He put a hand over his eyes, sighing. “It was like… I was floating, and you were my tie to reality. Like the only way back to myself was through you.”
“Oh gods,” she whispered.
“What, El?”
“I think… Ohfuck.We need to get back to the ship.”
She snatched her dress up from the ledge, throwing the sopping wet fabric over her as she swam back to the rowboat. The conclusion her mind was forming was something she was already attempting to deny.
Enzo was hurriedly swimming after her with his trousers in one hand.
“Elara,” he called.
“Just wait, my love. We need to speak to Eli or Isra.”
She hauled herself into the boat, Enzo behind her as he got in and hurriedly pulled his trousers back on. She leaned forward, kissing him soundly on the lips. “Whatever that was, we’re going to get answers now.”
Enzo flared his flames to life, fanning her with their heat until she was dry before picking up the oars.
And with another deep kiss, Enzo began to row them back to the ship.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Adrian took another swig offlamespirit as he walked out onto the deck of the ship.
He was absolutely plastered.
And no one could blame him either. He haddiedtoday, lost aneye.He staggered, blaming it on his depth perception, and not the litres of alcohol now swimming through his bloodstream.
On top of all of that, he had discovered that he was a bloody titan? A whole case of flamespirit wouldn’t have been enough to run the edge off that. But for the moment, he was content. He felt powerful, free. And more than all that, fortunate.
There were so many questions he wanted answered—things he needed to ask Elara, Enzo, and Eli. It was Elara he’d come out to look for, though she and Enzo were nowhere to be seen.
He sighed, observing the ship around him. It was a beauty. Larger than the Starred Siren. Newer. Sleeker. But gods, did he miss his old girl. Grief lodged in his heart as he thought of his crew—the ones who hadn’t made it out of battle alive. He raised his tankard to the ship’s wheel—locked for the night, but otherwise magicked according to Eli—and sent out a prayer to his lost friends.
It was then that he saw something gleaming off the moonlight that shone across the deck. He squinted, crossing the deck and seeing, to his utter surprise, a pearl.
He’d forgotten for a moment about Oceanne with everything that had taken place. But that mermaid… She had saved him. He had felt her, even caught a glimpse of her. But how in the world had she found him on this ship?
He picked the pearl up, turning it in his hand.
“Hello?” he called out.
He waited a minute, the glittering waters of Altalune quiet in response.
“Hello, pirate,” a clear voice finally called up.
“Oceanne,” Adrian breathed.
He’d forgotten, in the chaos of the last day, that he’d set a date with her. And he’d never dreamed she’d find him on Eli’s ship.
He could still recall her scent from earlier, the glimpse of her profile. He had not forgotten that she had saved him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked into the darkness.
“I had to make sure you were all right,” came the response. Adrian smiled, resting his elbows on the ship’s side.
“I’m as well as I can be. Thanks to you.”
