I snorted.
“But you are strong, Aileana. I will follow you, no matter which path you choose.”
Frowning, I looked down the three tunnels. I could call for Kethryllian and ask for his help, but I didn’t know if he could even travel into this strange mountain. Part of me didn’t want to call him.
Xander was right. I could do this.
“What’s the plan?” Kysha asked as she and Maiela stood next to me.
I tilted my head to the tunnel on the right. “This is the one. Do you think you can make some light for us, Kysha?”
The halfling nodded. “Of course,” she said. “Anything to get out of this cursed place.”
Violet ribbons flooded from Kysha’s palms, and she twisted her hand, murmuring low incantations under her breath before clenching her fists. The magic formed four small orbs that floated in the air in front of us. I took a step, and the orb closest to me moved as well, casting light on the rocky wall.
“That’s convenient,” I said.
“A little something extra.” Kysha smiled, adjusting the bow on her back. “Never let it be said that it isn’t useful having a halfling around.”
“Thank you.” I dipped my head. “This will make things easier.”
Shifting my pack so it was more comfortable, I followed the light into the tunnel. The others fell into place behind me, the sounds of our footsteps echoing off the stones as we walked once more.
I led us deeper into the darkness, praying that I had chosen correctly.
I didn’t want any more death on my hands.
You’re What I Want
RYLLAE
The water lapped against the side of the rowboat. Again. And again. And again. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing the nausea would go away.
Hours had passed since we had left the rocky shore, but my stomach churned as much now as it had during those initial moments after our departure. How come, on top of everything else, I had to be the one who was seasick, too? This was a new low, even for me. Less than five minutes after the boat launched, I was throwing up over the side. Circumstances had gone downhill from there.
I had thought that perhaps the seasickness would go away after I got used to being in the boat, but I was mistaken. My stomach’s unease worsened by the hour until being moments away from throwing up was the only thing I knew. If I didn’t already know the gods hated me, this would have confirmed it for me. Three times, I had lost the contents of my stomach. Now, I was barely keeping water down.
“I think I’m dying,” I moaned, hugging my belly as I forced myself to breathe through the sickness.
“Princess, I don’t believe people can die from seasickness.” A thud hit the side of the boat, and I opened my eyes as part of an oar appeared in my vision. Daegal brushed a lock of hair off my forehead with his blessedly cool hands.
I groaned. “It feels like I’m minutes away from Fading.”
His lips tilted down. “Do you want me to stop again?”
Pinching my mouth shut, hoping to keep the little liquid that remained in my stomach within me, I shook my head. “No,” I rasped. “Let’s keep going. The sooner we go, the sooner we can get back on dry land.”
Earlier, I had tried to row, but it turned out I wasn’t great at that, either. Between the seasickness and my general lack of upper-body strength, all I could do was sit in the boat, while Daegal did all the work.
Why he didn’t just push me overboard, I would never know. The male was far too kind.
“I am not deserving of you,” I murmured.
His lips brushed my forehead, and the rowboat rocked precariously as he took his seat once more. “Don’t say things like that, Ryllae. You’re perfect.”
I would have replied, but my stomach turned as Daegal picked up the oars and rowed. Squeezing my eyes shut, I wished I was anywhere else but here. I was not cut out for boating. Not that I didn’t like water—I had enjoyed our time with the merfolk. But swimming differed greatly from being a passenger on a moving vessel.
The only good thing about this journey was Daegal. He wasn’t phased at all by my sickness, and he even passed me his cloak so I could stay warm as he rowed us downriver. It had been averylong day. Even my magic felt the effects of being on the water, and it had quieted to a steady thrum in my veins.