But by working with the few remaining witches on land, I can help. I can make a difference. I can restore the balance—restore Father to the amount of power he can handle.
Magic is needed here to save the ocean. Save Father from himself.
I add her words together until the pieces lock into place. I think of everything she told me back at the castle, of her plans to make a difference here. My own words ringin my head—Yes, you’ll be a great witch. To do that, we must survive this first.
I draw in a deep breath and measure my words. “And this is why you know about Katrine... you were doing research?”
Alia nods.
I knew I would have four days. I wasn’t going to go to the surface unprepared.
I don’t point out that she was most definitely unprepared if her research didn’t include the fact that her love was already engaged to be married. Or that he was building weapons of war for profit.
Urda, this is such a mess.
Alia presses a hand to my face. Her energy, her life burns against my skin.
She’s alive. So present.
The thought of losing her again scrapes at the edges of my heart. The panic that led me to the sea witch after confirming what she’d done rises again within me.
If you think I would have those U-boats in our ocean, you don’t know me at all.
Then, a tug of my hand.Come on.
I don’t know that this Katrine can save my sister. I don’t know that she won’t just murder us both the second she smells magic on us. But I do know that I love my sister with all my heart. The sea witch told me that supporting Aliawas my greatest power, but maybe I can do more. I yank back on Alia’s hand hard enough that it not only stops her momentum but also shifts her back. My sister bumps off my shoulder. I take her face into my hands on the rebound.
And kiss her.
16
Runa
WE STAY THERE FOR A LONG MOMENT, MY LIPS ON HERS.I’ve got my eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the magic to do its job.
I love my sister.
True love is all that matters to this damn spell, and considering I flubbed my end of the bargain so spectacularly, I’m basically human now.
So. Work. You. Stupid. Magic.
Despite her fire and fury, Alia’s light in my arms, and I wonder if this is her leaving me, the magic tethering her to this body, to this side of the deal, almost completely eroded.
When my eyes fly open, they meet Alia’s.
We part, a question on her lips.
What are you doing?she mouths.
I explain my logic and she laughs soundlessly. I miss itsbell-like quality, and the jolly shifting of her shoulders is not the same. She waggles her eyebrows and makes a sign that makes me blush a blue streak.
Calder.
Then, to make it worse, she mouths out the sentence so I can’t ignore it.
Now I know what you were up to with Calder at the hot springs.
I cringe but laugh and toss it back at her. I may have a special friendship with a certain first-year guard, but she’s well-known to be immediately and furiously smitten with any merman lucky enough to costar with her in a moon play.
