Page 72 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

“Selenia and Sion are over here!” Grayden yelled, and Cressida steered Brutus down to the water, disappearing from view as they approached the side of the ship.

After what seemed like an eternity, Brutus reappeared, carrying both Selenia and Sion. Cressida sat proudly on the back of the dragon as well, looking expectantly at the group.

Sion slipped off the dragon, quickly lowering Selenia down, but she appeared to be unconscious. Sion let out another loud wail, mournful and frantic.

Renya pushed Sion aside, putting her ear to Selenia's chest. Then, she began to perform rescue breaths, alternating with chest compressions.

“Renya, what are you doing?” Grayden asked, moving over to his sister. Agatha put her hand out to stop him while they all looked on, mystified.

“We might not have magic in the human world, but we have science,” Agatha said firmly.

After repeating the motion, as well as pressing down hard on her chest several times, Selenia coughed and turned over, spewing up sea water.

A huge sigh of relief permeated the group, and Triston could see Sion swipe away tears, his shoulders sagging with relief.

Sion fell to his knees and knelt at Selenia's side, smoothing out her hair and helping her upright. She started to shiver, her hair and clothing dripping on the deck.

“I'll go get you some clothing and blankets,” Julietta offered, and Triston finally released her. He didn't realize just how tightly he'd been clinging to his mate.

After witnessing Sion's torment when he thought he had lost Selenia, Triston knew he would never let Julietta go.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Sion had heard that when people were near death, their lives tended to flash before their eyes in those final seconds. But he thought nothing of his own life when he saw Selenia had been swept over the side of the ship into the circle of mermaids. He hadn’t even thought as he leapt in after her, his body moving on pure instinct, knowing that if she perished, he didn't want to live.

The fact that Cressida had saved them both infuriated and confused him. He absolutely detested the witch, her very presence a constant reminder of his torment. But seeing Selenia, devoid of life, laid out on the deck while Renya performed some kind of primitive voodoo over her, forced him to reexamine his stance. He could still never forgive her, the memories of his captivity still raw and painful.

But, he wouldn't kill her. Couldn't kill her. He now owed her a life debt for both himself and Selenia. Sion wouldn't go out of his way to save her, but he wouldn't be the one to end her life. The realization sat uncomfortably in his chest, a mix of gratitude and resentment.

Selenia's teeth chattered, and she shook like a leaf desperately hanging on to a branch in the Autumn Realm. Sion couldn't help but keep running his fingers through her hair, over her shoulders, arms, and then back up to her face. He had to reassure himself that she was safe, alive and breathing. Her skin was cold and clammy under his touch, but the rise and fall of her chest brought him immense relief.

“Let me just say, mermaids here are nothing like the myths in the human world,” Renya said, breaking the tension and the fear that still gripped them. “I think Disney definitely took some liberties when they madeThe Little Mermaid.”

Agatha laughed, but no one else understood the reference.

Julietta appeared a few seconds later with a handful of blankets and some crimling tea. Sion grabbed a cup, but made sure Selenia took a large sip before he began drinking his own. The warmth of the tea seemed to breathe life back into Selenia, color slowly returning to her cheeks.

“I can't believe they're real,” Esmeralda murmured, her eyes still on the horizon as if they might reappear, a mix of fear and fascination in her voice.

“Honestly, I'm just as surprised as you are,” Triston responded, finally letting go of the ship's wheel. He joined them in the middle of the deck, and then stood next to Julietta, his arm protectively around her waist. “You hear of fisherfae and sailors telling tales, but nothing really matches up and more often than not, they're drunk on fireale when they recount their stories.”

“I'm not in a hurry to recount this story,” Selenia said, her voice still weak but with a hint of her usual spirit. Sion had to agree with her, pulling her closer to him.

He turned his head towards Cressida, wondering why she was so silent, and then he remembered she couldn't speak unless spoken to. But before he could even decide if he wanted to say anything to her, she took off to the sky, Brutus flying higher and higher until he could barely see the large dragon. The sight of her departure brought a mix of relief and unease.

Beauty, however, remained on the boat, despite Renya trying to shoo her away.

“Honestly Renya, you should ride her,” Grayden said, moving forward to pat the beast on the snout. “She wants you, and it would ease your seasickness.”

“You might be right.” Renya's hesitation was clear in her voice, but there was also a hint of excitement at the prospect.

Cyrus cleared his throat. “I think we all need to get some sleep. We should set up watches, with two individuals at a time, in shifts.”

“I'll take both shifts for Renya,” Grayden quickly said, his protectiveness evident.

“I'll take Selenia's as well,” Sion added, unable to bear the thought of leaving her side.

“Julietta needs her rest, so I'll do the same,” Triston said, his gaze softening as he looked at his mate.

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