Page 52 of Stolen Magic of the Deep

“What does any of that mean?” I say, wrinkling my eyebrows and throwing my hands up in defeat.

“Close your eyes,” she says. “Use your other senses to guide you.”

I close my eyes, shrouding myself in complete darkness around a siren who would probably kill me in a heartbeat.

Great, idea Sarah. Always had to be a lover of the ocean, did you?

Leo would never place himself in a situation like this—allowing the most dangerous warrior in Virellan to level a blade at him. He would've relinquished these powers long ago, told these creatures they were on their own, and return home without a second thought.

But I've never been that person. I've always pushed the limits. Always needed to know more, even when the answers came with risk. Even if it meant putting myself in danger. Like now . . . Being across from a siren whose skill could end this fight before it truly begins—all because I made a promise to help save a kingdom I don't even belong to.

My thoughts are interrupted. A heartbeat before it happens, I swing my tail and drop, the sheer force of a wave rushing over me. I slash my dagger through the water, ripples tearing it apart before the current can knit itself whole again.

“Almost,” Nyxalene says. “What did that feel like?”

“Like a wave about to crash onto the sandy shores. Powerful . . . maybe forceful?”

“Is that why you chose to slash at water?” she says, provokingly. "It held no real danger, yet you attacked anyway?"

She's enjoying this way too much, embarrassing the human. Making me feel like I'm less than what I already deem myself.

“I only slashed water because I missed you passing by a second too late,” I say. I know I could have gotten her if my reflexes were slightly faster.

“No, land-dweller. You slashed at water and water alone. I was nowhere near you,” she pauses, and my face pales.

“What?”

“I shaped the sea with my sword and drove it toward you. So yes, the force you felt was real, but it was not me you felt.” Her eyes squint vertically, and the devilish smirk on her lips widens into a ghastly grin. “Trust me when I say this, land-dweller,” she says, gliding out of the shadows again. This time, she holds her own weapon of choice. Its hilt is made of crimson coral, twisting around itself. The blade infused into the coral appears to be smaller than an average sword. “My sword, Virethane, is known all throughout Virellan. And getting struck by it might not kill you—unless I command it—but it will hurt. And right now, I feel like you need some encouragement.”

With moves more fluid than I can comprehend, she drives herself toward me, sword out, ready to strike. A moment before I can raise my daggers, the voice inside me speaks.

Deflect. Raise your arms.

My arms snap up, and I do as it says, my forearms crossing instinctively over my face. In an instant, there is pain. Sharp stinging pain.

I ease my forearms apart, peering down their length. Dark red unfurls into the blue, thinning into ribbons that stretch with the current before breaking into rusty wisps and vanishing as the ocean claims it. The cut isn’t deep, but it’s enough to snag my thoughts and lock my body in place.

“Nyx, what did you do?” Orion’s voice cuts through the haze, and his hands close around my upper arms, fully wrapping them both.

“Oh stop, Orion, she is fine,” Nyxalene says coolly. “I barely grazed the top layers of her fragile human skin. She needed some encouragement.”

That does it. I look at her now, astonishment cutting through the fog of pain.

“So you thought harming her would help?” Orion snaps. “She's not like them, Nyx. She's not associated with the people who killed off your friends and family.”

My attention snaps to him. I pause, breath catching. He’s defending me. But why?

“You said you were training her, not trying to kill her!” he screams.

“Oh Goddess, help me, I barely nicked her, Orion,” she states, as if that will make the situation better. She swims closer to us and points to my arms. “Look, she is almost healed. You forget she has your father’s magic. She has the same healing generation as you.”

That’s when his eyes meet mine. Time stops, and we just stare at each other. Simultaneously, we glance down at my forearms. My eyes widen in pure disbelief. Orion becomes aware he’s gripping me—very tightly at that, and as quickly as his awareness grows, he lets go.

“How’s that possible?” I say, rubbing my hands across my forearms continuously to ensure I’m not just imagining it. My blood no longer mixes with the ocean, as if it never happened.

“I should have known,” Orion says, disbelief and thought threading through his words. “Between the ability to transform and adapt as quickly as you have, I didn't think you would also gain all the same magical qualities we have. Or, well, that he had.”

“Well, she has. Now, can we continue training?” Nyxalene asks, immediately moving on, as if it is nothing new or surprising.