Page 122 of Of Stars and Lightning
With a clatter, Cas’s shackles fell to the floor, and he instantly worked on his ankles as Sol sat back to catch her breath.
He tossed the chains into the sea, along with the keys. “You’re staying right where you are, Lane,” he said, rolling his shoulders. “We will take our chances without a Water Dancer.”
“You’ll never get us to land on time!” Cade spat, his amber eyes wild.
“We don’t fucking trust you,” Cattya added. “I would’ve burned you if it didn’t mean burning the wood.”
“They're close now,” Phil whispered.
The group neared each other, forming a circle in the center of the raft, their backs against each other. Sol pressed Phil against her as they remained in the middle of it.
“Phil, use your wind to shield you and Sol if I fail.” Cas reached to his waist band, pulling a dagger from it. He turned to look at Sol. “Don’t miss.”
She willed herself to breathe as she met his gaze. “Never.”
First, the ocean stilled as if it held its breath, the current halting, swaying the raft to a complete stop. Second, the air chilled. It raised Sol’s skin and raked a shiver along her bones. Moments later, the Jinn surrounded the raft.
They circled it like a frenzy of sharks, their lanky limbs gliding into the air like fins.
The sight was terrifying, prompting even Cattya to utter a prayer to Emberdon as she slashed a wound on her forearm. The others followed suit.
“Hey! Corpses!” Cade yelled, kicking at the wood beneath him. “Come and get us! If I’m dying, so are they!”
With an effortless flick of his wrist, a spear of lightning flew from Cas’s hands and straight into Cade’s chest.
Sol gasped, pulling Phil closer.
The Water Dancer only had a second to glare in disbelief before slumping over himself.
“I’ll take the penalty,” Cas murmured, shaking his arm. “We had a score to settle.”
“Thank the gods,” Cattya said, her sword sparking to life. “I grew tired of him very quickly.”
Jonah hummed his agreement.
“Who dares wander our seas?” A single head poked out from the waters.
Seeing those soulless eyes again physically made Sol shudder. Her nightmares did not do them justice.
“I smell Wielders,” another croaked, emerging beside the first. It smiled. “There’s a Fire Wielder.”
“I call the Warden.” A third one appeared. “Their blood is always divine.”
Collectively, the creatures shook the raft with their talons, then let out a macabre laugh when everyone on it they all swayed to keep their balance. More heads manifested along the rolling waves, the sea awakened by their movements.
“Prince,” Jonah warned. “Perhaps a Ward would be nice.”
“Not yet.” Cas kept his attention on the sea, his arms swirling with Shadows.
Sol’s birthmark ached, prickling as the Jinn continued taunting them.
The pain spread like hot oil over her back, seeping across her shoulders and into her chest as she bit on her cheek to keep from screaming.
Phil tightened his grip around her. “There’s so many.”
Talons slammed into the raft. They gripped the wood, piercing through it, allowing the ocean to rush in. “One of you isn’t like the others… what are you, I wonder?”
The Jinn—no, the Mind Slayer—pulled itself into their raft boat. It was taller than the one from Yavenharrow. Its skin was violet, waxy as the water repelled from it.
