Lysi drew a shaky breath and wiped an arm over her face. “I don’t think anyone has. Adaro is bringing out the worst in all of us.”
My face felt hot and swollen, temples throbbing in the early stages of a splitting headache. Neither of us could stop crying, the hitched sounds whispering against the cave walls.
“This is not the scene I hoped to pop in on.” Spio hoisted himself onto the clay and shook his hair like a wet dog. “Either way, it’s good to see both of you alive.”
He tossed my crossbow and quiver onto the floor beside us. “I only managed to save one bolt. He’s gone, though.”
“Spio, do you have that kelp pus?” said Lysi thickly.
Spio’s face fell. “Don’t tell me that lumpsucker …”
At Lysi’s expression, he hastily opened his bag and pulled out a squishy canteen. She asked me to turn around.
I flinched as she smeared the paste over the wound, gritting my teeth.
“Damn,” said Spio. “Was he trying to drill a hole right through you?”
“Spio!” said Lysi.
The paste had a cooling, soothing effect. Though it didn’t mask the pain completely, it eased the persistent burning.
Once it was done, the three of us sat side-by-side and stared at the pulsing surface. I curled my tail up and wrapped my arms around it like I still had knees. If this was a weird thing to do, Lysi or Spio didn’t show it.
“Why didn’t he chase us?” said Lysi.
“He’s going to Utopia,” I said.
“How do you know?”
“The Reinas succeeded. The government’s fallen.”
Lysi and Spio exchanged a look of surprise.
“We have to follow him,” I said.
When they gaped at me, I added, “We’ve got him. He’s within reach. We can’t lose track of him.”
“Mee, let yourself rest.”
“We don’t have time. I—”
I winced as a wave of pain coursed through my body. The last time I’d been in agony like this was on the Massacre. It felt a lifetime ago.
Then, too, I’d been determined for revenge, hunting sea demons to avenge Nilus. Was I going to let hatred keep consuming me?
My heart gave a squeeze as I thought of Nilus, who would be in Utopia right now with the Reinas.
“We have to stop Adaro before he gets there. This is our last chance to kill him.”
Kill. How many times had I said that word? How much more of my life would be dedicated to the act?
Medusa had said Adaro was out for revenge on humans because of his father. What had that reduced him to?
“He won’t make it,” said Lysi. “Feel the way the tide is pulling. It’s almost here. It’ll take longer than that to get to Utopia.”
Indeed, all of the currents seemed to be shifting towards land—and there was an inexplicable pull building inside me. I recalled what Lysi had said about king tides and imagined the moon trying to pick me up, to pull me closer.
“All the more reason to follow him,” I said, voice stronger. “Besides, his armies are on the way to help fight. This is it, Lysi. It’s king tide, and we need to make sure we don’t lose him.”
