"Come on, Phoenix." The depth of emotion in Raider's voice betrayed him. He might pretend to hate Kira, but he cared for her in the same way Graydon had seen in siblings. Half antagonist, half fierce protector.
Come on, woman, Graydon mentally urged.
Thelu-ongwhipped around when Solal strayed too close, the deep cry they were known for echoing through the air.
"She's been under too long," Wren said grimly.
Surface, Kira. You can do it.
Long seconds ticked by with no sight of her. That small link they shared thinned.
Graydon bared his teeth. He didn't think so. If she thought to surrender so easily, he would teach her the true meaning of being Tuann. She didn't get to quit. She didn't get to go out like this.
Not ever if he had his way.
He would do anything to protect that woman, even if it meant killing a being many among the Tuann considered sacred. Harming one carried a steep price. There was a chance he would face consequences.
He found he didn't care. He'd already betrayed her trust once; he wouldn't do it again.
Power spooled as he prepared a strike. If this meant his position as the Emperor's Face, so be it. Some things were worth sacrificing for, and he knew to his bones Kira was one of them.
The wings he cloaked himself in sparked, looking like they were made of black lightning as he careened toward thelu-ongbuilding a spear with the same light as he flew. Thelu-ongtwisted to face him, power building at the base of her throat, aimed right at Graydon.
He braced. Only one of them would survive this.
The baby disappeared beneath the surface.
One hundred feet. Fifty. Twenty-five. Point of no return.
The baby surfaced, a small, limp form carried in its mouth. The baby wiggled over its mother's body, depositing an unconscious Kira on the deck of the boat.
Graydon veered, releasing his power into the sea beyond thelu-ong. Power crackled in the space where he'd just been. He felt the heat of it pass. His armor, that indestructible material made from the discarded scales of alu-ong, buckled.
*
Kira coughed up water, jerking back to the land of the living with no small amount of surprise.
She gasped, sucking in the air she thought she'd never taste again.
What the hell had happened?
"Kira," Jin shouted through the comms. "You're alive. Thank God."
Kira squinted, trying to get her bearings.
Her head pounded. She reached up and touched it, wincing as pain lanced through her. Her fingers came away wet with both water and blood.
That answered the question of why her head hurt.
Around her, the sound of battle raged. Thelu-ongscreaming its challenge as the Tuann dove at her.
Kira sat up with a groan, her head swimming as nausea curdled in her belly. Her headache increased. She knew this feeling. Concussion. Or at least really close to one.
Soothing cool, like an ice pack on sore muscles, washed over her, relieving the worst of her symptoms.
She glanced over to see the dragon-like head of thelu-ongbaby she'd freed peeking over the boat's railing, his large, gem-like eyes focused on her. Waves of gratitude lapped at her. Adoration following.
"Glad you're safe, too," she told him.
