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Back Queen of Ruin Save as PDF
Chapters (49)
  1. COVER
  2. DEDICATION
  3. MAP
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  47. DISCOVER MORE
  48. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  49. PRAISE FOR

“We still need to get off this island.” Serina forced herself to focus. There would be time for embraces, for quiet moments, when they reached Azura. “And we have injuries to tend to. We’ll prepare today and leave tomorrow at first light.”

Anika stared out at the silvery water, wonder in her voice as she said, “We’re leaving Mount Ruin.”

Serina raised her chin. “Yes.” Something suspiciously like joy stole through her. “We’re leaving Mount Ruin.”

TWENTY-TWO

NOMI

NOMI FOUND RENZO’S schoolbooks underneath the pile of clothes he’d salvaged from the house. She ran her hands across the leather covers and opened his small composition book to read his slanted handwriting.

“Two more months and I could have applied to university,” Renzo said, glancing at the books. He sighed.

“I’m sorry.” Nomi cradled the composition book to her chest. “I shouldn’t have involved you in all of this. If I hadn’t—” Her voice broke. The image of their parents’ bodies was constant and unrelenting in her mind. She would never be free of it, or the murderous rage she felt toward Asa.

She’d made a lot of mistakes—trusting him, writing to Renzo—but it was Asa who’d committed murder. It was Asa who’d ordered her parents killed.

It was Asa who deserved to die.

“How long will it take for us to get to Azura?” Renzo asked, sliding down to the floor to sit on his collection of blankets beneath the window. “Will Serina arrive first, do you think?”

“I hope she’s already there, and safe,” Nomi said. She sat down too, near him. She couldn’t stop staring at him, couldn’t stop assuring herself that he was here. He was alive.

“You could be in Azura in a fortnight if you take the small sailboat,” Malachi said. “If you buy passage on a merchant vessel, four days. Maybe five.” He stood near the window, staring out into the street.

Nomi wished she could see his expression. He’d been quiet ever since they’d found her parents. Perhaps it was his way of giving Nomi and Renzo space to reconnect. But she had the odd feeling it was more than that. Because he wasn’t just quiet. He was restless too, moving around the small room as if it caged him. He’d already disappeared for an hour, to sell the stolen horse since they’d be taking the train back to Porto Rosa.

“We don’t have enough money to buy passage with a merchant. And I don’t—” Nomi stopped. She wasn’t sure what she meant to say, what she was thinking. Only that going to Azura felt like running away, and she wanted to stay and fight.