Read Exile in the Water Kingdom (The Elemental Phases Book 3) for Free Online Page B

the other houses in the kingdom are habitable
right, now.”  All their owners had been dead since the Fall.  She wasn’t about
to build Gion a new seaside cottage on top of everything else.
    Gion froze.  “You’re agreeing to this?”  He demanded angrily
and actually started to try and talk her out of it.  “Are you nuts?  I’m a
dangerous person, you know.”
    “Yes, I know.”  Ty agreed quietly.  Gion was the most dangerous
person she’d ever met.  If this was some kind of trick, he could wipe her out
like chalk on a board.  Of course, if that was really Gion’s scheme, he
could’ve attacked her right there.  Ty was basically alone and far too weak to
stop him from doing anything he wanted.  As counterintuitive as it seemed, Gion
didn’t want to hurt her.
    Still…
    “Just don’t harm my family.”  She reiterated.  “I’m trusting you
on that.”  Why she was trusting him remained a mystery.
    Damn instincts.
    Gion blinked.  “I’ll protect your family.”  He seemed dazed.  “I
give you my word.”
    Ty remembered her feelings after she’d renounced Parald.  Relief
mixed with, “Oh shit, now what am I going to do?”  Gion looked the same way.
    “I have to…”  He trailed off as if he had no idea what to say
next.
    Ty had the strange sensation that he was going to pull out of the
deal.  Gion might panic and call the whole thing off, since this hadn’t gone
according to the pessimistic script he’d written in his head.
    Suddenly, Ty didn’t want that to happen.  Gion was in trouble or
he wouldn’t be asking her for amnesty.  Ty wouldn’t let him down.  She
couldn’t.
    “Gion, you saved my cousin.  You saved me.  You’re welcome in the
Water Kingdom for as long as you want to stay.”  Ty garnered enough courage to
very carefully reach over and touch his hand.  “Don’t go back out there alone. 
You need help.  Come with me.”
    It was just the brush of her fingers against his wrist, but Gion
jerked like he’s been stabbed.  Ty felt the pulse of power go through Gion’s
body and travel back into hers.  Energy arched between them and Ty quickly pulled
her hand back.  Gion wasn’t manipulating the powers.  He hadn’t done anything
to instigate that pulse.  Whatever the energy was, it had come from her that
time.
    What was going on?
    Gion let out a long breath.  “I need you.”  He must’ve gotten back
on board with his own plan, because he nodded wearily.  “I can’t deny that,
anymore.  I’m tired and I need you so much.”
    “Alright.”  Ty nodded in relief.  “Let me finish my meeting and
we’ll go home, then.”
    The word “home” got her a strange look, like Gion wasn’t sure what
language she was speaking.  “To the Water Kingdom?”  He verified as if
searching for a trap.
    “Yes, to the Water Kingdom.”  Ty rolled her eyes.  “Where else
would home be?”
    “I don’t know.”  Gion said softly.  “I don’t think I’ve ever had
one.”

Chapter Two
And by the voice of all its elements
To preach the general doom.  When were the winds
Let slip with such a warrant to destroy?
 
William Cowper- ‘The Task’
 
Morale wise, the news that Gion defected to the Water House created feelings similar to what the Confederacy might’ve experienced if Robert E. Lee moved up North.
    Isaacs,
of the Air House felt a pall over the entire kingdom as he stalked through the
palace.  People spoke in frightened whispers and cast him concerned looks. 
Without Gion to hold the center, most Phases thought that the Air House would
collapse under Parald’s growing instability.  Hell, even Isaacs suspected as
much.  Something had to be done.
    And
it looked like he’d have to be the one to do it.
    With
Gion gone, Isaacs stood as the top general in Parald’s army.  For centuries,
Isaacs dreamed of that.  He’d worked tirelessly and without conscience.  He’d
done things that he hoped never saw the light of day.  Every second of