Her dark brown eyes look towards my face as I wade towards her, and even though I doubt she can see me, I offer a smile. “What did you find?”
She runs her hand over the wall. “It's a perfectly cut stone sticking out. It seems to be the only one here.”
I lean over her shoulder, feeling for it. “How do we know it won’t open a trap door and release a whole bunch of flesh eating piranhas?”
Her shoulders lift and fall, brushing my chest. “Do we have a choice?” The strain in her voice is evident. As the water rises, so does her fear, pronounced in the whites of her eyes.
“I’m willing to risk it if you ar—”
She doesn't even let me finish before she slams her hand against the stone. It gives way with ease. At first nothing happens, we just stand there, both of us holding our breath. I almost suggest searching again, perhaps it’s just a loose stone.
Then a vibration tingles my hand that rests on the wall, and travels up my arm. My shadowed darkvision allows me to catch the wall to the left of the stone shifting sideways. “There’s a crack here,” I call to Odi. She grips my arm as I lead us to it.
The water is up to her chest, which is rising and falling with intensity. “Will we fit?”
I measure the gap by fanning out my arm. It’s going to be a tight squeeze—for me at least, but we have no other choice. “I’ll go first.”
Odi steps in behind me so I reach back to grab her hand. At first it’s stiff, but then her fingers relax, curling around mine. Her touch sends a ripple of pleasure up my spine and my mind drifts back to that moment when I was on the ledge—fingers aching, holding on for dear life.
She’d cried.
In the dark, when she thought no one could see, she let it spill. Quiet, raw. And I can’t help wondering what else she’s wept for in the shadows, when the world’s back was turned.
Something in my chest had cracked open then, sharp and deep, and I knew—
I never wanted to be the reason her tears fell.
We leave the roar of water behind us, but its absence doesn’t mean it’s stopped—only that it’s climbing unseen, in the narrow crack we’re wedged between. The stone presses close on either side, forcing me to shuffle sideways, shoulders scraping, careful not to let the jagged rock snag my clothes.
Odi squeezes my hand. “Can you see anything up ahead?”
“Not yet.” I can’t even turn back to her or risk scraping my nose.
Pear and honey wash over me as she presses closer into my back. “I hate wet wraps in my boots,” Odi mutters.
A chuckle escapes my lips. “As soon as we get out of here we’ll dry them by the fire. Then it’s off to the next island.”
“I never want to see the ocean again.”
This time the laughter that bubbles up erupts and echoes off the walls, ricochetting between us. “Probably should change job titles then. Perhaps something land based?”
Odi doesn’t answer, but it’s too narrow for me to face her so I keep my focus ahead, and the grip on her hand firm.
The space seems endless, and the monotony of our steps allows my thoughts to dance across my mind. She’d moved so effortlessly when she shifted into her deer form, but her animal took over—controlled her, causing her to bolt. For a moment I wondered if I’d be able to keep up with her agile twists and turns, or if I’d lose her for pushing her to that point.
I’d meant well. I thought inexperience had stifled her confidence. I’ve met plenty of shifters, and no one has ever talked like that—She won’t like it.
She.
It sits in the back of my mind. Gnawing. What in thesavage seasdoes she mean she’snother? As if her beast is a stranger she’s forced to drag along.
Over the trickle of water seeping down the walls, I hear Odi’s sharp intake of breath. “I swear something just touched my leg.”
Heat washes over me. The last thing we need is some creature taking a chunk out of our flesh. But I still don’t see where the tunnel might open ahead. Her grip in mine is squeezes tighter, and my own concern manifests as it always does—distraction.
“Sorry, I can’t control where it goes, these pantsare too tight.”
“Rune—” Odi hisses, but there’s a little less strain in her voice.
