Page 76 of Song of the Abyss

“You’ve already made me lose my arm,” he replied, his own colors flaring bright. “I am not willing to lose anything else for you.”

“Oh, because of the woman? Is that it? You will lose her and everything else if you do not control this. I could show you your future without her, if you wish. I could show you one with her as well. The ancients already gave your brother that gift, but it is not one I so readily share with those who do not appreciate what I can give them.”

“Don’t you dare speak of her.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me?” Fortis shoved him hard, sending him floating back a few feet before he flared his fins to stop himself. “You are lacking in more than just your arm, Daios. But the sea has tentatively cast you in her favor once again. So do not squander this opportunity, or she will swallow you herself.”

With a flick of his massive tail, the pale creature disappeared into the darkness. But Daios stayed where he was until the pinpricks of light disappeared entirely. Until it was just him and the sea, at the bottom of the icy depths where he swore he could still feel Anya’s arms around him.

Then it all hit him. Harder than the depthstrider who had grabbed him.

His people were dying. Anya’s people were not just killing them, but experimenting on them. There was nothing either of them could do to stop them, but they had to try.

They would fight again. Battle and wage war until nothing remained but blood in this ocean. He should gather his warriors, create a pod of his own and attack every city until there was nothing remaining but rubble.

Instead, all he wanted was to see her.

28

Anya

“Anya.” The word flashed in front of her eyes and she didn’t know if it was said by Bitsy or Mira. She didn’t really care.

It had been days since anyone had seen Daios. Maketes had come back, his head hanging low, and he’d spoken with Arges, who appeared troubled. Mira hadn’t even told her until right now that Daios had been off in the depths with Maketes. For whatever reason, Maketes had come home alone, and no one had thought to tell her that Daios was missing.

“Anya.” The word again flashed, and this time Bitsy added an arrow so she knew that it was Mira speaking.

“You’re not stopping me,” she said, yanking on the wetsuit. She did so a little roughly, and she was already out of breath.

He was out there, somewhere, alone. And no one had thought that was a problem? Not a single person in this entire place had thought they should maybe send someone out to look for him?

“Maketes will find him,” Mira said, moving in front of her with her hands held up. She approached her like she was a wild animal, trying her best to keep her calm. “They already have an idea of where he’s gone off to, so it’s okay. They’re going to get him back and there’s nothing you or I can do.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” she replied with a glare. “But I’m going out there. Give me your rebreather.”

“And if I don’t?”

Anya had to take a deep, steadying breath. “Then I will take it from you.”

Mira tilted her head to the side in a shrug. “I’m a lot bigger than you are. I’m stronger, too. No offense, but you’ve been living in Alpha while everyone waited on you hand and foot. I grew up an engineer, and I’ve kept those muscles since living here. If you want to fight me, I promise it’s not going to end the way you think.”

Maybe not. But she had to try. She could be scrappy if she wanted to be, and Anya wasn’t above playing dirty.

Her eyes flicked over to the rebreather on the opposite side of Mira. If she hit the other woman over the head with something, she could definitely slip out before Mira got her feet back under her.

Bitsy put exclamations around Mira, which suggested the other woman might be laughing.

Mira shook her head. “If you’re really going to attack me, then take the rebreather. There’s nothing you or I can do right now, though. All you’re going to do is get lost.”

Sure. She might. But maybe if she got lost, he would find her again.

Glaring, she took the rebreather the moment the hood of her wetsuit covered her face. “I might get lost,” she said, the words probably garbled as she dragged the rebreather on. “But at least I’m not sitting here doing nothing.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mira waved her hand at her. “Go on, then. I’ll come out with you. Just give me a second.”

She didn’t care if Mira came out with her. There was only one person she intended to see in that water, and that was the only person who might have an idea of what happened to Daios. She dove into the moon pool without even noticing how cold it was. The icy shivers running through her body had nothing to do with temperature, and everything to do with the fear.

Maketes wasn’t too far. She could see the yellow flash of his scales as though he were waiting for her. As though he knew that she would come for him.

---