Page 72 of Of the Stars and Sea

Every step I take is heavy with the wet sand clinging to my boots and my sodden clothes weighing me down. The ache in my lower back throbs from last night’s sleep, but I keep trudging forward, knowing there is comfort and rest waiting for me on theCaelestia.

Halfway down the shore, the winds pick up and a dancing devil whirls to my right—a mixture of rain and sand twirls together in a wide funnel. I stare in awe at the strength of the elements and the ominous beauty that surrounds me. The funnel sways to the right for a moment and then . . .Fucking hells.I’m not quick enough to shield myself with my coat as a blast of sand kicks up into my face.

A sharp sting hits my cheeks and forehead from the pelts of sand. I start coughing from the bit that flies into my mouth.

“Rowenya!” Grayson’s voice is sharp with concern.

Blinking rapidly to clear my eyes of the sand and water, I wipe my face and mouth with my coat, getting the larger clumps of sand off my face. “I’m okay!” I shout back as the last bit of sand blinks out of my vision.

“They’re almost to shore. Not much further now.”

I look out at the sea and note his men are a lot closer now. Waves barrel forward, crashing forcefully onto the shore. Witheach one, his men steady their oars just above the crest and push down as the wave moves past them.

I follow Grayson through the storm, pushing out further toward the coastline to meet where, eventually, his men will bring up the boat. The wind is surreal. I’ve never faced such weather, with mighty gales so fierce, they feel like a physical shove. Every muscle in my body screams at me to stop and I find myself slowing despite the voice in my head telling me to move faster. My feet sink into the wet sand and my legs burn with the effort to keep moving forward.

A strike of lightning spiders across the dark clouds, washing the world in a bright white light that hurts my eyes.

“It’s getting worse!” My scream dies in the wind, but I see Grayson peer over at me.

“We’re almost there. Keep moving, Rowenya! Keep moving!”

Another crack of lightning shoots down from the sky, this time hitting the water just beyond Grayson’s crew. Water sprays upward where the strike hit and I see his men turn around. In all my years, I’ve never seen a storm this rageful. It’s as if the hells have opened up and bled into the sky, casting its evil down upon us.

My heart races and every fiber of my being is on alert as more lightning webs its way down. A strike lands a few hundred feet to Grayson’s left and I feel my throat start to swell with panic. Shifting my attention to my breath, I focus on each step forward as we start to pick up the pace again, nearing the shoreline.

We’re so close. If I can only push a little more . . .

Just above me, the sky beams with white light. I follow it up, up, up into the array of dark clouds. And then I see it. A single line of crackling energy shoots downward and I know in my bones it’s meant for me. Shock stills my movements as I just stare at the beautiful beacon of light that races toward me with unparalleled speed.

Time slows as tree-like branches bolt outward from the main column.

There is no stopping it. Not the scream caught in my lungs or the burst of energy that screams at my legs tomove. The world is washed in white light. I can’t see anything else, but I feel the heat on my skin as it comes crashing down.

“Rowenya!” I hear Grayson’s voice boom like the thunder surrounding us, but I can’t see him.

Oh gods, I can’t see him!

Heat lashes at my face and I steel myself for the blow that I know will take my life.

Then, a wave hits me hard from the side and I’m falling, falling, falling until . . .

Oomph. My body slams against something hard and I feel my teeth clamor together and a sharp pain pierces through my shoulder. I try to scream out as another bolt of pain lashes through my back, but I can’t breathe. Thunder rolls again and the white light blinks out, replaced with darkness.

I feel a weight lift from my chest and I suck in a long breath.

“Rowenya!” I hear Grayson say my name again and I open my eyes to find his beautiful face dimmed with worry. “Rowenya, are you okay? Talk to me. Say something.” There’s a crack in his voice that burrows into my heart.

That’s when I realize it’s his weight I feel against me and not the crushing hands of death here to claim me.

“Yes,” I rasp. “I think so.”

Slowly, Grayson helps me sit up. I squeeze my eyes shut against the throbbing in my head and wince.

“You’re not okay.” He cups my face and when I look at him, he’s assessing every part of me for injuries. “Where does it hurt?” His words sound like he’s under water, muffled through the heavy rain.

Bringing my palm to the center of my forehead, I push hard to release the pressure threatening to split my skull. “My head.”

“Shit.” He moves my hand and replaces it with his own. The strength he uses to press against my forehead eases the pressure. “The fall must have rattled you too much. I’m so sorry, Little Pearl.”

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