His gaze flares with frustration, but he does not argue. He gives a shallow nod and wraps his arms around my back. His squeeze is only half strength.
I get as close as I can manage, ducking my head down to rest against his throat, where his thready pulse pounds. There is no need to explain the plan to him, no need to spell out my thoughts. He is inside my head, watching them form as if they were his own.
“Ready?”
His lips press a fleeting kiss to the hinge of my jaw. “Just in case we die.”
I might laugh, if this were any other moment. As it is, I’m barely holding on to my consciousness. The octopaeron’s tentacles cinch tighter and tighter, determined to make us its next meal.
I am not about to let it.
With the last dregs of my strength, I rocket us straight toward the sky with a purified stream of air. A soundless scream builds in my throat as the immense effort of it tears through me.
Gods, why did I think I was strong enough to do this on my own?
Our progress is hampered by the immense weight of the beast still wrapped around us as we ascend. Though I’ve forbidden him to help, Soren can’t resist adding his maegic to mine, lending me whatever strength he can spare. His currents rip at the clinging limbs, prying them off one sucker at a time. One tentacle falls away, then another.
We are nearing the surface.
The water pressure eases, the leached colors saturating once more as we hurtle rapidly toward light. Towardlife. I give one last mighty push—the last one I have in me, if I am being honest—propelling us upward so fast, the sea monster cannot sustain its grip.
“We’re there,”Soren says.“We made it.”
We explode out of the sea, the force of our exit slingshotting us straight toward the clouds. The octopaeron’s long tentacles reach fruitlessly after us, but we are all too quickly out of range. I cling tight to Soren as I carry us up into the skies, higher and higher, riding the wind currents like I’ve sprouted invisible wings. I do not think about the mechanics of flight. I do not need to. I was born for this, a creature of the aether, as at home among the skies as Zephyr.
I do not slow until I’m certain we are safe. Until I’m confident we will not be pulled back down into that watery void. When I take a breath and look around, we are suspended high above the sea, naught but clouds around us.
“Oh.” I blink, surprised by our altitude. “I did not mean to…”
My words fail, for Soren starts shaking. At first, I think he is upset or afraid or…Oh, gods, is he injured? Was the ascent too much for him?
I quickly realize he islaughing.
“What in the realm could possibly be funny?” I ask, a hint of annoyance in my tone.
He pulls back enough so he can look into my eyes. They are crinkled up at the corners with mirth. “You never do anything by half measures, do you, skylark?”
I think about that for a moment. “What would the point of that be?”
The mirth fades, replaced by a serious look that makes my breath catch. “How close are you to passing out?”
“Why?”
“Because if I kiss you right now, I want to be prepared to plummet half a league into monster-infested seas.”
My breath catches. I ignore the darkness pulsing at my temples, a dire warning. “I feel fine. Really. Never stronger.”
“Liar,” he whispers, mouth twitching.
He kisses me anyway.
It does not last long—it cannot, for I truly am in danger of depleting all my maegical reserves, even with him channeling me. But for a few glorious seconds, floating in the clouds, I do not think of anything on the ground. It is just me and Soren, hearts racing in time, lips moving together, arms twined so tight I think nothing will ever make me let go.
Reality crashes backin with a vengeance the moment we reach the ship. No sooner have our boot soles touched down than I collapse in a heap of utter exhaustion.
Soren’s arms catch me before I hit the deck.
“Rhya!” Penn calls from a great distance. “Gods, is she all right?”