Son of the Drowned Empire (Drowned Empire, #1.5)

by Frankie Diane Mallis

brushed all memories of her away. Her name in the back of my thoughts felt like a dream I could barely grasp, one I struggled to recall. And yet… she was a dream whose images had been burned into my mind. Branded onto my body. Imprinted onto my heart. My soul.

His aura was sweeping out, probing, and full of dark shadows. I’d never seen anyone with the power to darken the night, but Aemon was one of the most powerful soturi in Lumeria.

It didn’t work. The queen still watched my mother in silent communication. You’ll get your turn. We are already aware of you. We have been for ages, the crystal-like voice rang inside my mind.

“You have allowed the enemy into your quarters. A day will come when you will regret that you did not act faster, that you did not stop the unleashing of more power and destruction than has been seen in the Empire since the Drowning.”

You’ve made a huge mistake. That girl has the potential to unleash more power and destruction than anyone in the Empire ever has. You will rue the day we did not control it.

I started pleading. To Auriel.

“The Gods protected you.” “Protected me? Fuck the Gods.” My hands clenched at my sides. “They didn’t protect me. All they saved was my eye.”

His eyes softened. “What about love?” He smiled. “I wasn’t the only one who lost my heart in Bamaria.” Hazel eyes, pink, pouty lips, golden skin, and dark hair that turned to fire in the sun. A warm summer breeze. Scrolls from the library. Lemon cake. Batavia red. “You knew?” I asked.

“How does it feel?” the akadim asked, its voice low, gravelly. Monstrous. And yet there was an undertone I knew. Something familiar in the tenor. In its accent. “Your broken promises?” My eyes widened, taking in the blonde waves, the familiar shape of its eyes, the face that I’d loved, now enlarged, grotesque, a demon’s. And then I saw it. Truly saw. This wasn’t just any akadim. “Stop the threat,” Garrett hissed, mocking me. Mocking us.

He removed his own Auriel pendant, letting the chain it was hooked on slide through his fingers and rest against his tunic.

‘Purple sun’ had been the code word for me to gain their trust. There was a secret rebellion happening in Elyria.

“You killed the akadim,” said a deep voice. I was at a loss for words. It wasn’t just an akadim. It was all that remained of my friend. Still, I nodded in response, and took the hand extended to me, accepting help from the man bringing me to my feet. And then, I met the eyes of the Ready.

My stomach twisted. The timeline didn’t feel like it made sense. Then again… nothing did anymore.

Fuck. I’d spent the last two years so consumed with my jealousy of Tristan, I’d forgotten he hunted vorakh. Forgotten he would hunt me if given the chance.

I could feel the moment she recognized me, feel a pull in my soul. And just like that, my resolve was gone. I’d been a fool. My will wasn’t stronger than my heart. My heart was beating so hard I thought it would burst.

I’d been lying to myself for years. Because my memories of Lyr, and my dreams, no matter how vivid, couldn’t compare to the Lyriana standing before me. She looked as fierce as a queen. As powerful as a goddess. The most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. And I loved her. I loved her with everything I was. Everything I had.

“Hello, lover.”