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His smile is sweet. I lean in to hug him and have to stand on my tip toes to place a kiss on his cheek. When I pull back, his cheeks are stained red and he looks away. “Good luck, Miss Rowenya.”

“Thank you, Tommy,” I tell him before he disappears through the crowd of men surrounding us.

Sheathing his dagger in my belt, I feel Grayson come up behind me. His large arms wrap around my waist as he kisses the top of my hair. Spinning around, I have to blink against the bright sun that casts a halo around his striking face.

“I think you just made his entire life with that kiss,” he says with a chuckle.

“He gave me his dagger.” I try not to choke on the words. “For good luck.”

“He’s a good kid.”

“He is,” I agree.

Holding onto Grayson’s hand, I step over the side of the Caelestia and settle on the middle bench, careful not to rock to either side. Grayson steps in with ease, sitting on the bench furthest to the back.

“Ready?” Collin asks us from above.

“Ready,” we both say in unison.

The boat jostles as Collin commands the men to send us down. Once we’re settled in the water, Grayson looks up at the top of his ship. Following his gaze, I see Zaos standing close to the edge. He gives one subtle nod before disappearing.

The fate of finding Thaeto’s treasure is now in our hands, and our hands alone.

The sun moves across the sky, dipping past the midway point as Grayson rows us closer to the mountain. I can’t stop staring at it—the way it rises from the glassy water, casting a glittering shadow over the surface. The water is so dark, I’m unable to see anything below.

“It’s so strange.” I skim my fingertips along the top of the water and feel that same crackling energy race up my arm that I’d felt when we first entered the mist.

“You feel it too?”

I whip my head toward Grayson. “The energy? Yes. It feels like what I’d imagine magick to feel like.”

He brings his arms back as the paddles stroke the water, propelling us forward. “That’s because it is magick.”

I narrow my gaze on him. “How do you know?”

Something passes over his face, but it’s gone so quickly I can’t tell what it means. “I’ve walked this earth for a long time. I’ve come across it before.”

The question burns on the tip of my tongue. We’ve never spoken of it—what immortal blood runs through his veins. I’ve wanted to ask him, but no moment has seemed right for such a question. Certainly not this one.

So, I just nod my head and look forward again, wiping my wet hand onto my pants. We will speak of his heritage another time. Once we make it through the caves and find ourselves back on the Caelestia . Either with the treasure or the next clue to find it.

“I’ve heard the song of sea witches and seen the Mer from afar,” I tell him. “But I’ve never felt something as powerful as this.”

“There are far greater, more ancient magicks that exist in the dark corners of the worlds.”

“What will we find in the caves, Grayson? I ask him for a second time, now that there’s no listening ears.

“Something I have not laid my eyes upon for a very long time.”

I start rubbing my hands up and down my arms to ward off the tingling sensation. “It feels like my arms and legs are numb.”

“It’ll go away in a moment. We’re almost there.”

“Almost where?”

“Past the barrier.” Just as the words slip past his lips, I feel a sudden shift in the air. Each breath feels like a burden and I find myself reaching for my throat, nearly choking on the thickness of the air.

“Slow, Rowenya. Slow breaths.”

I look back at him, panic seizing my chest. But I watch his shoulders move as he exaggerates taking a slow breath in, then letting it out.

“We’re almost there.” Even his words are garbled, as if time has somehow slowed.

Watching him isn’t enough. Not as it feels like my lungs are filling with water. Not when the muscles between my ribs start to ache with the effort to breathe . Darkness crawls at the edges of my vision and I blink rapidly trying to ward it away.

I’m going to die.

I. AM. GOING. TO. DIE.

Grayson reaches for me as I feel my body lean forward and just as his hands catch my shoulders, I suck in a long, deep breath. Gasping, I start to cough as the air begins to thin again.

“It’s okay,” Grayson coos, running smooth circles over my back. “It’s okay.”

“What—” I gasp for another breath. “What was that?”

It feels like I’ve swallowed a gallon of sand; my throat is scratchy and I’m desperate for water. Thankfully, Grayson extends his waterskin to me. I drink down the cool water too quickly, my throat spasming from the tension.

I spew it out over the side of the boat.

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I try again. This time, slower. When I pull the waterskin away, I carefully swallow and the water stays down, easing a bit of the pain in my throat.

The corners of my eyes are wet as I look up at Grayson. “ That was the barrier to protect the mountain. It’s meant to be . . . uncomfortable in the hopes that whoever comes in contact with it will turn around.”

I take another deep breath in, thankful for the air that fills my lungs. “It didn’t seem to affect you at all.”

“No. It did not,” he states plainly.

Okay . I guess we will talk about that later too.

“The cave is just ahead.” He nods and I look behind myself to find there is a large triangle-shaped entrance. The edges of the stone are set into straight lines, almost as if some magickal creature carved the triangle into a perfect shape.

Cool wind whips around us once we reach the foot of the mountain. The cuffs in my hair clink against one another like a wind chime.

Craning my head backward, I peer up at the black stone mass. It’s so tall, the sun disappears somewhere behind it and I can no longer see the glittering peak.

“Get your daggers ready.” Grayson’s voice is just above a whisper.

I unsheathe the one on my left hip and decide to reach for Tommy’s dagger on my right instead of the twin that matches my other.

“Let’s hope I don’t need them,” I say as Grayson propels us into darkness.