Page 37 of A Sky of Storms
The dude obviously had more brawn than brain if he was struggling to keep up with such a simple concept.
“Smooth out your arm strokes,” I told him, slowing my voice down and nodding at him at the same time. He kept looking at me like I had swallowed too much salt water, and I was starting to worry that his biceps had stolen the blood from his brain. “Dude, the water is your friend. Be kind.”
Kayden arched his brow.
“Like this,” I said, raising the arm furthest from him and making a stroke movement. My technique was top-notch, he was lucky I was giving him this little tutoring session. “See how my arm—”
A red swimsuit stole my focus, like a rip had entered the ocean of my brain and drew me far away from my demonstration. My eyes found Fallon like a shark following the scent of blood. Starfish was walking into the water in a very red swimsuit that made her tits look like absolute perfection, showing off her sexy figure.
“Damn,” Kayden breathed, then suddenly I was being dragged underwater.
I looked down to where Kayden was holding my wrist in his rock-hard grip, and I meant that literally. The dude had turned to stone. His skin flushed a reddish brown and was all stony, kind of like a man-shaped version of the boulders in the miniature Crimson Steppes training area.
“What the fuck?” I shouted at him under the water, then silly me remembered he couldn’t understand me through the water like I could. I rolled my eyes at his subpar adaptation and tried to tug him to the surface. He was so heavy. I was starting to think I’d have to leave him to become a decoration, like what you’d put in a fish tank. Kayden’s rocky eyes widened and he shook his head like he was able to read my mind.
Could rocks drown?
I had a feeling I was about to find out, but then Noah appeared, his torso all sparkly green and looking gnarly beneath the surface. He looked a bit like a merman and the sight warmed my little aquatic heart. Another sign that we were destined to be besties. Together, we dragged Kayden to the surface and towards the shore. Once we reached land, we dumped him on his back at the edge of the lake for his friends to help him out. With Kayden saved, I slung my arm over Noah’s shoulder and grinned. We were a dynamic duo.
“I’m not getting in,” an angry voice grumbled along the shore, spoiling my happy mood.
“Mr Warner,” Master Nolan said. “This is part of physical training. You will need to get in the water once I’ve explained the objective.”
“Not a fucking chance,” Ace replied, wiggling the fingers of his bionic hand. “Water and electricity don’t mix.”
“Can’t you just take it off?” I asked, moving closer and pointing at the limb in question.
“No.”
“How’d you get it anyway?”
“I could show you.” Ace smirked, a dark gleam in his eyes.
“Nah.” I shook my head. “How many terabytes of data can you store on it? Can you replace the fingers with other things, like forks?”
“Why would he want to swap his fingers out for forks?” Fallon asked, coming to my side.
“Why wouldn’t he?” I asked, my brows raised. “Think of how convenient that would be. Honestly, Starfish.”
“Alright everyone!” Nolan called, gesturing for everyone to come closer. “Your training for the day will involve water assaults. Your task is simple. A race across the lake.”
I bumped my side into Starfish. “Easy peasy, Fallon squeezy.”
“Real cute.” She smirked, walking to where a line was forming around the edge of the lake.
“At the siren, you may begin!” Nolan shouted.
A loud wailing sounded then everyone was running into the lake, making water fly all over the place. Well, not everyone. Noah was nowhere in sight, which I could only assume meant he was naked and invisible somewhere, trying to avoid the task. Ace stood with his tattooed arms folded over his chest and his trademark frown spread on his face. He saw me looking at him so I waved, hoping to cheer him up because he must have been so disappointed at not being able to go for a swim. I know I would be. Ace lifted his hand to wave back, but it must have glitched last minute because only his shiny middle finger popped up. Technology could be so unreliable.
Now that the splashing was all over, I raced into the lake. Unlike the chaos of everyone else, my feet slid perfectly into the water with each step I took, like slipping on the silky socks I’d bought the other month. Turned out they weren’t great for walking in, but I’d found other uses for them. Ahead of me, people were being caught in rips and thrown under waves made with magic. It was weird seeing this sort of activity in a lake and I hoped the little fishies had swum to safety and didn’t get caught up in it. When the water reached my hips I dove, narrowly missing getting hit by a jet of water.
Below the surface, I swam through the tumbling bodies and kaleidoscope of legs. They looked so funny, wiggling in the water like giant worms. I paused, tilting my head to the side. I wondered whether they’d let anything loose to nimble on those limbs. Piranha perhaps?
Something touched my foot and I jumped out of my skin, my heart pounding like a drum. I whirled around but there was nothing there. No more piranha talk, Zaney. I was freaking myself out.
I swam through the sea of legs, pinching a few as I went by and searching for my little Starfish. I spotted an ass in a red swimsuit and kicked towards it, giving it a squeeze before popping my head above the surface. I frowned at the blond who stared down at me.
“You’re not Starfish,” I said, pouting, just before we both got pummelled with a giant wave.
