Page 49 of Death’s Kiss (The Order of the Tide Raiders #1)
Then there is the charming little fact that I’m currently indebted to Captain Agni, the very worst person possible to hold my secret.
His goading has stopped being so outrageous and become more subtle, which is worse.
He knows exactly how awful it is to keep this from my crew, and he makes a point of giving me knowing looks or passing comments that serve to confuse and rile them .
Just yesterday, after Beldham's class, in which I had kept my mouth shut to avoid Agni starting an argument on purpose, he waited for us in the hall. Waited for me , specifically.
I’d brushed past the prick without so much as a passing glance to him or his pack of jackals.
“ I have a question, ” Agni had called out, making my pulse come to a thudding halt.
The southern jackass flashed a smirk at the lack of color on my face before tilting his head in the direction of my crew, who all waited with mixed looks of perplexity. His eyes then landed on Kleio at my side. “Could you tell me, what is five minus two?” He asked her with a look my way.
Freezing cold anger nearly burned me from the inside out.
Taunting me was one thing, but taunting my crew was entirely different.
It took all my willpower to keep my tone casual as I swiftly intervened.
“Why don’t you have one of your little mongrels do your counting for you, eh?
Might be good exercise for their stunted little brains. I’m sure they could all use it.”
His crew abruptly stopped whatever it was they were laughing over in that odd southern tongue and Agni’s mouth twisted with loathing. “Oh but I think I find yours more entertaining .”
A flush graced my face at his pointed choice of words. Yet from the way his own crew was looking with uncertainty behind him, I got the strange feeling they didn’t know about our deal either. That fact both confused and emboldened me.
So I gave him a false smile before grabbing Kleio’s arm. “I beg to differ.”
Those words sparked something menacing in his eyes; it made my legs feel too heavy and light at once. All it would take from him is one little visit with his Grand Preceptor and we’d be out of the chance of a lifetime. The idea made me feel like I might just pass out right then and there.
The crook of Agni’s mouth twitched. “Alright, so long as I’m the one making you beg.”
Then he’d turned around without another word, as if having lost all interest in his own game. He rejoined his crew, as if the exchange had never happened. To avoid further interaction, I kept my mouth shut and marched my crew onto water combat training without saying a word.
That had evidently been the last straw for Kleio.
"Okay—okay, maybe I am a bit . But it’s only because I messed up in the first place—I made a mistake—a few of them, actually.
It is my responsibility to correct them, and mine alone.
I won’t allow any of you to have your futures jeopardized because you chose to believe in some worthless bastard-born castaway who should have just been left down in the depths. ”
My crew members all inhale sharply at my words. I think I hear Herse swear low.
Kleio grabs me by the front of my shirt so harshly and unexpectedly that I don’t even think to draw a blade. She bares her teeth at me when growling furiously, “Do not ever speak about my captain like that again!” All warmth is drained from her eyes, now brimming with outrage.
In response to my silence, she shakes me. Hard .
“You don’t want to tell us what happened— fine .
You want to take on full responsibility and once again refuse to share the load— fine .
But what you do not get to do is question the choice we each made.
Not for a single second do you get to tell us what it is we should see in you.
I will not allow for you to succumb to the idiotic political bullshit that The Order loves to spew in order to promote animosity,” she seethes no more than an inch from my face.
I swallow. This is perhaps the most terrifying I have ever seen Kleio look—my perfect second. Her affinity shields of violet energy buzz to life angrily in the air along the midnight shore.
“I will not allow for you to question your worthiness to be alive.” She barrels on.
“I swear to all the drowned gods that if I ever hear you question that fact again or even catch so much as a glimmer of the doubt that’s been shadowing your eyes these last few weeks—captain or not—I will personally kick your ass. Got it?”
My lips flicker upwards in response to her threat. “Got it.”
The relief in her expression at such a small gesture on my part makes me suddenly guilty. I never intended for her to worry so much. But that’s Kleio; she can’t help it. As much as these last few weeks have been eating me alive, it’s probably taken something out of Kleio to watch.
“Good.” She releases her grip from my shirt. “Now—shall we?”
“But I’m not in the mood,” I whine for the hundredth time since being dragged from my bed in the middle of the night.
Kleio gives me a look that could peel paint so I hastily start stripping off my uniform down to my wetsuit beneath.
A few minutes later, and we’re out amongst the freezing waves.
Luckily, my second’s affinity is able to keep her and the others from truly feeling the bitter cold.
“Merena—this one!” Kleio shouts from across the choppy waters.
I lie flat on my stomach along the ice board I’ve wrangled and a quick glance backwards reveals there’s a monster of a wave coming towards us. I turn around and give Kleio a thumbs up in agreement. Her grin is deviant with eager anticipation and I shake my head, laughing.
It feels nice to laugh.
Admittedly, I have a bit of a sixth sense when it comes to ice surfing.
I’m able to anticipate just when the exact right moment is to catch a wave.
It’s like I can feel the way the current’s rolling, almost like seeing the motion of it beneath the surface.
I’ll allow the tide to sweep me up inside until I find that perfect sweet spot.
Some, like Vash Larceon, call it cheating.
“Now!” I shout towards the line of my crew members before popping up on my board. They follow suit quickly, as the behemoth wave builds even higher upon itself .
I’m immovable from my tiny glacier board while beginning to descend the monstrous current at thrilling speeds. My balance is never better than when I’m out on the chaotic tides.
I hear the others high shrieks of enjoyment through the winds rushing past my ears and I smile.
It feels nice to smile.
As the lip of the wave spills over to my left, I aim for the hollow barrel forming and hear Kleio’s loud whoops of enjoyment not far from behind.
The ocean's power beneath the ice at my feet never fails to both excite and ground me in the moment.
It forces my brain to forget about any other problems plaguing it and immerse itself in the now.
Navigating the water's constantly changing surface, I make my way for the slim lip and use it to three-sixty myself down into the widening barrel. My face splits into a wide grin when landing and sliding skillfully inside the pocket.
Nimra and Greer have already wiped out and Davina stayed back on the shore, claiming there would be no one to heal us if she snapped her neck on a rock.
The twins are still hollering their enjoyment from somewhere farther off.
Herse is the only one nowhere to be seen but she’s like a ghost on the waters; you never know where she’ll just suddenly appear .
Kleio has followed me, racing just meters away inside the rapidly forming curl. Reaching out my hand, I run a finger along the passing wall of saltwater. My pulse beats in sync with the ocean's steady undertow and my power arches into the temptation of the wave like a needy grimalkin.
Glancing at my second and her excitement-flushed face, I decide to allow my affinity to play.
The sea spray rapidly transforms into soft white petals, while the watery pathway beneath our glacial boards turns into a powdery tread. Kleio squeals out in delighted surprise as we go from surfing to snowboarding our way down the remaining wave and onto the black sandy shore.
After a few more rounds, I feel lighter than I have since the second pillar trial .
Regardless of this stupid fucking deal with Captain Agni, as long as I have my crew and the occasional escapade, things will be okay.
To further prove that point, tonight I sleep soundly without a single nightmare.
Leave it to Kleio to catch me in my free fall.