“You should have let me die.” The words carry all the cold logic I can muster. Quietly, I wonder if he’d have saved Nisse too, or if he’d have let me drown if he knew the truth.
He smirks. “Feeling sorry for yourself, Viper? We’ve got two more keys to find—unless you want to cough up the riddles? Maybe then I’ll let the sea take you.”
I press my lips into a line, feeling the irritation crawl its way to the forefront of my jumbled feelings. “Do you immediately piss off all the girls you kiss?”
“Only the pretty ones.”
I huff a laugh, which turns to a sputtering cough. His gaze is steady as he reaches over the ledge, beckoning me closer.
“One more breath, and then it’s over.”
I nod, clench my teeth, then press all thought away so I have the willpower to force my aching body to roll towards him. I’m so cold I don’t feel the water as I slip in, though I can feel his warmth as he cradles me to his chest.
“Once we start, we won’t be able to stop,” I feel the breath of his words on my cheek, “so I need you to take a deep breath. On three, ready?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. “One.”
My hands tremble where they grip around his neck.Just one more breath, and then it’s over.
“Two.”
I force my body to relax as I inhale, if only so my aching lungs can take in more air.
“Three.”
We plunge in and speed down, the pain in my ears growing until I’m certain they’ll pop. He was right about the current.It’s heavy, the water rushing past even as we’re forced to slow. It’s hard to tell if we’re making any progress. The thought almost grips me, but I cling to him instead, unwilling to let the little air I have left be used for more panic.
I can feel the strain of his body, the way his muscles coil against the water. For a moment, I wonder if it will win, then we break free, the flow changing, the dark behind my eyelids growing lighter and lighter until we burst into the open air of a clear blue sky.
I gasp, sucking greedy lungfuls of non-stagnant air. We’re near the shore, the crew’s tents visible far in the distance.The Gilded Hartwaits down the way, gorgeous as ever.
Soon, Rune is walking us towards the shore, his fin turning to legs before I realise he’s shifted. His arms are warm, his chest solid, but shivers wrack my spine as a breeze kisses my wet clothes. Not even the sun can warm the kind of chill that’s settled in my bones.
The calm of the island is jarring compared to the chaos we’ve left below. Insects chitter and voices of the crew already call out, relieved to see Rune unharmed. I expect him to put me down once they see us, once his steps begin to splash in the shallows, but he pins me to him when I move, quietly refusing to let go until we’re far, far beyond the reach of the tide.
SHE WOULDN’T WANTYOU TO DIE
21
RUNE
It had taken us hours to get back to the ship. Mostly because I’d promised Otto as much monster loot as we could carry, and he’d be disappointed if I turned up empty handed—not that he would show it.
Sucker pads, acidic saliva, organs, and even a few vials of sticky monster blood. I caught a few of the crew gagging as they bottled it up. Couldn't blame them, really. Who knew what Bear would do with all of it, but I wouldn’t ask any questions—never did. The amount of times he’d found a remedy for a weird rash or someone’s thinning hair was uncanny. He had a gift. So when he asked for monster bits, I made sure I did my best to deliver.
Late afternoon sun washes its orange glow over the beach, skimming across the seafoam kissing the shore. Never have I been so grateful to see the bright world around me. It was getting quite dark for a moment there—mentally and physically.
I watch as Odi loads ropes, tents and bags of monster parts into one of the row boats. She insisted on helpingdespite my suggestion she rest in the warm sand.Godsknow she needs it after what we endured, but the work seemed to bring colour back into her cheeks. Her rhythm flows alongside the crew. It sparks something in my chest seeing her fit in like she’s one of us.
One by one, the rowboats circle around to bring supplies and the crew back toThe Gilded Hart, until it’s only Tavi, Elio, Odi and I left to fill the last boat. We’d lost two men in the temple. It marked my heart, making it feel even heavier than before.No more. If I can help it, Odi and I will be the only ones to risk ourselves on the next islands.
“We’re ready for you, Cap,” Elio murmurs as he comes to stand beside me.
Silently I nod, moving towards the boat. Tavi, and Elio hop in on my command, though Tavi protests, saying she would push us off the sand. After a firm look, she rolls her eyes, jumps in and grabs an oar.
Just as Odi is about to step in, I reach out, catching her hand to assist her. Her breath hitches at my touch. Her head swivels in my direction, then she glances to where our hands meet, but she doesn’t pull away.
“Thank you.” Her voice is barely a whisper.
I offer a smile, my gaze flicking to her lips, before releasing her hand and putting all my weight into pushing the boat off the shore. I wade after it, and once it’s cleared the bank, I pull myself in.
