73

Kaylin

I reached for Tyche when the boat capsized, dragging her down into the depths. If nothing else, it gives me time to think. I can’t get them to shore on my own, not fast enough to keep Teern from catching wind of us. I send a silent plea to Salila, which she will love as it puts me even further in her debt. Soon, I’ll owe her all of Amassia. But what to do with the little savant? Instinct tells me to draw the line here. She’s seen what I am, and no doubt when she finds her right mind again, she’ll accuse me of it.

Tyche fights against me, not the sea, which isn’t what I expect. The little thing swims like a fish. As I hold her to my chest and deliberate, the girl’s small fists swing harmlessly at my face. For a moment, I see not Tyche struggling, but Ash, and Ash’s expression as if she knew what I’m contemplating. In an instant, I turn Tyche around, keeping her back tight against me. After the next wave passes over, I shoot to the surface. “Stop your beating, little lassie. I’m trying to save you.”

Tyche struggles to pull away. “I can swim!”

“Not in this swell, in the night.”

She elbows my nose hard and tries to bolt. The next wave comes, and again I dive, taking her down with me. Has she caught a breath? I hope so. She still fights, so I push her down to the reef. It’s impressive that she instinctively grabs it and holds on until the churning water passes overhead. We swim to the surface together and I catch her again. This time I flip her on her back and speed toward the shore before the next wave breaks.

“Take a breath,” I say before we go under again. I swim ahead of the swell, one arm around the girl and the other blocking her strikes. We come up in waist-deep water and I let her go. She stumbles away from me without a glance back. I dive over the next wave and out to search for the others. “Salila, where are you?”

“Lose your little lambs, did you?”

“Help me.”

“Why should I?”

“Because there’s a chest of Sierrak gold in it if you do.”

“Then don’t fret. I’ve got the Heir in my arms already. It’s a feeling I could get used to…”

I shoot to her like a comet. “Take him to shore unharmed!”

She snarls but sweeps Marcus toward the beach. “I wasn’t going to hurt him.”

Another Mar appears beside me. “Shashida, you came, too?”

“Did you say gold?” She smiles at me. “And these are your prey?” Shashida glides around me as another set rolls through.

“Not prey. Will you help me save them?” I reach out, fast as a snake, and hold her arm, forcing her to stare into my eyes. “Do them no harm?”

“Salila said you were testy. But for gold, I will do as you wish.” She swims over me. “Can I have first pick of the males?”

“You will have no such thing.” My grip clamps around her arm and I squeeze until she winces. “There are three more, Shashida, so be quick.” I speed after Salila. “For the Drop’s sake, sister. Keep his face out of the water! Landers breathe air, remember?”

“But I want to resuscitate him. See what his phantom’s like.”

“I promise, you don’t.”

She pouts. “But he will be quite grateful, don’t you think? If I save his life?”

I come up a handspan from her face and clutch her shoulder, fingers cutting into her neck though she doesn’t bleed. “You rescue, revive, and you disappear, without a word to Teern. Do otherwise and I’ll hunt you to your death.”