“You got Hunter on a dragon? I’m impressed, Cass,” Jacob says, as Vivo flies off. He walks out from one of the arches, coming to stand next to me and Hunter. I watch Vivo until she is out of sight before turning to face Jacob. His hair is messier than when I first met him, longer, but it looks good on him. The scar just adds to his looks in a way, but I regret that he had to lose sight in one of his eyes. He still smiles at me the same way he always has, like nothing has changed. He is my pirate that jumped off a ship for me, saved me, and with the help of his friends, showed me what it was like to actually live. In some ways, I owe all my happiness, my reason to fight for this world, to Jacob.

“Hunter bought her for me, so he had to fly with her,” I reply, with a grin when Hunter glares down at me.

“I was trying to impress you. I guess I didn’t think it through at the time,” he tells me, and I wrap an arm around his waist, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

“I was impressed,” I whisper.

“I did come to find you for a reason,” Jacob says, and I smile as I let go of Hunter and turn to him.

“So . . . you didn’t just miss me?” I ask, teasing him a little. He steps closer, until his whole body is pressed to the front of mine as he speaks.

“You know I missed you, Cass,” he whispers, and Hunter steps behind me, both of them keeping me tightly in between them.

“We both missed you, all of your pirates did,” Hunter whispers next to my ear, before gently grazing his teeth on the outer shell, sending goose bumps through me.

“Sorry to interrupt, boys, but Cassy promised me some alone time. So, you will have to get in line,” Everly’s voice floats over to us, and she steps out of the shadows of the archway. Jacob leans down, kissing my forehead before stepping away.

“Hunter and I have new recruits to train, in fact, all of us are training today. Come to us when you can,” Jacob says, and Hunter kisses my cheek, whispering to me before he moves back.

“My bed tonight, little bird.” I watch him as he walks around me and past Everly. She has her arms crossed and an amused look on her face as she waits for my attention

“Glad to have some time alone with your pirates?” she asks me when I get to her, and she pulls me into a hug. I lean back, admiring her blonde hair that falls to her waist in perfect blonde curls and her big blue eyes.

“Yes, you could say that,” I laugh, “you look amazing, so much better than when–” I stop talking when her face drops a little.

“I was starving then, I was weak and scared of everything that happened. I’m not that girl anymore,” she turns slightly, so she’s facing the side of the mountains. I turn following her gaze, seeing the view over the mountain; the stars slowly appearing behind the mountains and the peacefulness of the place. “I had to grow up and accept everything. Accept who I am in order to get my revenge, because if I lived in the past, there wouldn’t be a future for me.” She walks towards the archway, and I jog to catch up to her, walking at her side.

“We both have grown up a lot since this all started. Neither of us had a choice, and we both want revenge,” I say as we walk through the archway, and she turns down the right stone corridor, to a large set of stairs that go to the bottom floor.

“It’s why we are friends, why the sea god brought us together. Our lives were never our own. We have always had a bigger price to pay to save Calais,” she says, and walks down the stairs. A group of about ten children of varied ages see us and bow. When they look up, I see they are all changed ones.

“There are so many changed ones, but no females,” I comment to Everly, not having an answer for her statement about our lives. She is right. Our lives were never our own. Yet, I wouldn’t change anything about my life. It’s lead me to where I am now. I hate my past with the king, his games and losing my father, but it made me who I am. I have the most important things in the world . . . my pirates. I feel like Everly would change everything about her past if she could, without a second thought.

“No, there are no female changed ones. The masters heard about what happened with the king from us when we got here. They didn’t believe at first, but then the sea god spoke to them. Everything changed from then on. Everyone believes you are destined to save them, to save the sea,” she says.

“No pressure then. I still have to find the true heir to put on the throne at the end of the war. I cannot be the one to rule,” I reply, and then stop. “Look at this place, it’s almost magical.” Everly doesn’t reply as I step off the bottom step of the stairs and into the forest of trees and plants of every colour. Every single thing growing here is so vibrant and beautiful. It’s hard to look away from the brightness and life that is all around us. A man steps from behind a tree, walking over and bowing. When he straightens up, I see the changed mark that resembles a leaf on his forehead. The man has dark skin, brown eyes, and green vines wrapped around his arms and plain clothes.

