Elijah Langston moved through the fleeing practitioners like a streak of light, carrying Mother securely in his arms. Those who had started running before him fell farther behind with every step, while the towering walls of ocean water surrounding Galecrest closed in even faster.The first wall reached the Zenith women. None of them had time to brace properly as the enormous body of water folded over the island with unimaginable weight. It swallowed the women and everyone around them in a chaotic rush, erasing their figures from sight almost instantly.The force of the collapse sent the water rolling deeper across Galecrest along the path Elijah had taken, while the other walls advanced from the island’s remaining sides.Practitioners who had believed themselves fast enough to escape soon discovered otherwise. Those at the rear disappeared first as the turbulence overtook them and dragged them into the water. The faster ones were losing

For a long while, neither of them spoke. Only the ocean broke the silence, waves rolling against the edge of the small island before drawing back into the endless water surrounding them.Celeste straightened but kept her back to Elijah.“Even if you leave now, I’ll find you when all of this is over,” Elijah said. His fist was clenched at his side, and there was no uncertainty in his voice. “Even if I die trying, you’ll give me what I want.”“I know you would,” Celeste replied quietly. “Every hour I spend with you reminds me more of Cassandra’s stubbornness, and where that path eventually led her.”Only then did she turn to face him. Elijah waited without speaking.“I always tried my best with her,” Celeste continued. “But in the end, everyone chooses the path they desire and walks it themselves.” She came a step closer. “You’re no different.”Elijah still offered no response. Celeste let out a light sigh before speaking again. “I

Elijah Langston did not even get the chance to resist before Celeste seized him firmly by the collar. She tapped one foot lightly against the mountaintop.Bang!Her body shot into the sky like a rocket taking off into space, carrying Elijah with her as they disappeared into the clouds.If he had not possessed a strong heart, Elijah might have screamed every last breath out of his lungs. The speed was frightening.Celeste covered an unimaginable distance over the Tempest Ocean with that single leap. As they began descending from the clouds, Elijah could already see the second island lying between the other two in the distance.But the leap was not enough to carry them all the way there. The ocean rushed up beneath them, and Elijah could only brace himself in Celeste’s grip and prepare to hold his breath as her foot touched the surface.Swoosh!Instead of sinking, Celeste flashed forward, crossing the remaining distance in

A low scoff escaped the commander as he raised his rifle and fired again.Purr!The bullet whistled past Elijah’s face, close enough to stir the air beside his cheek, but he stood without flinching.Behind the rock, Celeste leaned forward to intervene. Elijah lowered one hand and signalled with his fingers for her to stay where she was, stopping her just as she was about to leave cover. She obeyed reluctantly, her weight still on her forward foot as she watched the commander.“On this island, I can do whatever I want,” the man said, making no attempt to lower his weapon. “Who do you think you are to stand there and speak to my face like this? You probably heard the Third Decree from some drunk soldier and thought you could come here and use it against me, huh?”“The Third Decree is what it is no matter who it comes from,” Elijah replied calmly. “Let the women go and we’ll talk.”The commander stared at him, then threw h

Commander Lawson finally moved, though it was only his eyes. They travelled over Tessa from head to toe and back again, his mind struggling to accept that the woman standing before him was real. Her beauty had nothing to do with it. He did not dare think of her that way, much less allow such a thought to show on his face. The name Lady Mercer carried far too much weight within the border military for that. Yet here she was. Tessa waited for him to find his voice, then tilted her head when he offered nothing. “I don’t remember any dumb commander being stationed with a troop somewhere in the Tempest Ocean.” “F-Forgive me, Lady Mercer.” Lawson straightened his back and tried to compose himself. “Welcome to Bluetide Island. If we had known you were coming, we would have prepared a welcoming occasion for—” “Occasion?” Tessa interrupted, showing no interest in the welcome he was struggling to offer. “Is that what you are doing here?” Lawson closed his mouth. “Do you remember y