Her shoulders slumped.No. No, it has to work.The plan was sound. It was their only chance. What else could they do?
Panic surged through her veins. Owen was dying, and she was powerless to stop it. The thought sent a crushing weight onto her chest. The Zephyrus crew would be devastated. Gus, Melodie—Captain Garrett might never recover. He’d sailed with Owen for years. He loved Owen like a son. Vivienne wasn’t sure she could bear to see the heartbreak on his face when they returned without their commander.
Tears filled her eyes. It’s over.
She turned to tell them it had failed?—
Then she saw it.
A flicker in the corner of her eye. A bud trembled.
Vivienne’s pulse quickened. She stared intently, barely daring to breathe. The tiny bloom gave another shiver, then slowly, delicately, unfurled.
The petals twirled open, an elegant, mesmerizing spiral, their silver-blue glow soft, pulsing like a beating heart.
One by one, more buds followed. Noctilum flowers blossomed across the vine, their luminous petals bathing Elandra’s relief in a breathtaking glow. The cave shimmered with an ethereal radiance unlike anything she had ever seen.
A line from the sea shanty drifted through her memory:With moon and star and flower fair…
Cirrus and Florence stood frozen, mouths agape, their eyes mirroring her own awe-struck disbelief. Vivienne reached out with trembling fingers, a desperate plea on her lips, plucking a single flower from the vine.
It didn’t wilt.
A watery laugh bubbled from her chest. Tears burned her eyes as she turned, holding up the glowing bloom.
Cirrus exhaled sharply, then grinned, his expression one of sheer, unrestrained joy.
Florence let out a triumphant whoop, throwing her hands up in celebration. "I’ll be damned, Banner. You actually pulled it off."
Vivienne worked quickly, gathering as many as she dared, wrapping them carefully in a handkerchief. As soon as the moonlight faded, the remaining buds curled back into themselves, retreating into darkness.
Cirrus pointed toward the tunnel. "Let’s move."
Vivienne gingerly tucked the glowing bundle into her tote.
Every second wasted brought them closer to losing Owen forever.
And she wasn’t about to let that happen.
46
Vivienne’s pounding heart kept time with her frantic steps, each beat a desperate drum against her sternum. Time was slipping through her fingers like dry sand, and with every second lost, Owen edged closer to death. The thought clawed at her, more consuming than the bellowing waterfalls behind them, louder even than their own ragged breathing.
A dizzying haze absorbed her surroundings, leaving only what was straight ahead. The flickering glow of the ignis bark blurred into the darkness of the winding cavern. She imagined Owen lying there—ashen, fevered, his skin a battleground of sickness and venom.
No.
She stumbled over a loose stone, her ankle twisting painfully, but she caught herself, palms scraping against the jagged wall. She barely felt the sting. “We have to hurry,” she gasped, casting a glance over her shoulder.
Cirrus and Florence’s faces flickered in and out of shadow, their expressions grim with the same fear gripping her chest. Neither replied. They didn’t need to. Vivienne surged ahead, reckless and wild, every step a declaration that she would not let him die.
When they rounded the final bend and the cavern came into view, Vivienne didn’t stop—she sprinted.
“Viv!” Lewis’ voice rang through the dim space. He ran to her, his arms pulling her into a fierce embrace. “Thank the gods. You’re back! And you found Florence! But…” His voice wavered. "The others?"
Florence’s dark eyes lowered, and she gave a small shake of her head.
Lewis swallowed hard, pressing his lips together in grim acceptance.