“Welcome, Cassandra. The sea god told me I would meet you sometime soon. My name is Rikker, and I would very much love to speak to you if you have the time.”

“At least he tells you things, I usually just get riddles,” I say, making him laugh.

“The sea god is older than time, older than any other god, and I doubt he notices how he speaks. Even his children do not always understand everything he says,” he says.

“Children?” I ask. “Do you mean changed ones? I’ve heard people say they are like his children.”

“The sea god has many real children, many gods and goddess that no one knows of, as well as many secrets,” he says and winks at me. “That is a long story . . . another time perhaps, Master Cassandra?"

“Perhaps,” I say, not wanting to worry about any other gods. The sea god has caused Calais enough problems. I smile at Rikker and look around.

“How is everything so healthy? Everywhere else the trees are dying, Calais is dying, and yet, it looks so alive here,” I state.

“The changed ones help nature, it’s what we were always meant to do. The world is dying because the natural balance is out,” he says, and walks away, calling over his shoulder. “Come, Cassandra and Everleigh.”

“No one calls me Everleigh. How did you know my full name?" Everly asks as we catch up to him, walking just behind him through the trees and plants.

“You know how I know, Everleigh,” he chuckles, and I give Everly a confused look, but she isn’t looking at me. She just stares at the floor, silent, her hair covering her face from me. When I reach over and squeeze her hand, she finally seems to snap out of it. But she only plasters a fake smile on her face as she moves her hand away. What is going on with her?

“My gift is to feel the emotions of plants, the ground, and even some animals, but that stretches my gifts,” Rikker explains to me as he leans down, cupping a yellow-looking sprout in some soil. His hand starts to glow green–a warm glow–and I see his mark glowing the same colour. The glow fades away, and Rikker leans back on his knees.

“The sunflower is being killed by the tree. Its roots are making it impossible for the sunflower to grow,” he says sadly and looks up at the tree. “Not that it is the tree’s fault, it needs its roots to survive. Nature is like people in that aspect. We do what we must to survive, even if it costs the ones around us.”

“How will you fix that, then?” I ask, knowing his words are about more than just the plants, but not calling him on it. He speaks in riddles like the sea god, but maybe Rikker has spent too much time talking to him to notice it.

“By moving the sunflower, of course,” he responds like I’m stupid not to have come up with that answer on my own. As he stands up, I bite my tongue rather than replying. “I must be going now, but it was an honour to meet you, Cassandra.”

“Maybe we can talk again? I would like to hear more about everything you know,” I say honestly, and he bows his head.

“We will meet again, but not for a long time as you have more pressing matters,” he says with a look of worry flashing over his face. He walks off before I can say anything.

“The changed ones here are weird,” Everly says, nudging my shoulder and making me laugh.

“I think they all speak to gods, and they have powers. That would make anybody weird,” I say and turn to Everly. “What was it you wanted to tell me?” I ask as I suddenly feel worry, anger, and upset through my bond. I can’t say anything, and I have no idea who it came from. I try to feel for the bond, but Everly distracts me, and it goes away.

“Not here, but my room isn’t far,” she says, nodding her head to the left. We walk through the trees and plants, and as we come out on the other side, I see Chaz looking around. He sees me and Everly and comes running over. The closer he gets, the more worried I become.

“Laura isn’t well, and a changed one who can heal is trying to help her now. Hunter and Ryland need you at their side,” Chaz says, keeping his voice quiet, so the people walking around us can’t hear.

“What do you mean she isn’t well? What happened?”

“Laura is old, and hasn’t been well since we escaped the castle. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was like her soul was crushed. Her body started to give up not long after. We have kept on her bed rest, which she never argued with, and today she is much worse. I fear there is nothing anyone can do now,” Chaz tells me. I look over at Everly, who nods.

“Go, what I have to talk to you about can wait,” she says, and I slide my hand into Chaz’s, letting him lead me away.