if they were born out of necessity.”

Lyra had to hold her breath to keep from reacting to Hadrian’s defense of her actions.

“I agree with Hadrian,” Ishmael said quickly.

Drystan slowly turned from Lyra to face the council, and she could at long last feel the thread of magic in her awakening.

It wasn’t the brilliant gold that it had been; it was now like tarnished brass, muted by the saltwater.

“This shouldn’t even be a discussion. She has been in the hands of our enemies. She should be executed!” Lir’s fist shook as he condemned her.

Estria floated near Lyra and gave her a sinister smile.

“They have been our enemies for millennia,” Rigel said. “Are you certain they didn’t use kindness as a way to exploit a weakness in you? Perhaps to gain information?”

Lyra jerked her head back. “Information? What? No?—”

Ishmael studied her. “They didn’t ask you about your life here? Your sisters? Our territories?”

Lyra’s mind swirled with all the things she had told Wilder.

He had asked her those things, but not under the guise of spying—he had cared—had wanted to know more about her.

“Well, yes.” She floundered for a way to explain it, but came up short. “But it wasn’t like that.”

Hadrian scrubbed a hand down his face. “How was it not? Did they share information with you?”

“Yes—” Lyra began, but Lir cut her off.

“Important things? Do you know their cities? Their streets?”

Her defense turned to ash in her throat as her body went still.

She had never gone through the city gates … they had always taken her the long way around, or she had been unconscious.

Had that been intentional?

Estria floated to the center of the room and outstretched her hands at her sides.

“The answers we seek are unfolding on the surface,” she said in an otherworldly voice.

Adamaris whispered something to Rigel.