Page 30 of Royal Captive
A limb hit me in my stomach and I snatched it, setting my feet in the mucky bottom and pushing up as hard as I could.
FWOOSH.
We both broke the surface, sputtering and coughing. The girl sobbed hysterically as I pushed her toward the bank. She crawled to the edge and collapsed, shivering uncontrollably.
Squat girl splashed me and grinned, her limbs shaking with cold through her smile, lips already purple.
“Good thinking back there. I’m Bally. The crybaby is Canne. You’re Eve, and the other is Annie?” Her voice shook, but she got it all out.
“Yeah. Thanks. I just … didn’t think it’d go well if those guys got ahold of her, you know?”
Bally sniffed. “It’s gonna happen, eventually. Might as well get it over with sooner than later.
She did a backstroke through the water back to the bank, doing a convincing job of not looking like she was freezing to death.
I was from the fucking Northern Realm and already struggling to feel my fingers and toes.
Time to go.
I scrubbed my head quickly to get any other nasties out and surfaced, only for something to grab my ankle and yank me back under. Bubbles erupted from my mouth as I let loose a scream no one could hear. Cold water rushed into my mouth as I got dragged deeper and further out into the lake.
Whatever had a hold on my ankle was slimy and colder than the water. I couldn’t kick or struggle; I was moving too fast and concentrating too hard on not inhaling any water.
WHUMPF.
I hit something hard and solid, and blessedly warm. It grabbed me and held on, even as the thing on my ankle pulled and yanked on me. Both forces struggled for what seemed like an agonizing length of time as my lungs burned and the instinct to inhale strengthened.
The force on my ankle snapped, and the figure holding me exploded upwards. I gulped air greedily, vowing never to take it for granted again. I clutched tightly to a large, warm chest, and looked up into Cassus’s unforgiving face.
I panicked and smacked him in the chest, hard.
It was as effective as a butterfly kiss. His gaze sharpened on my lips, a ferocious grin curling his lips. “Your lips are blue. Is that bad?”
That fucking fuck. Heknewit was bad.
“What was that t-thing?” I pushed out, my teeth chattering uncontrollably. I couldn’t feel my hands or feet, but it wouldn’t have mattered. He had a vice grip on me.
“Kappa. Nasty little things. They don’t normally bother us, but humans rarely wade into these waters.”
Wonderful. I made a mental note to get back at that kitchen wench. I’d poison her with her own soup.
He picked me up like I was the same size as Canne and strode through the thigh-high water to deposit me on the shore. Annie was the only one left, her lips blue and skin nearly translucent.
“T-the others l-left,” she sputtered, eyes wide at seeing Cassus.
Who was naked, I just realized.
Cassus peered at both of us, looking furious to be forced in our presence.
“I don’t think humans are supposed to be this color.”
I would have laughed if I could feel my chest. Or any other part of my body.
“Get inside.”
He didn’t need to tell Annie twice. She shoved her boots on her feet and fled; her plump little behind wiggling behind her as she ran. My own boots were heavy from water and my feet sloshed in them a bit. The moment she was gone, Cassus’s face flattened, his eyes deadening.
“Tell anyone and I’ll poison your little prince’s dinner,” he snarled at me. “Get out of my sight. Our debt is repaid.”
