Page 10 of A Promise of Peridot
4
arwen
A sunken city? We had been promisedsafety.
I gaped at Kane, but he just radiated his usual relaxed indifference, as if Eryx had simply said,The kingdom is down the street and to the left.
“Do not fear,” Eryx advised. “Have I ever led us into danger before? These precautions I spoke of will help us cross an ocean trench road to the capital’s secure beach. Luckily, I have procured for us a talented witch.” My eyes fell to Mari, who smiled primly and clutched her amulet. “She need only spell each passenger to ensure they can breathe in the sea. The funnel will do the rest.”
Mari, to her credit, maintained a confident grin and dipped her head in acknowledgment of the king. But I knew her well enough to clock the anxiety filling her eyes. She did not want to try and fail in front of all these people.
“Don’t worry,” Kane purred. “This charm is the least unpleasant. And if it fails, I’ve heard drowning is only a marginally agonizing way to go.”
Finally, after days that felt like years of my heart being nothing but a stone in my chest, a small ripple of fear sent my blood thrumming. It was both awful and all too welcome. I didn’t want to speak to Kane a moment longer, but I had to know—
“Unpleasant how?”
Something akin to sympathy flickered across his face, and this time when he answered me, his tone was a touch softer. “It’s a surreal sensation, breathing water. But the funnel is quick. It’s over before you realize what’s happening.”
“And once we get to Azurine? Does the whole kingdom breathe water?”
“No, Citrine has its own atmosphere. It’s ancient magic, different from witch or Fae. Mermagic that has kept Citrine safe for thousands of years. The kingdom has never been breached.”
I nodded despite the shiver that skittered down my spine. I didn’t like the idea of being unable to breathe air. My palms were starting to sweat. When I felt Kane’s large hand on the small of my back, stroking in little, soothing circles, I went rigid.
“What are you doing?”
For the first time I could recall, Kane appeared at a loss for words. He dropped his hand and swallowed hard. “I thought—you seemed—”
“Don’t touch me.”
When Kane didn’t respond, I looked past Barney to Mari. “How hard will this one be?”
“Not hard at all,” she said, still rubbing her amulet. She might’ve said more, but her eyes widened and she swiftly tucked the necklace into her buttoned linen collar. Ryder raised a brow, no longer listening to Eryx, and instead eyeing our exchange. I followed Mari’s eyeline and found Kane staring at all three of us.
“Mari,” I admitted. “He knows.”
Mari’s cheeks flushed pink. “I’m so sorry, King Ravenwood. It—”
“The amulet suits you far better than it ever did me.” Mari’s answering laugh was more of a sigh of relief. “I will tell you, though,” he began, leaning closer to us both. My heart sank. He couldn’t tell her now, not before—
“Briar will be very jealous if she ever learns I gave her prized amulet to another woman. And another beautiful witch at that. Let’s keep it our little secret, yes?”
Mari nodded her understanding and I breathed out, slow and even.
“Please align yourselves in front of the young witch,” Eryx instructed the passengers.
I plastered a smile on and faced Mari. “Good luck.”
?With Mari’s hand on my chest, the magic swirled around us, kicking up my hair and my skirts, kissing my skin, earth and moss scenting the air, until it was over, as quickly as it began.
I didn’t feel any different. I scanned my body and was fairly certain I looked the same, too. The rest of the passengers Mari had spelled were guided by Eryx’s guards into the ocean, but I stepped aside to wait for Leigh.
Griffin was next. Mari stood at least a foot shorter than him, but still held a confident palm against his chest. She chanted low, eyes closed, wild flamelike hair breezing around her face, while Griffin’s jaw held firm, his hands tucked tightly behind his back. He looked anywhere but at Mari, though his cheeks had gone a little pink.
When she was done, Griffin stepped to the side, rubbing distractedly at his chest where her hand had been.
Leigh went next, and after, we stepped onto the plank.
