Page 23 of Siren Problems
And then the watergrabsme.
One second I’m reaching toward the symbol, the next I’m twisted in a vortex of icy current and pulsing magic. The scanner flies from my grip, vanishing into darkness. My mask jolts sideways. The ley linesscream, and suddenly I’m not swimming anymore—I’mdrowningin something that doesn’t want me here.
I flail, chest tightening, limbs sluggish. Everything tilts sideways.
Then something crashes into me—arms, heat, motion.
A second later, we’re ascending.
Fast.
The world bursts open with air and sound as we breach the surface, and Igasplike I’ve been reborn. Cold wind lashes my face. Salt burns my throat.
And Calder’s voice is in my ear, rough and shaking.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
He’s gripping me like I’ll vanish. Dragging us toward the boat with fast, jerky strokes. I cling to him, coughing, because I can’tnot—because I don’t have the strength to argue yet.
He hauls us up and over the edge of the boat, dumps me onto the deck, and then paces three steps before spinning back, face dark with rage.
“Youdived alone? Into the altar’s ley rift?! Are youtryingto die?”
I peel the mask from my face, blinking against the sudden brightness. “I had it under control.”
“You weresecondsfrom being pulled under!”
“I had toseeit, Calder! I had to know?—”
“No, you didn’t!” he snarls. “You had to prove a point. You had to poke until something snapped.”
“Well maybe I’m tired of everyone telling me what not to touch without telling mewhy!”
That lands like a slap.
He stops.
Freezes.
And for a second, I see it.
Not the anger.
Not the fury.
But theexhaustion.
He sinks onto the bench across from me, hands braced on his knees, jaw clenched so tight it looks like it hurts.
I sit up slowly, limbs shaking. “You knew I’d go anyway.”
His voice is hoarse. “Yeah.”
“You followed me.”
“I always do.”
That’s what breaks me.
