Chapter 39 The Blood of the Covenant #2
The stone was cold under Ember’s feet, even with socks on. They had to be far enough underground that they were under the mountain, and Ember didn’t even want to think about how cold the water would be when they dove in.
“Do you trust me?” Killian whispered again, gripping her hand.
Ember took a steadying breath as her eyes met his. “With my life.”
And then they jumped.
The icy water enveloped her, stinging her skin as she struggled not to gasp.
They swam deeper into the depths, kicking harder than she ever imagined possible.
Soon, it leveled out into a long tunnel, and they pushed further and further, as fast as they could go.
Ember felt her arms grow heavy, and her chest began to burn.
She looked at Killian, eyes wide as she grabbed at her chest.
“Air,” she signed.
He didn’t wait or ask permission, just grabbed the back of her neck and pressed his mouth to hers.
He let out a breath, pushing air into her lungs as he held her tightly, lingering only until she was okay to continue swimming.
She wished so desperately that they could stay like that just a little while longer.
They pushed ahead, Killian giving her breaths of air when she felt like she was running out, and soon, she could see a pin prick of light in the distance.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she pushed hard, every muscle in her body aching as she moved the water with her arms. They neared closer, and Ember realized she wouldn’t make it—she needed another breath.
She looked over at Killian and signed again.
Killian’s eyes darkened as he shook his head.
“It’s gone,” he signed.
Ember’s pulse raced as they pushed harder, faster, tacking toward the light, at what she prayed was the surface.
Her lungs burned, legs aching as she pushed them through the water.
They felt more like weights and less like propellers now.
Spots started forming in front of her eyes, and her panic worsened.
She was going to pass out. She was going to drown.
Killian pulled her, yanking her with him, but she knew she was weighing him down.
She yanked her arm away from him and pushed forward, but he began slowing down in front of her, eyes widening as he turned back to her.
He clutched his chest, legs slowing as he tried to push himself forward, and his eyes locked on Ember’s, then they fluttered closed.
The invisible chord at her chest rattled, vibrating wildly as she swam for him, grabbing him by the arms and kicking as fast as her body would carry her toward the streams of light breaking through the water far above them.
Ember felt like her chest was on fire, the saltwater burning her eyes as she kicked harder.
The light was getting closer, and Killian had gone limp in her arms, making it even harder to haul the both of them through the icy water.
Just when she thought she might not make it, another arm grabbed her wrist, then a second took Killian’s, and she was speeding for the surface faster than she ever imagined possible.
Her head broke through the surface of the water, and she sucked in breath as quickly as she could, gasping for air as she coughed up the water that had trickled into her lungs.
Killian’s head broke through the surface a second later, body still limp, and Gaelen carried him to the edge of the lake, hoisting him up on the edge of the rock.
Killian’s lips were blue, and he laid on the ground unmoving. Ember’s bottom lip trembled as she hovered over him, checking for a pulse she knew she wasn’t going to feel. She started pressing on his chest, over and over in the rhythm she had learned in a first aid class at school in Galway.
“What the bloody hell happened?” Fen cried, as he raced toward her, eyes widening as he hit the ground by his best friend’s head.
Odette was beside him a moment later, eyes wide as she gripped Fen’s hand. Ember felt the back of her head throb where it had hit the stone wall, and she could feel the warmth of blood trickle down her nape. Fen’s face turned pale as he looked between the two of them.
“Em, what happened?” he asked again, this time quieter.
Ember didn’t answer as she turned to Gaelen. “Help him!” she cried, tears streaming down her face, mixing with the salt water on her skin. “Please help him.”
Gaelen rushed to his side, kneeling as she laid her hand on his chest. “Tilt his head back,” she commanded, as she unbuttoned his shirt, exposing the scars littering his unmoving chest, “and open his mouth.”
Ember did as she was instructed, tilting his chin up and head back, then gently opened his mouth. He was cold—too cold—and Ember gripped his hand tightly.
Gaelen worked methodically, mumbling a spell over his chest as her hands moved in small circles.
Ribbons of magic fell from her palms and sank into his skin, and Ember could see it swimming under the surface toward his lungs.
Gaelen shifted her weight to his head and continued the circles over his mouth, until small streams of water swirled past his lips and turned to mist in the air.
She continued for several minutes, expelling all the water from his lungs, and Ember held her breath as her hands began to shake.
After what felt like an eternity, Gaelen sat back and took a shuddering breath. Killian still laid there, eyes closed and unbreathing on the stone floor, and Ember felt her chest begin to crack.
