Will he take me back to the altar like this? Soaking wet, with messed up makeup and a bat strapped to my chest? Do they even have an altar for the purpose of wedding a Dark Companion? I never found out because Reiner was far too busy to explain things he likely considered obvious.
But if the ceremony needs to happen during the full moon, Kyranis would have to marry me before the day is over.
I clutch his arm harder when something brushes my back under the surface. I’m filled with so much terror I don’t know how much more I can take.
But he senses the hidden presence too and shoves me away before disappearing underwater. Chills travel down my spine as I watch the water bubble as if it wereboiling, and then, a pink, gelatinous arm passes through the air, making it clear the creature that attacked us earlier was back for blood. Or wasn’t the only one of its kind lurking in the water. I don’t know what’s worse.
The waves pull me deeper for a moment… then I find my feet just as Kyranis reappears. We’re chest-deep, but with the moon so silver and bright, I can easily see our surroundings and we’re not all that far from the shore.
“Get to the beach!” Kyranis says with determination painted over his face as he looks at the glistening surface of the sea.
Even now, with my life hanging by a thread, notice his beauty. His profile is so sharp against the moon it’s as if it’s been carved out with a scalpel. The high cheek bones scream noble, and the long, pointy elven ears are a reminder that he is indeedotherworldly.
“Luke! Faster!”
I back out, but keep him in my sight, in case he needs help. The water shimmers silver and green as I move my feet with care, trying to avoid falling over. Adrenaline pumps through my system, making every sensation more potent, and when Kyranis emerges from the waves, shoving back his damp hair, I want to shout in triumph.
His gaze meets mine in the bright glow of the moonlight, but the smile drops from my face when a dark shape pokes onto the surface right behind him. “What isthat?”
He tries to spin back when he sees my expression, but the pink tentacles wrap around him so tightly he can’t use his sword, and still, he screams, “To the shore! Now!”
Maybe it’s stupid. Maybe I should just listen, but I can’t leave him. For whatever reason, he came here to save me at the risk to his own life, and I owe this to him.
Nausea rises in my throat when I realize that this blob is much bigger and sports not one but two mouths, one of which is already biting into Kyranis’s thigh.
I wade his way with the bat squeaking with every step I make, and Kyranis doesn’t even fight me when I grab the sword out of his hand.
I don’t know the first thing about using a weapon of this kind, but I have seen how sharp it is, so I whack it wherever I think the blob appears to be the thickest.
The wetsplatmakes my lips curl in disgust, but the creature loosens its hold on Kyranis while its other mouth makes a screech of protest. I slam the sword down again for good measure, and the monster lets go, taken away by the tide.
“Let’s go!” I say, but Kyranis stumbles, resting some of his weight on me.
He glances at the place where the creature bit him, his gaze hazy. For a moment, he walks next to me, not asking for his sword back, but when we’re ankle-deep, he falls to his knees so abruptly I don’t get the chance to catch him.
I kneel next to him, worried that a stronger wave might still prove a challenge if it tries to pull us in.
“What’s wrong? We’re almost there.”
Kyranis’s breath quickens as if he was about to heave. “Take the sword. Find Tristan. Trust only him. Get him to take you back. If I die, you will be free game to anyone. You must gonow.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. Why would he say that? “I’m not leaving you!” I say even though not long ago I was so desperate to run away from him.
But he’s no longer watching me. His gaze settles on the shimmering water, which looks as if it hasn't witnessed violence moments ago, and he lets out a choked shriek. “It’s coming! Go! Go to Tristan!”
My head spins when I glance at the rip in his pants. Kyranis’s skin has gone blue around the bite, so despite his pleas, I shove my arms under his and drag him out of the water. My back screams, threatening to punish me for this, but I cannot fathom leaving him now, so I ignore his commands and tug.
I didn’t leave the bat behind, and I’m sure as fuck not leaving Kyranis.
I don’t know what’s going on with him, but if I leave him here, the sea will take him. He only stands a chance if I pull him out, so I continue my fight step by painful step.
My heart beats faster as I analyze Kyranis’s last words before he slumped over me. Even though I ruined tonight’s ceremony, tried to run away from him, and betrayed his trust, all he worried about was getting me to safety.
I bite my lip, trying not to cry, but I don’t know how much higher the tide is going to get, so there’s no time for self-pity.
Once we’re far enough from the waves, I lay him down in a patch of grass and lean down to kiss his blue lips.
“I’ll take care of you,” I whisper.
