Page 3 of Whispers Beneath the Deep
But I should have known. I should have known things would end this way. He was a criminal, after all, and he’d made that little fact known since the first moment I’d met him.
In this one swift action, of placing a forearm against my throat, everything I thought I’d grown to feel for him shattered, like the fragility of an old conch breaking under a rough touch. Hatred rose, surging through me like the hot current of a lava seam.
“Drop your weapon, Captain!” Elias commanded, his voice menacing, dangerous. For a moment, I was transported back into the mouth of that alleyway. To the first moment I’d seen him. He’d transformed right before my eyes. Funny, how he could look helpless and weak one moment, and completely change into a deadly shadow. Into what he was truly meant to be.
The Black Blade.
Captain Saber pointed the tip of his sword in our direction. His stance was battle-ready. I hadn’t seen him in action, didn’t know the extent of his force, but the two of them facing one another? They’d be formidable.
“Let the princess go!” the captain commanded.
I raked my nails down Elias’ exposed skin. Water… I needed to breathe. He only jerked me tighter against the hard panes of his chest, and pressed his cheek against my own. His skin was warm, but when I tried to jerk away, his grip on me tightened.
“Put down the sword first.” As he said the words, his arm slid around my waist to pull me closer, if that were even possible. He already felt close enough, and things were starting to blur around my vision. Darkness wasn’t too far behind.
The indecision on Captain Saber’s face was all but obvious. His eyes darted up to my own, then to Elias, assessing, and I wondered what he saw. With great reluctance, he finally dropped his sword to the stage where it fell with a clang.
And then I could finally breathe.
I sucked in water, gills and lungs burning with the action. I could feel the heavy imprint of his violence against my skin. Now, his arms were wrapped around my waist, keeping me as a shield between him and the wrath of both Captain Saber and Prince Kai, who swam up at the captain’s side.
I couldn’t keep the heat from rising up my neck and cheeks at the sight of Prince Kai. How was it that he could look both elegant and dangerous? The finery draped over his body only accentuated the murderous gleam in his eyes. It was a look I’d never seen before.
“Looks like the cavalry has arrived!” Elias laughed harshly in my ear, tugging me back. “What an honor it is, to float in your presence, Prince Kai Li.” He mock bowed, chest pressing into my back, forcing me to mimic the gesture as well. My hair fell over my cheeks in thick tendrils, and when they parted, I glimpsed Kai’s expression.
It was nothing short of murderous.
“Release her.” Kai demanded. The cadence of his voice was different. Almost guttural in a way that sent shivers down my back.
Elias edged us backwards again. What was he doing? Surely he must know that this couldn’t end well, that there was no way for him to escape? We were surrounded by guards and citizens. He couldn’t use me as a shield forever.
“Or what, Dragon Prince?” he mocked. “Will you spit ice? Will you eat me with sharpened teeth?” He chuckled with feigned amusement.
Kai’s hand twitched at his sides.
“Please feel free,” Elias continued. “But know this: if you do…” He bent us down then, and it was then that I realized what his intent was. He picked up the axe that had been meant to end his life. He held the heavy weapon in one arm, bringing it up to the base of my throat. “I will kill your precious princess.”
And before anyone could reply, Elias brought his arm back and then forward, releasing the axe in one violent, strong throw, aiming straight at Captain Saber and Prince Kai.
I screamed, but he didn’t let me see the aftermath of the blow. He whirled me around and hauled me away after creating the perfect distraction to escape.
Using me as bait.
Chapter Two
Tiberius
Isaw the axe twirling through the water in our direction. We were pressed so close together, and the weapon traveled at near impossible speed, that the sharp curve of the executioner’s blade could very well have ended us both. Adrenaline coursed through my bloodstream as I watched the weapon hurtle towards us, threatening death.
But then Prince Kai was shoving me aside. I grunted, not registering his movements. He was a blur of black and blue silk, like the strong push of a current in the water. A moment later, he stilled, and in his hands he held the handle of the axe that should have ended us both.
Annoyance I couldn’t avoid surged through me.
“Don’t do that again!” I snapped.Iwas the guard. Not him. Despite his reputation as the Dragon Prince, I was meant to throw myself into the path of danger to protect him. Not the other way around.
He glared at me with changed eyes. The dark brown having vanished to make room for something absolutely feral. Slit pupils and a bright blue iris, focused like a beast hunting for prey. No longer was he Prince Kai Li of Draconi, but he became the Dragon Prince right before my eyes. The one that was so terribly revered. And like the rumors whispered, his eyes glowed with fearsome might. His nostrils flared, catching scent of the enemy he meant to catch and destroy.
Without a word, he dropped the axe and whirled around, speeding forward in the water to chase after that criminal and Maisie.
