Page 76 of Song of the Dragon Rider
The water was ice-cold, wrapping around me like an iron grip as I plunged beneath the surface. My heart pounded in my ears and my lungs tightened as the initial shock wore off. I forced my limbs to move, propelling myself downward through the murky depths that seemed to stretch endlessly. Pressure built and squeezed my chest as I frantically searched for any sign of a portal. But there was nothing—no shimmer, no pull, no indication that the barrier between worlds still existed. My chest burned as I reached out, but my fingers grasped nothing but water.
No. No, this has to work!
Desperation clawed at my throat as I turned and tried again, reaching, waiting for something to happen. But still, there was nothing.
My lungs screamed for air.
I kicked toward the surface, but the water seemed heavier now, my limbs sluggish as exhaustion crept in. I pushed harder as panic rose in my chest. I needed to breathe—I needed—
Something grabbed me.
Warm hands, firm but urgent, latched onto my shoulders and pulled me up toward the surface. My vision blurred and dark spots crept along the edges as my chest spasmed. Just as blackness threatened to overtake me, something pressed against my lips and a rush of air was forced into my lungs.
It took me a moment to process what was happening. Angie… She found me, and now she was—breathing for me?
The momentary relief was enough to keep me from slipping under completely. Her lips were warm despite the water’s chill, and as she exhaled again, my lungs desperately expanded, hungrily drawing in the borrowed oxygen. My instincts overrode my pride, and I took what I needed to survive.
Angie’s grip tightened and she kicked upward, dragging me with her. My body was weak, sluggish, but she moved with determination, forcing us toward the surface.
The instant we broke through I gasped and sucked in a painful lungful of freezing air. It burned my throat, but it was nothing compared to the fire in my limbs. Angie kept an arm wrapped firmly around me as she guided us toward the shore. The instant we reached land, I collapsed onto the damp grass with aching limbs, fully spent. Angie knelt beside me, catching her breath before shaking her head in disbelief.
“You were supposed to goback,not nearly die trying!”
I wiped water from my eyes and scowled. “You exaggerate. I was in control.”
Angie barked a laugh. “Oh, yeah? You were ‘in control’ of drowning?”
I opened my mouth, ready to argue, but the words did not come. Instead, I frowned and turned back to the lake as the weight of failure settled over me. “It didn't work,” I muttered.
Angie’s expression softened. “Maybe the portal’s… not there anymore. Maybe it closed.”
The thought sent an uncomfortable pang through me. If the portal was gone, if there was no way back…
“If that’s true, then it will benext to impossibleto return to Elaria,” I whispered.
Angie was quiet for a long moment before she spoke. “Look, I know this sucks. But if Cat is really in your world, she's not just going to sit around and do nothing. She's strong, Arya. She'll find a way back.” She met my gaze, her blue eyes steady. “And when she does, she'll helpyouget back home.”
What was so great about this Cat person?I scoffed and started to roll my eyes but stopped. I swallowed, unsure how to respond. There was something frustratingly reassuring about Angie’s unwavering confidence in her friend.
Angie sat back on her heels. “But in the meantime, you need to figure something out. You need money.”
I scoffed. “I refuse to be a stuntwoman. That job is absurd.”
“Iknewyou were going to say that.” Angie sighed and scrubbed a hand down her face. “So whatcanyou do?”
I lifted my chin, considering. “I can paint.”
She blinked. “Paint? Like, actual paintings?”
“Yes. It is a skill most noblewomen are expected to have.”
Angie hesitated. “Okay, but… making a living as an artist is hard. Have you ever done makeup?”
I frowned. “No.”
“Well, it’s kind of like painting. Just on people’s faces.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “And you believe this is a sufficient skill for making money?”
