Page 6 of The Twisted Throne

Ahnna cut into the Amaridians, hamstringing men and then dancing out of range as they turned on her, only to lunge back and open their guts. Her focus narrowed, her attention all for the fight, adrenaline fueling her body, leaving only corpses in her wake.

The Amaridians were losing, but she knew they’d never surrender. Knew they’d fight to the last man, because Ithicanians didn’t take prisoners.

They took heads and then dumped them on Amarid’s beaches.

Which was why when she saw a group of Amaridians on the far side of the deck setting a fuse, the wind carrying the acrid smell of smoke, she knew what they intended.

“Jump!” she screamed at William, but he ignored her, too engaged in the fight. “They’re going to blow up the ship!”

“Ahnna, get off!” Lara screamed above the noise.

But she refused to let William die.

Ahnna threw herself through the Amaridians, ducking and striking, nothing mattering but getting to the prince. He lifted his weapon, but she parried his sword hard enough to knock it from his hands.

Then she shoved him overboard.

She prayed that he knew how to swim, then dived in after him, seawater closing over her head. Catching the prince around the waist, she forced him down and down.

Boom!

The impact of the explosion drove the air from her chest, nearly tearing the prince from her grip, but Ahnna held on. He struggled, trying to return to the surface to breathe.

Boom!

A second blast surged through the water, flipping her over,obscuring her vision with a froth of bubbles. The prince fought against her, unable to hold his breath as long as she could, but she knew the surface would be a death trap of burning debris.

And bodies.

Which meant Ithicana’s guardians would soon turn the waters red.

Adrenaline giving her strength, Ahnna caught the prince’s face and forced him to look at her. She’d expected to find panic in his expression, but instead she found only grim determination. Meeting his gaze, she pointed in the direction of the island, and he nodded once.

Remaining underwater, they swam hard toward the nearly sheer rock of Northwatch. Away from the blood and carnage.

Steady,she ordered herself, keeping her kicks smooth so as not to attract attention.

So as not to appear as prey.

But something caught hold of her ankle, jerking her back.

Bubbles raced past her face as she screamed, slamming her free foot against whatever had hold of her, but the grip was implacable. Pulling a knife from her belt, Ahnna twisted, finding an Amaridian staring up at her.

She kicked him in the face, but he didn’t let go, climbing her body in an attempt to reach the surface, pushing her down in his desperation. Slamming her knife into his ribs, Ahnna jerked herself upward, her chest burning like fire.

It was too far.

She wasn’t going to make it.

Then hands caught hold of her wrists and yanked upward.

Ahnna’s face broke the surface, and she gasped in a mouthful of air only to be splashed in the face by a wave. Coughing and spluttering, she wiped the water from her eyes.

“You all right?” A Harendellian accent filled her ears, the prince treading water in front of her, blood dripping from his temple.

“Yes.” The word came out as a croak, and she swallowed to clear her throat. “Don’t splash. The sharks will already be lured by your blood.”

His jaw tightened, but he didn’t panic. Only slowed his motions, mimicking her.

---