He hovered to a halt in the air. Sora held her breath, the adrenaline like wildfire in their bond now.

“Let’s see how well you can fight when the rules of gravity no longer apply.” Daemon let loose a howl that made the stars cringe. Then the earth beneath them shook, and the skeletons began to rise into the air.

Skullcrusher’s mouth hung open. But he quickly gathered himself and tried to regain control of his army.

They flailed their limbs, though, unable to find purchase anywhere. Daemon lifted them higher.

Then he slammed them down onto the rocky face of the island. Most of the skeletons shattered. Their bones flew in shards and splinters everywhere.

Broomstick sank another ship.

“Gods-damn you!” Skullcrusher shouted. He retreated toward Dera Falls.

Making herself invisible, Sora unbuckled from the harness, leaped off Daemon’s back, and sprinted after Skullcrusher.

Daemon sped around and landed in front of Skullcrusher. The ryuu scowled as Daemon advanced, teeth bared.

“I’m not scared of an animal,” Skullcrusher said, although he took several steps back.

“That’s fine,” Daemon said. “I’m not insulted. Because there’s something else you should be more scared of.”

Skullcrusher shivered but shook his head defiantly. “What?”

“You should be scared of me.” Sora materialized behind him, neutralized him with a choke hold, and jammed a knife into his rib cage through his heart.

The ryuu gasped as blood bloomed from his chest. “Traitor,” he whispered.

“I don’t think you quite understand the meaning of the word,” Sora said, dropping him to the ground. “You and the Dragon Prince are the traitors, not me.”

Skullcrusher glowered at her, but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out except his last breath. She was sure he didn’t have anything worthwhile to say anyway.

Fairy ran over to rejoin her and Daemon. Sora looked around at the ruined skeletons on the ground. The navy was still active—probably controlled by Skullcrusher’s brother—but from the sounds coming from the sea, Broomstick was blowing up a fair portion of them. Sora allowed herself a moment to feel triumphant anyway.

“Phase one complete,” she said.

“That was so much fun!” Fairy said. “Wolf, you were incredible.”

Daemon smiled, and even though his teeth were frightening, the effect was somehow still bashful. “Thanks. You were really impressive, too.”

Sora kept her own smile buttoned up, but this was definitely progress between the two.

“Want to bet Empress Aki is inside Dera Falls where Skullcrusher was headed? Let’s go.”

“On the contrary,” a man behind them said. “No one is going anywhere.”

Chills ran up Sora’s spine, and the soul pearl in her collar rolled insistently—almost maniacally—against the fabric, as if yearning to be reunited with the body it belonged to. She knew that poison-laced voice.

She hoped he wouldn’t notice the pearl trying to escape her pocket.