“He’s not breathing,” she whispered. “Why isn’t he breathing?”
“I’ve expelled all of the water,” Gaelen breathed, “but I can’t put the breath back in his lungs.”
Fen let out a strangled sob next to her, burying his face in his hands as bile rose in her throat.
He can’t be dead.
Light flickered out of the corner of her eye, and little wisps began to circle her wrist and hand.
Her magic seemed to vibrate in her veins, and that tether at her chest thrummed wildly as the wisps formed a glove over her skin.
She laid one hand on his bare chest, gripping the pendant around her neck with the other as words in the Old Language echoed through her head.
Ember almost jumped out of her skin when fire licked at her palm.
Her eyes shot open as she stumbled back and held her hand up.
The flame wasn’t like anything she had ever seen.
It wasn’t orange or red—it was so blue it was almost white, a flame so hot it could probably melt steel.
The little blue wisps seemed to encircle the flame and her hand, and the fire quickly settled until it was just a bright light burning against her palm.
She laid her hand back on his chest, and the glow seemed to radiate all around his torso and into his arms. The magic pulsed through her fingertips, and she could feel sweat begin to drip from her brow.
“It’s not working,” Fen whispered, voice hoarse as he hovered by his best friend’s head. “It’s not working.”
Ember ignored him, focusing on the voice that seemed to be chanting inside of her, making her chest rattle as the tether between her and the two boys tightened.
But he was right—it wasn’t working. Her magic wasn’t strong enough, couldn’t carve deep enough within him to make his heart beat again. He was cold—so cold—and her fire wasn’t warming him.
A small hand touched her shoulder, and she turned to see Theo smiling behind her.
Together. He seemed to say while he gripped her shoulder tightly. Maeve sat on the other side of her, laying a small hand on top of the one that was settled on Killian’s chest. The white fire seemed to grow, encompassing both of their hands like—
A star.
Suddenly, Killian’s eyes shot open, and he let out a gasp, and it was the most beautiful sound Ember had ever heard. Her chest shook as she sobbed, and she threw herself on top of him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“You’re alive!” Fen shouted, grinning widely as he wiped the tears from his cheeks, and patted his friend on the back.
“You say that like you’re at all surprised.” Killian grinned, teeth chattering as the color began to come back to his cheeks.
“It was touch and go there for a moment,” Ember breathed, as she took a shuddering breath.
“Are you okay?” Killian asked, leaning in close as he touched his forehead to hers. His skin tingled against hers, warmth blooming her chest as he rubbed her cheek with the pad of his thumb.
“I am now.” She nodded.
He kissed her forehead, leaving his mouth lingering there for just a moment.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she whispered.
Fen cleared his throat, and Ember felt her cheeks turn crimson. “We have a lot to talk about when we get home.” He frowned, and Ember found herself laughing for the first time in days.
They were in a cavern, the two caves connected by the underwater tunnel.
Plush grass lined the floor, stalactites hanging down from the ceiling.
The mouth of the cave was at least two stories high, and Ember could see the stars from where she sat.
She breathed in the night air, thanking the gods she would get to count the constellations again.
“I told you we’d see them again.” Killian smiled.
Ember grinned as they made their way to the fire Fen had going, a pot of tea and some stew boiling over it.
They sat around the fire, sipping tea and relishing in the quiet crackling as their eyes grew heavy.
The Merrow had brought supplies, and several had taken the Fae children home.
Blankets lay across the grass, several of the little ones already asleep, huddled up together around the fire.
“We thought it would be best to spend the night here,” Fen whispered, as he tossed them each a blanket. “We can rest and make our way home tomorrow.”
Home.
Ember smiled, laying her blanket on the ground as her eyes grew heavier.
Theo curled up beside her, and soon, he was snoring.
Ember couldn’t help the smile that took over.
They were safe and whole, all in one piece, and they would never have to return to that cold chateau or stuffy castle ever again.
A weight settled in her chest as visions of her mother flitted through her mind—blood pouring on the floor, the woman who gave her life taking her last breath at her feet.
She held Theo’s hand as his eyes grew heavy, and he gave her a very gentle squeeze.
I’m here.
Killian laid down beside her, lacing his fingers through hers as he laid on his back, one hand behind his head.
“I’m here,” he whispered. “You can talk to me or not talk to me, but I’m here.”
Ember stared at the ceiling of the cavern, her eyes beginning to droop, until sleep finally consumed her.
She had no dreams that night.