Page 87 of Queen of Thorns
Caelynn
The fae on the maindeck scream as the massive wave rises over the ship, but then it simply... stops. The massive tsunami remains suspended, water cascading down the crest gently.
Glowing white eyes open, staring straight at us.
“What is that?” someone yells.
“Move!” another hollers. “Get us out of here.”
My heart pounds as the Lady of the Lake stares directly at my spot in the sails. She blinks.
“Hello, Rose,” I whisper.
The figure flinches, and then head and shoulders rise above the surface, towering over our little ship, still covered in a layer of flowing water.
“Who dares to wake me?” The waves quake with her power.
My breath catches.
The ship rocks suddenly, tipping. I squeal, fingers digging into the mast to keep from falling into the waters below. The entire ship quakes, rattling intensely. The ancient twists her neck, turning her back as our ship rights itself splashing in the waters just under her massive form.
“Move!” someone shouts below. The water fae struggle to shift the waters away from the ancient. Especially because now, she is not alone.
A massive black silhouette stands behind the female in the water.
“I woke you,” a deep echoing voice sends a rush of panic through my body, and for that moment, I can’t breathe. Can’t think. “Hello Rose, I see you’ve met my pet.”
The female ancient stands at her full height, water finally draining down completely so that her naked body is visible. She looks more fae than any of the other ancients I’ve met. Her body is curved like a fae, her limbs the same proportions and her skin a soft pink.
“She is yours?”
“Yes. Please do not harm her. I intend to make her existence miserable before her end.” The void of shadow turns toward another small ship beside him. I can only make out their white sails rocking in raging waves, but I know exactly who it is. “Starting with this.” His voice full of cruel amusement.
The Night Bringer swings a fist toward the ship where Raven stands helplessly.
Stomach in my throat, I leap without thinking. Magic pulls at me, but I force it into submission, shadow leaping three times until my body crashes onto the deck of the small ship.
All I see as my body crumbles to the ground are the glistening black claws of my worst nightmare streaking toward me.
