He decided that he was going to make his move now.

He tried to keep up with the king as they climbed the buckled streets. Sea life was everywhere, coating the buildings and the ground, making the scene look strange and unreal, reminding him that the spell of the sorcerers was the only thing preventing them from drowning. He glanced at a sorcerer as they passed. The man’s face was white, his teeth gritted as he maintained the spell. Legs apart as he held his staff high, he looked like he was fighting a battle and losing. The wind was savage, becoming fiercer with every passing moment.

‘See all we built?’ Palemon spread his arms.

‘All I see is death,’ Dion panted. ‘Look at your feet.’

Palemon glanced down and saw a grinning skull, just a few inches from the broken road. He scowled at Dion and then nodded back in the direction of the cape. Following his gaze, Dion saw that the arch had made it to safety. ‘I look forward to showing you what we are capable of.’

Soon they were passing the remains of bigger buildings. The king reached the wide marble steps leading to the tower and began to climb. When Palemon paused to gaze around him, Dion was able to sidle closer, his eyes on the dagger on Palemon’s hip.

But then he tripped on the crooked steps and felt a burst of pain in his thigh as his injured leg gave way. He stumbled and fell down, bracing himself with his hands. The tall king strode over and again yanked him to his feet by the collar.

Dion’s hand reached for the hilt of Palemon’s dagger.

But even as he focused his thoughts on the struggle to come, knowing he would need every ounce of his strength to kill his enemy, he saw a change come over the king from the frozen north.

Palemon’s head jerked as he caught movement higher up. Following his gaze, Dion’s eyes opened wide. He released his grip on the dagger’s hilt.

Chloe was running down the steps, heading toward them with a staff in her hand. Wind tossed her dark hair around her face, revealing her expression of fierce determination, brown eyes blazing, jaw set, cheeks as tight as a drum. She wasn’t hiding or hesitating; she was approaching with speed.

Palemon frowned as she neared. ‘I know all of my people. Who are—?’

Chloe lowered her staff and pointed it at the king. The silver glowed a split second before a blast of concussive air struck Palemon in the center of his chest. His face showed shock as he flew backward, his body sailing down the marble steps until his back struck a stone the size of a table and the breath shot out of his chest.