Page 56 of Of Rime and Ruin
What do you say to another favor?I ask.
Sunfish needs something? I will fix.
I strengthen my song and extend to surround his center of self. Then, I fill him with my vision: the Beast breaking my cage. Carrying me through the water. To the edge of the Rime. Through the mountains. Dropping me there.
The orb flexes, resisting my influence. Confusion colors his thoughts.
I push harder—break the cage. Take me out of the Rime.
His claws curl around the bars.
Break the cage.
He tightens his fists. With a loud crack, he rips the gate clean off. The ceiling shudders and splinters.
Vaughn stirs at his post, snorting loudly.
The Beast’s hands snare my waist, and he tucks me into his side. His thighs tense, his hind claws grate into the ice, and he launches from the tunnel. Water rushes past me in a whoosh of cold current. Behind us, the ice collapses in a mess of rubble.
Vaughn shouts after us. I watch his form shrink into the darkness of the night as the Beast swims away.
Sunfish is free?
Wow, that voice. Mighty and rumbling, the thunder of him strikes me every time. I shudder against his chest, fighting my instincts to flee.
He’s helping me. Friendly. Whatever I’ve done to convince him, it’s worked. Hope burns through my chest.
He speaks again:Free?This time tinged with annoyance.
It’s a question.
I push all my warmth through the connection.Yes! Free. Good Beasty.
His chest rumbles against my ear, and he pulls me in tighter.
My spirit lifts as we leave the cavern, entering open waters. Skylights pierce the waterline, filtering through like rainbow dust. The sea celebrates my victory, welcoming me into its waiting embrace.
I’ve done it! He listened to me. Just as Keen said, I made him my bitch.
My stomach swells with pride. Take that, Winona.
Perrin may be disappointed tomorrow morning when he swims to his shift, only to find his prisoner missing—but I brush the thought aside. He’ll find something else to do, surely. He’s a bright youngling with a big heart. The king is lucky to have him in his service.
And the king! A laugh escapes my lips. I never have to see that asshole again.
The Beast dips, and the seafloor rises to meet us. My heart skips. I cling to his chest, squeezing my eyes closed as the sharp shale bottom rushes closer, closer. I cringe, preparing my body for the sting of rock and stone.
With a gulping tune, I strengthen my spell:Look out!
At the last second, he lifts. We skim the floor a scale’s breadth away. His chest rumbles again, and he tightens his grip.
If he will not listen, I’ll have to break free myself. I ball my fists and dig into his stomach. His abdomen flexes, muscles hard and tight. Unaffected. I wind up my punch and land it square on his ribs.
He grunts. Then,No.
His hands grip my hips, and he turns me around so that my ass presses into his stomach, and my arms swing free. I wriggle, my tail slipping against his legs.
He growls, wrestling my arms to my sides. One hand finds my throat, wrapping around and lifting the length of my neck and snapping my teeth together. His leathery thumb brushes my gills.Be still.
