Page 25 of Burn Bright
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Isurfaced with a gasp, the sheer shock of icy water seeming to shrink my lungs threesizes.
The heavy drag of my fur cloak threatened to submerge me again, and I kicked my legs desperately, trying to tear at the metal clasps that bound it in front of me. Water covered my face, bubbles streaming from my nose. I could swim well, but not wearing so much weight, and my limbs were sluggish from thecold.
Managing to surface for one blissful breath, I went under again. It was getting harder and harder to keep kicking. The cloak felt like it was getting heavier—or perhaps there were grasping hands deep beneath the water, trying to drag me down. Panic bloomed, hot in my chest. I thrashed out, trying to find purchase, but there was nothing to grab onto; my eyes felt tight with pressure, my lungs heaving for sweet air and finding only water, and the surface seemed so faraway—
A hand suddenly plunged through the water and locked in the collar of my cloak and shirt. It hauled me to the surface and suddenly I could breathe again, water spewing from my lungs as I hacked and coughed. Was this how my father felt, day after day? Unable to purge the heaviness from hischest?
"I've got you," Casimir said, dragging me into the circle of his arms and kicking for theshore.
I barely felt him haul me out. My bones were as heavy as lead, and all I could do was suck in the sweet, bitterair.
I'd nearlydrowned.
Then we were safe on dry ground, collapsing in the snow. Hands tugged on my clothes, stripping my fur cloak free. I vomited a mouthful of water as Casimir turned me onto my side, tearing my leather jerkin open in sharp jerking movements. The wind seemed to slide straight through my wet tunic and woolundershirt.
"We need to get you out of these clothes," Casimir said, trying to rub heat into myarms.
My teeth chattered. "That seems... rather desperate... ofyou."
The gold of his eyes met mine. Then he laughed faintly. "I prefer my women a little less drownedrat."
"You're not...cold?"
His eyelashes were spiked together with water and trails of it slid down his tanned cheeks. "My blood runs hotter than yours does. In the winter, my kind swims in pools of water like this. It'sinvigorating."
"That's one word for it." I sank my head bank into the snow. Everything hurt as blood rushed back into frozen limbs. It felt like thousands of needles were stabbing into my fingers andhands.
"You need shelter and a fire." The smile was long gone. "Try not to protest toomuch."
And with that, he dragged me up into his arms andstood.
My mind seemed to be moving as sluggishly as my blood. "Thevolgur?"
"Gone. It clearly wasn't hungry enough to pursue us off the edge of thewaterfall."
"L-luckyus."
"Or perhaps it sensed easierprey."
I could sense the rawness in his voice. "You think it heard Evaron and theothers?"
"They weren't far behindus."
"There's more of them," I pointed out, resting my head against his shoulder as he carried me up the steep banks of the river. "And they have axes and bows. He'll besafe."
A quick flash of his eyes. "It's not him I'm worriedabout."
That earned a faint flush of heat through mycheeks.
Sweet Vashta, I could barely keep my eyes open. I opened my mouth, but he shook his head, and shouldered into the forest, swinging me in his arms. "Save your breath. You'll need yourstrength."
It seemed like a mighty fineidea.
I closed my eyes, and let him carry me, dreaming of a fire and some of father's mulled wine. Some part of me wondered if I'd ever be warmagain.
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