“It was an ambush, and they… well, you know the rest.”
He was shot and nearly killed. He would’ve died if he hadn’t gotten help in time.
All because of the rebels.
The room spun faster and faster. The temperature steadily dropped. White clouds puffed in front of her mouth.
Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip.
The waves of her curse rose up, a maelstrom of death and destruction, slamming into the walls she kept around it.
Oh, gods.
The Black Night was here.
They were here, and they were most likely planning something that would harm the people of the Republic of Balance. The Representatives.
River’s stomach twisted, and she held on to Nikhail’s hand with all her might.
She’d been raised knowing that Representatives were, for lack of a better term, the rulers of the Republic of Balance. Even though the land was no longer split into kingdoms and there were no more kings and queens, no one could deny the power of the ruling upper class.
For the gods’ sake, the only reason River had attended the University of Balance, the only reason she was here in Lakewater General at all, was because of her mother’s influence. Doctor Collins thought she’d bribed someone, and while that wasn’t true, she couldn’t deny that she owed her very freedom to her Waterborn name. By all rights, she should be rotting away in a prohiberis-lined cell at the bottom of a dark prison.
Were the Representativesgood? No.
Were the murderous rebels any better? Also, no.
Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip.
“Hey.” Nikhail’s voice was soft and commanding. It broke through the haze of her panic. “Look at me, River.”
Dragging her eyes to his was like moving a stick throughdrying concrete. Nearly impossible, yet somehow, she managed to do it.
“Good job,” he murmured, the words soft and just for her. His praise went straight to her core, despite her panic. “Breathe with me, princess.”
He reached for her other hand, squeezing it. He inhaled dramatically, waiting for her to follow his lead before exhaling.
His chest rose, and so did hers.
It fell, and hers followed suit.
Encouragements fell from Nikhail’s lips, soft words only for her to hear. She was doing well. Just keep following. It would be all right. Everything was fine. No one had gotten seriously hurt. They would stop the rebels once and for all. He had her.
The dripping slowed, then stopped.
Nikhail’s words didn’t falter for a single moment. He kept murmuring, kept encouraging her to breathe and remain calm. Kept assuring her that he wouldn’t leave her, that he was right here.
Gods, he knew exactly what to say.
Eventually, her head felt clearer. She was breathing on her own, and her magic was no longer a tumultuous storm in her veins.
Nikhail’s lips kicked up into a small smile. “There you go.” Lifting his left hand from hers, he cupped her cheek. Without meaning to, she leaned into his touch. “I’m very good at my job, River.”
“So good that you just took a bullet to the gut?” Her brows hit her forehead.
Helaughed, which was not the response she was expecting. The deep sound warmed her insides, an unexpected reaction considering the severity of the situation.
“Okay, other than that, I’m good at my job.”