Page 95 of In Rising Tides

Dust and Oak flanked the group, battling several wulvers into the center where Maelys and Ridge cut them down.

A twig snapped in the brush behind Wilder, and he whirled in time to see a wulver launch itself across the shadows.

One moment Wilder was standing there, blade in hand, facing down an attack. The next he was on the ground, a moon-white body on top of him.

The man screamed as the wulver's jaws clamped down on the arm he had outstretched.

He had dealt the killing blow.

Had Wilder been standing where he had been, the wulver’s jaw would have clamped around his throat.

From beneath the pile, Wilder raised his sword, stabbing the beast straight through the heart and slinging it off of them.

Black blood rained down on them, the atrocious scent enough to make Wilder gag.

The sounds of battle cut off.

Wilder rolled onto his side to see Otto holding his mangled arm to his chest.

“This isn’t the end,” Maelor hissed. “The humans will know of your plan.”

He disappeared into the darkness.

“Otto!” Maelys shrieked, racing to his side.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ridge asked.

A frown tugged his lips down as he scowled at Otto.

Otto grimaced, his teeth flashing white in the moonlight. “Saving Wilder.”

“Youknow about Tiandra?” Lyra asked, gaping at her sister.

“Her voice was our command. Until … Ennosidas.” Their god’s name rasped from Nerida’s lips like a serpent’s hiss. “It’s strange how we had an entire history before he lorded over the seven seas. So strange how life was and was not before him.”

“What happened?” Lyra asked, locking her muscles in place to keep from trembling.

Nerida grasped Lyra’s wayward hair betwixt two fingers. “It depends on who you ask, dear sister. But history is only ever recorded by the victors.”

Lyra watched as Nerida studied her hair. Something akin to longing flashed across her sister’s eyes.

Lyra couldn’t remember a time Nerida had worn her hair down. Or the last time she had seen her smile.

What was life like for the princess of Naguni?

The territory was known for its scholars and large libraries. It was even rumored to be the center of knowledge for the entire kingdom. If there ever was a person who loved reading more than Lyra, it was Nerida.

“What are you saying? That our recorded history is lies?”

Nerida’s eyes flashed with challenge. “What would the losers have to say about our history? What did they lose?”

“I don’t even know who the losers are, Nerida,” Lyra growled, growing annoyed with the riddles.

Nerida opened her mouth to respond before slamming it shut.

Lyra’s door was thrown open, and Fang appeared.

“We have orders from the King that Nerida is to leave your room—at once.”