Dani nods, her honey-gold eyes locked on mine with a trust that takes my breath away. She knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I won't let her go, that I'll move heaven and earth to keep her safe as we make this insane leap of faith.
And it is insane.
The drop is at least fifty feet, a yawning chasm of darkness stretching forever. But we don't have a choice. The only way out is down, and the only way down is together.
"One," I count, my heart pounding like a war drum. "Two..."
Dani takes a deep, shuddering breath, her nerves cycling through our bond like a fucking feedback loop. I can feel her fear, her uncertainty, but I push it back with a wave of confidence and calm, wrapping her in a cocoon of reassurance and love.
"Three."
We launch ourselves off the edge, our bodies arcing through the air. I wrap myself around Dani like a second skin, holding her so close I can feel her heart pounding against my chest. The wind rushes past us, a deafening roar that drowns out everything else—my stomach in my throat—then we hit the water, hard and fast, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs in a rush of bubbles and foam. The cold shocks my system, a thousand icy needles piercing my skin as we sink beneath the surface.
I don't let go of Dani. Not for a fucking second. I kick hard, propelling us back towards the light.
We break the surface with a gasp, Dani coughing and sputtering as she struggles to catch her breath. I pull her close, crushing her against my chest as I tread water, my heart still racing with the adrenaline of the jump.
"I've got you, baby," I murmur, my lips brushing against her ear. "I've always got you."
Dani nods, her face buried in the crook of my neck as she clings to me, her body trembling with a mixture of cold and relief. And then, just as I'm starting to wonder if Erik chickened out on us, he splashes down beside us, his silver hair plastered to his forehead as he surfaces with a gasp.
"Damn, that was intense," he says, his voice rough with adrenaline. "You two okay?"
I nod, my arms still wrapped around Dani like I'm afraid she might disappear if I let go. "We're good, brother. A little wet, but we'll live."
Dani lets out a shaky laugh, her fingers digging into my shoulders as she clings to me. "Speak for yourself, babe," she quips. "I think I left my stomach back up on that ledge."
I grin, and it feels like it might split my face in two. "Nah, baby, you've got bigger balls than that," I tease, pressing a quick, hard kiss to her temple. "You're a fucking warrior, remember?"
Dani rolls her eyes, but I can see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, the way her body relaxes just the tiniest bit in my arms. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Captain Save-a-Hoe," she mutters, with sass as she gives me a playful shove. "Guess I should be thanking my lucky stars. I've got such a big, strong man to protect little old me, huh?"
I smile as my lips brush against her ear. "Damn straight, baby. You know I'd do anything to keep you safe. Even if it means jumping off a fucking cliff like some kind of discount Batman."
Dani snorts. "Please," she scoffs. "You're way hotter than Batman. And you don't need some fancy-ass gadgets to get the job done."
I can't help but puff up a little at that, my ego swelling like a fucking balloon. "Damn right, I don't," I agree. "I've got something much better than gadgets."
"Oh yeah?" Dani asks, her eyebrows raised in a playful challenge. "And what might that be, tough guy?"
I lean in even closer, my breath hot against her skin as I whisper the words like a promise. "You, baby. I've got you."
And it's the truth. Because with Dani by my side, I feel like I can take on the whole fucking world. She's my strength—my courage, the fire that burns in my veins and keeps me going even when the odds seem impossible.
Dani blushes, and Erik clears his throat, getting our attention back on track.
I turn to Erik, my expression sobering as I take in our surroundings. The chamber we've landed in is even more massive than the one above, the walls stretching up and up until they disappear into the darkness. The water is deep and clear, the bottom lost in shadow, and I can feel the ancient magic thrumming through it like a heartbeat.
Dani's bracelet casts a brilliant light, illuminating the water around us in a vivid glow. It seems to do its light-up dance whenever we're near the artifacts, almost as if it's guiding us.
"Alright, let's get moving," as I swim toward the chamber's far end. "We've got a lyre to find and a realm to save, and we're not going to do it by treading water all day."
Erik nods, his expression grim, as he falls into place beside me. His powerful strokes cut through the water like a blade. Dani follows close behind; her more petite frame is no match for our speed, but her determination is more than making up for it.
As we reach the water's edge, I hoist myself onto the rocky ledge with a grunt, my muscles flexing with the effort. I turn back to Dani, my hand outstretched, and pull her up to me with a single, powerful tug. She collides with my chest, her body molding to mine like it was fucking made for me.
I take a moment to drink her in, my eyes roaming over her figure with unabashed hunger. Her leathers are drenched, clinging to her curves. The wet fabric hugs her tits, highlighting their perfect shape and the way her nipples strain against the material, begging for my touch. And fuck me, her zipper is sitting low, teasing me with a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage.
I reach out, my fingers grazing the exposed skin of her chest as I slowly, deliberately zip her up. The action is possessive, a silent claiming, and how her breath hitches tells me she feels it, too.
