Kael grins. His hands map the curve of my spine.
"Now," Kael rumbles, the deep vibration warming the water between us. "We go to the fire."
Chapter 25
The Fire-Kelp
Kael
Weleavethecoldwater of the upper shelf behind, our bodies angling downward into the crushing darkness. The freezing water bites at my scales, a sharp contrast to the heat that awaits us. The pressure builds against my eardrums, a steady ache I push aside as we descend further into the abyss.
The pale sunlight from above fades, swallowed by the sheer depth of the trench until only the ghostly bioluminescence of deep-sea creatures illuminates our path.
A dull orange glow bleeds through the darkness below, growing stronger with each downward thrust of our tails.
The thermal vents.
Massive chimneys of black rock rise from the seabed like ancient towers, plumes of dark smoke and boiling water erupting from their jagged peaks. The temperature shifts instantly as we draw closer, the freezing cold shattering against a solid wall of heavy heat that makes the water itself simmer. The sharp scent of sulfur stings my gills, a reminder of the raw power we've come to harvest.
Vaelis swims beside me, his crimson fins catching the ambient magma light like scattered embers. He points to the base of the largest chimney where brilliant gold and red fronds cling to the dark stone—Fire-Kelp, thriving in the scalding water, absorbing the raw energy of the earth itself.
We approach cautiously, the heat a physical weight pressing against my chest.
Vaelis pulls a sharp bone knife from his belt, his movements careful considering the challenging conditions. As he reaches for the glowing fronds, a sudden surge of boiling water swirls directly toward his bare arm.
Without hesitation, I surge forward, positioning my broad shoulder between him and the dangerous surge.
My scarred skin absorbs the scalding heat, protecting him from harm.
Vaelis turns to me, his golden eyes shining with unspoken gratitude before resuming his task. With swift, precise cuts, he severs the stalks, packing the glowing kelp into the mesh net.
The physical exertion takes its toll quickly. The hot water courses through our bodies, cooking our blood from within. Vaelis gasps for breath, his delicate gills flaring wide. A dark, heavy flush spreads across his neck and chest, the extreme heat making him pliant, heavy with a desire that mirrors the primal ache building in my own core.
When the net is full and the heat near the vents becomes nearly unbearable, I spot salvation. There is a dark fissure set back from the boiling chimneys. It's a cave carved from smooth, black obsidian, its entrance shielded from the worst of the thermal output. The water inside seems calm and inviting.
I take the heavy net from his trembling hands, then grasp his wrist, pulling him into the shadows.
We enter the glass cave, its dark walls reflecting the distant orange glow of the magma like scattered stars. I drop the net on the stone floor, the sound muffled by the warm water that envelops us like a comforting blanket.
Vaelis floats in front of me, his chest heaving with exertion. His golden eyes burn with a distinct, undeniable hunger that has nothing to do with the thermal vents. The frantic desperation of the Silt District is gone, replaced by something deeper, more primal. We have time now. We have forever.
I reach for him slowly, my fingers finding the straps of his scavenged mesh vest. With deliberate care, I slip the fabric from his shoulders, tossing it aside where it settles on the obsidian floor like fallen seaweed.
He is bare in the warm water. His lean, muscular form is a stark silhouette against the dark glass, his scales absorbing the faint orange glow of the distant thermal vents. I close the distance between us, my large hands finding their grip on his narrow waist.
I pull him flush against my broad chest, his bare skin cool at first against mine, then quickly matching the heat that builds between us. The black obsidian frames his body like a jewel in a setting of darkness. Vaelis is a masterpiece of vibrant life in the crushing deep.
Mine.
I press him backward, guiding him until his spine meets the smooth, warm stone. He arches against me instantly, the hard lines of his chest pressing firmly against mine. His long tail coils around my hips, the delicate fins tangling with my own in a desperate embrace that anchors us together in the warm water. I grip his narrow hips with both hands, my rough shark skin grinding against his smooth flank with every subtle movement.
I lower my head. I taste the salt and heat on his neck, the sharp scent of sulfur mingling with his unique oceanic scent. I map the sharp line of his collarbone with my teeth, not biting, but grazing the sensitive flesh. I savor the way his breath hitches, the way his fingers dig into my shoulders. I take my time, worshiping each inch of skin with lips and tongue, reacquainting myself with the terrain of his body as if for the first time.
I move lower. I trail open-mouthed kisses down his chest, pausing to circle his peaked nipples with my rough tongue until he writhes beneath me. His soft gasps echo in the small cavern. I reach the sensitive webbing of his ventral fins. With infinite care,I spread them wide, exposing the vulnerable flesh beneath to my hungry gaze.
I press my face against his growing, tender heat. My rough tongue traces the edges of his slit, now protruding proudly with his desire. I drop the pitch of my voice, humming a low, heavy note directly against his raw nerves.
The shift in his posture is subtle, a slight backward arch that catches my attention.
