Exile in the Water Kingdom (The Elemental Phases Book 3) by Cassandra Gannon Read Free Book Online

his
life, Isaacs drove himself to be the best.  He did everything to succeed
in the Air House ranks.
    But,
Gion always surpassed him.
    Gion.
    Perfect
fucking Gion.
    In
his youth, Isaacs hero-worshipped Gion.  He was a hundred and fifty years older
than Isaacs and his powers were close to invincible.  To a young solider, Gion
represented the ideal.  Always the strongest.  Always so calm.  Always in
control.  No one could live up to Gion.  No one could compete with him.  No one
could touch him.  He didn’t have any weaknesses.
    Except
one.
    As
the years went on, Gion’s superiority began to grate on Isaacs.  Gion’s cold
indifference and cutting sarcasm fed into Isaacs own feelings of self-doubt. 
He’d never be able to live up to Gion and everyone knew it.  That arrogant
prick had always stood in Isaacs’ way.
    And
now Gion was gone.
    It
was just what Isaacs wanted.
    Only
Isaacs didn’t feel triumph.  He felt fear.
    Gion
could turn the Air Kingdom into dust if he got mad enough.  Isaacs believed
that. God only knew what would happen if Gion discovered the truth.  In a fight
between Gion and Parald, Isaacs already knew that he was trapped on the losing
side.  He had no faith in Parald.  None.  If Isaacs didn’t find a way out of this,
he’d be dead within a week.
    Goddamn
it, why hadn’t Gion just killed Parald before he left?
    Isaacs
slammed into the throne room without knocking.  “Sire, I can confirm it, now. 
Gion’s definitely with Ty.”
    Parald
gave a scream of pure fury.
    The
King of the Air House looked like one of the Beach Boys.  His wholesomeness
fooled most people when they first met him.  If Hollywood ever saw him, Parald
would’ve been cast as the hero in any summer blockbuster.  With sunshine hair
and guileless grey eyes, Parald could’ve played a noble lawyer fighting for
justice or the single father trying to save his kidnapped children.
    He should’ve been the good guy.
    But,
under Parald’s movie star exterior there lurked a vicious, amoral mind and an
empty soul.
    Isaac
knew himself.  He accepted the fact that he was evil bastard.  Nature and
nurture worked together and ensured that he’d always be a villain.  Honestly,
none of the Air Phases who’d survived the Fall and then the dog-eat-dog life in
the Air House would win any popularity contests, at this point.
    Compared
to Parald, though, even Gion was a friggin’ Mouseketeer.
    “That
fucking bastard! ”   Parald picked up an inlaid table and flung it
against the wall.
    Isaacs
didn’t even flinch at the explosion of mahogany.  “Sire…”
    “Saxon
was supposed to find Gion and kill him!”
    “Well,
he’s failed, sire.”  Isaacs never missed an opportunity to tear Saxon down. 
The guy wanted Isaacs and Gion dead.  Probably Parald, too.  The megalomaniacal
piece of shit plotted constantly.  Since Gion was gone, now Isaacs was Saxon’s
main target… unless, Isaacs of rid of him first.
    Goddamn
it, why hadn’t Gion killed Parald and Saxon before he left?
    It
really would have simplified Isaacs’ life.
    “I
want Ty back !”  Parald roared.  “Gion isn’t going to steal my Match. 
Ty’s mine!  The Water House is mine! ”  He jabbed a finger at Isaacs. 
“I’d have Ty right now, if you hadn’t put her in the dungeon.  If you’d brought
her right to me, Gion never would have gotten the chance to set her free.”
    Isaacs
really didn’t want the conversation to head in that direction.  The last time
Parald “discussed” Ty’s escape, Isaacs had been beaten to within an inch of his
life.  With Ty safe behind the Water House’s barriers and Gion vanishing into
the vast universe, Parald had taken all his frustration out on Isaacs. 
Elementals healed fast and still Isaacs carried livid bruises and horrible
lacerations from the whip.  “How could any of us have known Gion would turn
against you, sire?”
    “Fuckingbastard.”  Parald repeated furiously.  “There’s a special