Chapter 3

Althirion saw it coming.

He could easily have knocked the creature aside with his sword. Instead, he turned away to shield Zyphira from the churning water.

The monster’s claws tore into my shoulder.

The sound of flesh tearing was especially loud underwater.

I let out a muffled groan and staggered back, clutching my shoulder.

The guards behind me hacked the swordfish creature to death.

The fighting ended.

Blysar stormed up to me and slapped me.

My ears rang from the blow.

“You’re nothing but a liability! The smell of your blood nearly brought high-tier sea monsters down on us! Are you trying to get us all killed?”

Zyphira poked her head out of the Warding Dome.

She tore off a strip of filthy cloth and tossed it at my feet.

“Blysar, don’t be angry. She didn’t want this to happen. Mirelle, dress your wound.”

She did not even bother to hide her disgust.

I bent down, picked up the rag, and pressed it against my injured shoulder.

No one noticed as I dipped my fingertips in my own blood and let a drop fall onto a hardy stalk of ironweed growing at my feet.

The green plant blackened from the roots up and collapsed into sludge.

My quicksilver tears had grown so potent that I could barely contain them.

All it needed was one more spark.

We surfaced and made our way ashore.

After crossing a stretch of scorched rock, we reached a volcanic crater.

A pool of murky, scalding water churned at the bottom.

Zyphira pointed to the spring. Her smile was strangely gentle.

“Mirelle, this is the enchanted spring. Once you bathe in it, you’ll become the pride of our kingdom.”

She had barely finished speaking when she clutched her chest and collapsed.

“Ah!” Her face went white as she gasped for breath.

“It’s Mother! She’s calling for help!”

Althirion scooped her into his arms.

“What’s happening?”

Zyphira gripped his arm desperately.

“Mother’s soul flame is fading! Althirion, all of you must go back and give her your magic. Go before it’s too late!”

All my brothers panicked.

“Two of us should stay to keep watch!” Ceruleth shouted.

“No! The magical backlash is too severe. All eight of you must combine your magic to save her!” Tears streamed down Zyphira’s face as she pleaded.

Althirion lowered her to the ground.

“Stay here and make sure she bathes in the spring. We’ll be back soon!”

My brothers used their magic to speed back toward the sea without looking back.

Only Zyphira and I remained at the crater.

Zyphira dropped the act at once.

She straightened and brushed the dust from her clothes.

“Good. They’re finally out of the way.”

She raised her hand and sent a dozen or so runestones flying from her palm.

The stones embedded themselves in the ground and raised an impenetrable barrier around the crater.

Flames erupted from the ground.

The air grew hotter by the moment.

“Go on, Mirelle. Take your bath.”

Zyphira kicked me over the edge of the crater.

I tumbled down the scorching rock and came to rest beside the murky pool below.

This was no enchanted spring. It was stagnant water tainted by lava and poisonous gases.

“Enjoying the sun and the fires below?”

Zyphira stood above me, looking down with contempt.

“Don’t worry. This spell will roast you slowly until the pain finally makes you cry! Once you shed your first pearl, I’ll finish you off and take your place as the true princess!”

The heat scorched my battered body.

The wounds on my shoulder and palm crusted over with charred blood.

My lips cracked and peeled.

Memories of being roasted alive in the original timeline came flooding back.

It was so hot.

I lifted my head and looked up at Zyphira’s smug face, and I did not struggle or beg for mercy.

I reached for the last intact royal scale on my left wrist before tearing it out and ripping away the flesh beneath it.

The blood evaporated in the heat before it could fall.

I pressed the bloodied scale squarely onto the central rune beneath my feet, the anchor of her spell.

The spell faltered, its red glow wavering.

Then, the magic reversed course and gathered beneath Zyphira’s feet on the rim above.

I touched the burning corners of my eyes and laughed softly.

As the scale sank into the rune, the lava that had been about to engulf me suddenly changed course.

The fire beneath me twisted into countless chains that lashed upward and bound Zyphira’s arms and legs.

Her smug smile froze. She fought to break free, but every movement drew the burning chains tighter.

“What have you done?”

Zyphira screamed as she lost control of her human form. Her long serpent tail reappeared, thrashing wildly in midair.

I rose slowly and let the quicksilver poison break free of the seal that had held it back for so long.

A silvery tear began to form in my eye.

I looked at her terrified face. “You wanted my tears, right? Think you can handle them?”