My ears picked up the soft splash from the port side, and I whipped my head around. Vulcan hurried past me, an arrow already nocked in his bow. The tip inched to the left as he calledto the captain, “There’s something in the water. Two hundred yards out.”
Kellan’s crew moved silently into defensive positions at the slight nod of his head. Aeriden sheathed our father’s blade and hopped over the quarter deck before retrieving his own bow and climbing the shrouds to the rear crow’s nest.
Kellan moved to the center of the deck, where Isla stood as she rolled the sleeves of her shirt up before her fingers traced the line of shell rings on her ears.
“Where do you want us, Captain?” She turned to Kellan after checking her small amplifiers.
“You’re here,” Kellan replied without an ounce of question as he reached us. “Reinforce the shield and be ready for a quick departure if needed. Call me if you run out.” His eyes traced the delicate rings along her pointed ears.
“Why don’t you give me a little charge up before we get started?” Isla arched a brow and held out her hand.
Kellan didn’t hesitate. His hand clamped around hers, and Isla jumped as he sent a small blast of power into the tiny elf.
Isla’s amber eyes went wide before they darted to mine, and she shook out her hand.
“Spicy,” she murmured, squeezing and flexing her hand. “But nice. Thank you. Wow, I feel like I just had nine cups of Marian’s rising tea.”
Kellan’s lip twitched before he turned to me. “I need your new elf eyes up high.” His chin jerked to Tiberius, who clomped across the deck, and Kellan paused before turning back to me. “Please.”
I blinked and nodded. Isla turned to me with a rogue grin and raised a brow. She mouthed the wordpleaseand gave me a knowing look. I scowled before gripping Ti’s mane and hopping onto his back.
Have you seen anything?
No,Ti murmured.The splash came from the east.
Tiberius flew out of Astraeus’s warm shield and into the brisk spring night. I strained my eyes against the darkness as a strange lullaby floated over the waves. My powers raced into my palms, but the threat edged against ease. What was this? The Transcindiel’s normal, pleasant reaction to the sound of music was absent. Its feel beneath my skin was more cautious than curious.
Waves crashed in foamy blue lines as the light of our moons shone against the Atrulean Sea. The tune picked up the further we flew from Kellan’s shield. It was louder, as if coming from all directions.
We need to get back to the ship.
Ti’s thoughts echoed my own, and he banked against an updraft, turning back toward theHydra.
Wait!I urged, my eyes catching something dark against the horizon to the north.Is that a ship?
The melody grew in intensity, and I pinched my eyes shut, my mind wandering. Why were we flying away from this song? It was lovely. It washome. The melody grew, building and rising into a crescendo that made my heart still before the song stopped, and a voice took over.
You are mine, he said.
My soul sang in response.
You have always been mine. I’m here. Come to me.
My eyes closed, and a broad, brilliant smile stretched across my lips as I threw my head back and allowed myself to bask in the glory of those words coming from his lips. My heart squeezed before releasing, as if letting out a breath, and I looked down at the rippling waves of the sea. Down. He was down there. The rolling waves climbed as we neared, their peaks arching in tempting ripples.
Come to me, Beloved.
Beloved…
That was the wrong name.
My powers bucked at the thought, and the silvery line of power connecting me to theHydrasparked to life. The pull was stronger than the song, stronger than the voice, and I cast the feeling to Tiberius, who’d lost significant height in the last few moments.
Frothy waves licked at his hooves, and a dark shadow rose up from below.
“FLY!” I screamed as the wind whipped the word away.
Tiberius let out a wild snort, pumping his wings just as the thin, scaled arm of a creature reached for us.
