it out would have to wait.
To be honest, it was a little overwhelming, and Daemon was relieved to have an excuse to deal with it later.
“Come on,” he said to Sora. “We need to go after Virtuoso and Prince Gin.”
“We might be too late,” she said.
“Maybe. But remember? I can fly now.” He grinned and felt electric, both inside and out. “Get on.”
Chapter Sixty-Nine
The light shining through the crystal in Sola’s temple was even deeper crimson than the last time Aki was here. She kneeled at the shrine, her torn handkerchief before her with a new bloodstain on it now, knees aching from waiting for the goddess’s attention.
But Sola hadn’t come. Was she irritated at being summoned again so soon? Perhaps she would not heed Aki’s call.
Outside, the temple fountain bubbled as it always did. There were several Imperial Guards posted on the spiraling gold stairs. Aki should have been perfectly alone.
Nevertheless, she knew the instant he was there. The air stilled and, at the same time, grew colder, like the icy chill before a winter storm.
“Hello, sister,” Gin said, as he entered.
She turned around slowly. “You were supposed to think I was dead.”
Gin shrugged. “And you were supposed to think that of me. Funny how even after a decade apart, we’re still twins in our thoughts.”
He was taunting her. Reminding her of how differently they’d felt ten years ago. How those differences had split not only them but the entire kingdom, for a bloody night.
“I wouldn’t let you bring war to Kichona’s shores a decade ago, and I won’t let you do it now.”
He stalked closer to her. “Ah, but you don’t have to give me permission. I’m stronger now than I was then.”
Aki took a step backward. “You’re distorting the magic Luna gave you as a taiga. You’re brainwashing our own people. You must know that isn’t right!”
Her brother pursed his lips, and for a moment, he looked remorseful. But then he shook his head. “It’s for the greater good. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made. In the long run, Kichona will be better for it.”
Gin was still obsessed with the Evermore. He’d been that way since they were younger, and Aki wouldn’t be able to dissuade him now.
But he could persuade her of anything, if he wanted to. If she gave him more time, he could hypnotize her too. He could command her to abdicate, and the throne would be his.
She couldn’t let that happen.
Aki dove for his knees. Gin yelped as she took him down. He was the fighter, not her, and she’d caught him by surprise.
She took advantage of it and scrambled onto his back, locking her arms and legs around him. She jerked him into a headlock and tightened her grip, choking him to cut off both the air and blood to his brain.
Just a few seconds, and he would be unconscious. After that, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. Killing him would be the surest way to stop him.
But she couldn’t kill her own brother, even if he’d sent his ryuu to make an attempt on her life. Aki would have to hope the taigas arrived soon.
She squeezed tighter. Gin grappled at her arms, trying to loosen her hold. He gasped for air. His legs kicked.
Suddenly, someone appeared out of thin air. It wasn’t Sola.
It was a girl. A ryuu.
“Enough,” she said.
Aki went flying across the temple. She slammed into the crystal wall and crashed down into the incense as she landed on Sola’s shrine. Ash and rice poured out of the pot, onto her bloody handkerchief, snuffing out the smoke and smothering her entreaties to Sola to intervene and save the kingdom.
She gasped, the wind knocked out of her. What just happened? Where had that girl come from?
Gin glowered as he rose to his feet. He rubbed his throat. “That wasn’t very nice of you to attack me, Aki. I came here and tried to have a polite conversation with you, and this is what I get?”
She crawled backward through the ash and rice, but there was nowhere else she could go. She was trapped. She found her voice, though, because gods dammit, she was an empress, and she would not be bullied.
“It wasn’t exactly a polite conversation, Gin.”
“Only because you’re so stubborn. But I did try while you still possessed your own mind.”
Aki paled. She crossed her arms in front of her face, as if that would stop him from hypnotizing her. “No. Gin, don’t. We can talk. We can think of