Page 72 of Essence of the Throne

I reach blindly ahead of me, my fingers catching on what feels like stone. My muscles strain as I pull myself along the surface, fighting against the current that wants nothing more than to drag me further into its depths.

Fuck water. Give me a dozen men with blades and a deep-rooted vendetta any day.

My lungs burn for air, but I force the panic down. Marek’s voice rings in my head, reminding me that fear is what truly kills you. I need to keep my thoughts steady.

Which way is up?

I release my grip on the stone and let my body go slack for a moment. The current doesn't hesitate to pull me in one direction—that must be down. I kick hard in the opposite direction, my legs protesting the effort against the force of the water.

Light filters through the murk above me. Just a bit further…

My head breaks the surface and I gasp, drawing in desperate breaths between waves that try to force me back under. The city streets have become canals, water rushing between buildings that somehow still stand. Broken pieces of wood and stone bob past me as I tread water.

I need higher ground to spot Caspian—I can’t see him any longer.

Several buildings ahead have exposed roofs rising above the flood. The closest looks to be about fifty feet away…I can make that swim if I time it between the surges. I wait for the next wave to pass before striking out toward it with measured strokes.

The current fights me the whole way, trying to sweep me past my target. My arms feel like lead by the time I reach the building’s wall. I dig my fingers into the cracks between stones and haul myself up inch by painful inch until I can roll onto the relative safety of the roof, though I slip back and almost lose my grip.

Fuck, I need to start training in water. I’d no idea just how weak I was. It’s an embarrassing struggle as I grind my teeth hard enough to break and finally pull my torso over the rooftop. My body hunches over and nearly convulses from coughing so hard. I chuckle to myself, glad I’m alone because fuck if I’d let the prince see me like this. I’d never hear the end—

The prince.

I’m on my feet not a heartbeat later, scouring the racing water for any sign of Caspian. Does he even know how to swim? He must…Royals learn shit like that. I think. My throat tightens the longer I go without seeing him; it feels like years, though I’m certain it’s been just a few moments.

A familiar head of hair appears in my peripheral, and I’ve no time to bask in the relief I feel as I see Caspian’s head accompanied by flailing arms. “You’ve got to bekiddingme!” Of course thebastard can’t swim. It’s likely the current pulling him under, but I’m too angry to care who’s at fault.

I pause. I fuckinghesitateand watch with a horrific sinking feeling in my chest as the prince gets carried away.

I never hesitate.

Hesitation is the enemy of progress.

I shove Marek’s stupid words down as I stand, my body immediately clearing from all emotion. I turn around and swallow the bile that rises when I see that the entire city appears as if it’s a part of the ocean. It’s a challenge to move my legs how I need, but I push until I’m sprinting across the roof toward Caspian—who is drowning.

Caspian is drowning.

Pure, unbridled fear shoots down my spine, allowing my body to move faster than it ever has before. I do not think twice before leaping over the roof’s edge onto the next building. My eyes are a constant radar as they flit from my path to the prince and back. I force my legs to move even faster, and at one point I’m certain I feel something tear near my ankle, but fuck if that will stop me from getting to him.

I jump from roof to roof, gaining on Caspian quickly—though not quick enough, I think as a whimper escapes me when I notice his body floating with the water. I spot Gavriel clutching to the side of a building, struggling to hold on. His eyes widen when he sees me chasing after his prince, though he continues to grasp at the ledge of a window instead of going after the only one whose life matters here.

I’ll deal with him later.

I’d deal with him now if the Angel allowed it; a life for a life. There would be no hesitation in my movements as I shoved his head under the invading ocean and forced the soul from his body, if it allowed me to save Caspian in time.

I need to hurry. Time slips away with every crashing wave, but I force my vision to clear and banish the thought of death. Not yet. Looking to my left, the prince is just behind me and not a moment later, I join him in the freezing water. I dive directly in front of his body, my own moving on pure instinct as I grab him and fight the current to get both of us to a roof.

It’s the smallest relief when one appears that’s partially in the water, making it easy for me to grab a piece of wood that sticks out from the rest. I will my fingers to fuse to it and completely ignore the nauseating pain from my nails being ripped off. My arm, wrapped under both of Caspian’s over his chest, squeezes hard enough to drag him onto the roof. I wince when he drops from my hold, his head thumping against the wood, and I tell myself I’ll apologize when he’s breathing again.

I straddle his hips to hold him in place, lest the water rushing over the lower half of his body steal him from me again. Reaching deep inside, I just about tear my vital strand to pieces as I pull it forward to do my bidding. My hands rip the buttons from his shirt, exposing his pale chest. It’s easy to ignore the unreasonable amount of blood seeping from the exposed skin my nails left behind, though I know it’s going to fucking hurt when the adrenaline wears off. Leaning forward—

I pause.

I’ve never healed another person before; I do not know how to do it…

Nor do I have enough essence to even try.

“Shit!” I slap the prince’s cheek several times. “Caspian. Caspian, please wake up—of course he won’t, you stupid fucking idiot,” I mutter to myself as hundreds of thoughts flit through my head every second.

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