Page 62 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

Then a gust of air blows over us, sending sea spray into our eyes. The force pushes down, and the boat begins to tilt toward the wall.

Our supplies slide. I snatch my satchel and bag, throw the straps over my neck, and scramble toward Silas and Rian.

Silas grabs my wrist and hoists me up while his shadows crash into the unnatural wind that’s trying to shove us into the sea.

“What is happening?” I shout. “Why would the Virendrellians attack us?”

“Because they’re pricks,” Silas snarls, still holding my wrist.

Another wave of darkness collides with the invisible air submerging our boat and manages to sweep it away.

The boat rocks back to level out. Silas’s grip slips, and I crash into Rian’s chest. His arm bands around my waist.

His lips brush my ear. “Brace yourself.”

A shiver works its way down my spine. “What⁠—”

The boat lurches, tipping so far on the side that I’m certain we’re going to capsize. I dig my slippered heels down and arch my back, pressing into Rian, desperate to avoid falling into the icy water.

Shadows shove the other end of the boat back down. My head snaps left and right with the volatile rocking. Through it all, Rian’s grip never falters.

“Anytime you want to end this song and dance, my prince, I’d be most obliged,” Silas grits through clenched teeth.

His dark power continues to thrash in the air, combatting the invisible force attempting to submerge the dinghy.

“Working on it,” Rian growls, the veins in his neck bulging.

Smoke dislodges from his body like a phantom. The transparent wisps thicken and darken as they spread out around us. The eerie power climbs over the dark wall of shadows separating us from the complete pull of the maelstrom.

I clench my hands into fists only to realize I’m actually gripping Rian’s forearm. Veins of shadow flicker beneath his tanned skin, alive and restless. Beautiful yet terrifying.

A shout rips through the air, coming from the other side of the black wall.

Breath lodges in my chest.

The ocean itself rises against us, an avalanche of water cresting high above the shadow wall. The whitecaps curl like teeth.

My fingers dig into Rian’s arm as the wave curves down, seconds from devouring the boat and us with it.

13

I’m going to drown.

I’m going to drown, and Ferria will never know what happened to me. She’ll be alone… I can’t leave her alone.

My healing magic attempts to spark to life, but it’s too weak. Too spent. My battle with the Pelagor took every ounce of strength it managed to replenish after my attempt to heal Darius. I’m helpless. Doomed.

The arm around my waist tightens.

“You are not doomed,” Rian hisses in my ear.

I jolt.

Did I say that out loud?

Water sprays my face. I brace for a wave to crash down on top of my head, but a thud echoes instead.

I tilt my chin up and gasp. Rippling shadows hover overhead, bearing the brunt of the crashing wave.