Page 84 of Fearless

His choking hold on my throat drops at the same moment he does. I suck in a breath before rolling my tight neck. The man sprawls onto the wood before me, blood gushing from the deep gash, even as water pelts the wound. A stream of scarlet quickly seeps out beneath him, staining the deck before the rain can wash it away.

I step over his body, not offering him another glance. Pushing dripping hair from my brow, I turn back to Paedyn and the Illusionist. With his eyes locked on mine, he lifts her bound body into his arms.

The tip of my blade is pressed to his heart within the next beat of it. I shake my head, panting, “Put her down, and I won’t make you suffer.”

He holds my gaze, body rigid beneath my blade. “I’ll die before seein’ an Ordinary sit on Ilya’s throne.”

My sword plunges into his heart at the same moment he throws Paedyn over the railing.

A scream rips from my throat, lost in the raging storm.

I don’t think. I don’t breathe. I don’t hesitate to leave my sword buried in the sailor and dive toward the railing.

She’s falling to her death.

The gag has slipped from her mouth to allow a chilling scream. Those blue eyes are locked on mine as she plummets farther and farther and—

The Tele’s power grows weak beneath my skin. He’s barely alive, but barely is all I need. Tugging at that power, I hurl it toward her bound body.

The ability grows taut, like an invisible rope has wrapped itself around her waist. I grit my teeth as her falling weight slams against my mind, and her body hangs suspended above the waves.

Her head falls back, silver hair brushing the hungry water awaiting her. I strain to lift her toward me even as piercing pain cuts through mymind. When the ship threatens to tip from a vengeful wave, I’m nearly thrown over the splintered railing. Urging myself to focus, I will her toward me, commanding my tired mind to obey.

A wave crashes over the ship, soaking Paedyn’s hanging body before meeting my own. The force of the water nearly pulls her down, but I fight to keep her rising upward. Grunting against the pain in my head, I reach toward her, stretching my dripping arms over the rail.

Her head lifts then, our eyes locking in a moment that even time cannot contain. She stares at me with a sort of fear I’ve never seen her wear. And maybe I’m looking at her the same, like nothing has ever terrified me more than losing her.

And that is when the Tele’s power flickers and dies beneath my skin.

CHAPTER 30Paedyn

The last thing I see is the terror on his face.

Then I’m falling again.

I am going to drown.

Death will meet me in this watery grave, grinning as he snatches my soul from the sea.

When I felt that Tele ability release me, I wouldn’t let my eyes leave his. I wanted Kai’s gray gaze to be the last thing to take my breath away, not the ravenous waves.

But something happened.

I didn’t hit the water.

Kai lunged forward, nearly falling after me, and grabbed hold of the only thing he could.

Adena’s vest.

I’m halted in the air once again, heart in my throat.

Waves crash angrily below as Kai grunts, using every bit of his own strength to pull me upward. I hear the seams rip as my beloved vestbegins splitting apart from my weight. Hands bound behind my back, I can do nothing but stare at the popping thread as Kai strains to lift me.

Water drips from my drenched body, making the tearing vest slippery. Kai cries out, his arm bulging beneath a soaked sleeve. Another sharp tear from the thick fabric has me accepting my watery fate.

Then an arm wraps around my waist.

Kai grits his teeth, pulling me up and over the railing. I’m pressed to his chest, my legs dragging over the wood railing.

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