Page 78 of The King's Man 1

“Go,” Quin rasps, voice a weak shadow of its usual authority.

I hesitate, glancing at him as the bubble flickers. His knuckles are white against the ground, his breathing ragged.

His head lifts slightly, eyes struggling to sharpen. “I’ll drag you down. Get help, then get me.”

The dome trembles violently, and he cries out in pain and clutches his bad leg. His face is pallid—eyes drooping closed. He’s—

I grab hold of him around the waist. “When you’re collapsing,” I snap. “I’m the one who gets to be in charge.”

The bubble bursts. Water crashes into us, wrenching and twisting. I hold him tighter, lungs burning, as the current tries to tear him from me.

My foot strikes something solid. I push upward, muscles screaming, toward the light cutting through the deep water. Quin’s braid loosens, tangling with mine, the strands fluttering before my eyes. I kick harder and drive us on until the boat’s shadow sharpens.

Almost there.

Almost there—

We burst out of the water, and I suck in a deep, gasping breath.

“There!”

Hands reach towards us and haul us out of the water. Faces are a blur, but Akilah’s voice is a warm fire in my chest. I scramble over Quin, laid in the bottom of the boat, and punch his stomach—magic could’ve dealt with the water in his lungs, but I have none left.

He coughs, twisting.

I collapse onto my haunches, water spilling out of my boots, and take in our saviours.

Akilah, crouched beside me, throwing a dry blanket around my shivering back. Two familiar faces: Coralus and Azula. I can’t speak my relief, my gratitude. I expected Quin’s aklos, not...

“Akilah was beside herself when you weren’t on the last boat.”

Coralus adds gently, “This is the least we could do.”

“You should be resting,” I say.

“Plenty of time for that once you’re safe.”

Quin props himself into a sitting position and takes us all in through the curtain of his dripping hair. He gives an exhausted grunt and quickly reties his braids, glancing at me.

I curl my fingers under his chin, cheekily patronising. “If you’d like lessons on how to maintain loyalty...”

He bares his teeth and nips at my fingers, teeth grazing my skin. I jerk them away with a startled laugh.

Azula points across the lake. “That boat has been searching too.”

Quin pushes himself onto a seat and huffs as if this was expected. “My men.”

Assured of our safety, he stills in meditation, drawing energy from the early morning air.

When he reopens his eyes, I ask, “Are you returning to Frederica’s?”

“I’ll be heading back to the capital.”

This is where we’ll part, then. “See a vitalian as soon as you can.”

He hesitates. “Thank you.”

“Th-thank you, too.”

---