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Her legs came up as she convulsed and choked, coughed and cried.
“That’s it. Get it out.”
I couldn’t stay upright anymore.
Pressing my forehead to her shoulder, I rode out her convulsions, shaking so much my teeth rattled.
Finally, her coughs subsided, and she tried to roll onto her back.
I didn’t let her.
Lying down beside her, I wrapped my arm around her waist and kept her on her side. “Breathe. I got you. Just breathe, Neri. You’re safe.”
Her breath rattled and wheezed, but she obeyed, slowing down, finding her natural rhythm, a shiver wracking her as shock replaced her blood.
I lost track of time.
I should get her a blanket.
I should radio for aid.
I should use the whale song that Jack had recorded for emergencies and play it under the waves to bring him and Anna back.
But I couldn’t do a damn thing as Neri slowly pushed away from me and sat up.
I sat with her, cursing my trembling, unable to stop.
Visions of her unconscious kept coating my mind, making me sick and anxious. “Are you...are you alright?”
She nodded slowly, rubbing where I’d compressed her chest with a wince. “I—” She coughed and wiped her mouth. “I-I...think so?”
She traced her lips with her fingers, her eyes turning inward for a moment.
I stiffened.
Had I done it wrong?
Had I bitten her?
Slowly, her eyes met mine and her white cheeks flushed with colour. “Did you...give me mouth-to-mouth?”
I cringed. “I-I had no choice. You...you weren’t breathing. You weren’t fucking breathing, Nerida, and—”
“Thank you.” She placed her hand over my shaking ones. “Thank you so much for saving my life, Aslan.”
And just like that all my fear, my terror, and my panic dissolved. “I suppose my debt is paid now. A life for a life.”
“I suppose it is.” She smiled.
I sighed raggedly, letting my chin drop to my chest. “Don’t ever, ever do that again.”
Time passed, the ocean lapped at the boat, and my shaking subsided by the time she finally laughed.
Just a tiny, quiet laugh but it ripped my head up and I glowered at her. “What the hell is so funny?”
Her gaze dropped to my mouth before scooting back to my eyes. “I did promise you, didn’t I?”
“Promise me what?”
