Her lungs burning, she struggled to push herself toward the distant surface.
Another ripple far ahead and the teleporter appeared. He shifted through the water, slicing through the monsters’ bodies one by one, swiftly evading their leathery arms.
The captain seized her, halting her frantic struggle and cupping her to his hard body as he thrust their weight up toward the surface with incredible speed. All she could focus on was her need for air, fighting the urge to give into the pressure of her lungs and inhale the water around her.
One of the monsters in pursuit spread like a star, its teeth in full display as its tentacles fanned in all directions. Then there was a second, then four of them, blotting out the clear water with their slithering limbs.
Everywhere, they were absolutely everywhere.
Flashes of yellow eyes, clicking teeth.
Wrapping her arms around the captain’s neck, she buried her face in his chest and squeezed.
Another set of arms wrapped around her, and in an instant, the numbing water was gone. The hunger for air subsided as her lungs filled to the brim with the sweetest breaths she’d ever experienced.
She coughed up bilious water, then inhaled again. Her sobs retched between each respiration. Her eyes opened to billows of smoke. When the smoke faded, that otherworldly ceiling dusted with insects came into view.
She was right back where she started. The demon was holding her close. She could have sworn she felt his thumbs caressing the cold skin of her back.
No, that couldn’t be right.
And yet, the captain had come for her.
They had saved her.
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
Callum watched the girl struggle to get away, shoving Theo in the chest, still coughing up the last of that lake water.
“Let... me... go.” She forced out the words as she straightened her arms against him, begging for space.
“This is how you demonstrate gratitude?” Theo’s monstrous body faded, bone-white skin warping to tan, his wings disappearing into the slits in his cuirass. He lowered her to her feet. It looked like he was trying to do so gently, but she collapsed in front of him. She struggled to breathe as blood dripped from her small frame onto the floor.
Callum clutched his head as he rushed to sit down. He fought to stay awake.
He’d done what he had to do back there. He got them both out. Theo could handle himself, that was certain. Callum just saw no room for gambling when it came to her, so he dove in too.
Now he would pay the cost.
His ability to travel through space in the blink of an eye was unique, and yes, he could teleport those who touched him, but it meant completely draining every ounce of his magic. It would be suicide to incapacitate himself like this on a battlefield. It meant days of barely being alive, sleeping night and day until he was right again.
It was a sacrifice that left him incredibly vulnerable.
He could think of a handful of times he’d taken passengers with him. It was always to help them escape certain death, and he had only performed the feat for those closest to him.
Never for a complete stranger.
Theo and Manos stood side by side, assessing her injuries. They paid no mind to their fallen companion.
“Don’t mind me, boys, I’ll just pass out here. No need to fuss.” He gave a soft wave as he fought to keep his eyes open. He eyed the trembling princess. “Thank you for saving my ass back there. Is that so hard to say?”
She made some sort of annoyed howl. Callum wasn’t sure she was capable of speech right now by the looks of her.
Theo had been so sure that she wouldn’t try to escape, or at the very least if she did try, she’d grow frustrated or scared and give up. They had severely underestimated her resolve. They let her get too far, all the way to the south clearing. He couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Theydidneed her. The Divine Allura were failing. She hadn’t even undergone her godly trial, and there was alreadythatmuch power inside her. Her magic was strong enough to fend off Theo, a task not many could accomplish. He had never seen anything like it.
The fae—they possessed sparks of the old magics, not humans. This girl could turn the tide. He had deserved that rock to the face, and even if it meant enduring more of her assaults, he would get a handle on his resentment and try to help.
