Chapter 97

I pant in fear, looking around at the other girls in the bottom – Ximena and Cadence among them and, to my shock, the blonde who is Alexandrica’s special friend. God, I never bothered to learn her name. Guilt rushes through me alongside my fear.

Because one of us…

One of us is about to die. And I don’t even know all their names.

“My son’s bride must be willing to endure great trials. The role of Queen is not easy.”

My attention snaps back to Death, my heart pounding in my chest even as I again find Anton in the crowd. My blood rushes so loud in my ears that I struggle to hear.

“She must be strong enough to endure even when it seems impossible to continue. So today, I will ask you to endure the impossible.”

Death waves a hand at us and we vanish again. I gasp in surprise and terror when, a moment later, the shocking cold of water rushes against my skin – all of it, up to my neck. Waves rush about me, splashing across my shoulders, smacking across my face. I shout my shock as I realize that I’m in the ocean – in the fucking sea –

I struggle immediately, the swimming lessons I learned as a child rushing back, but my feet – they’re stuck to some kind of platform –

And my hands – tied behind some pole at my back -

“The sea rises fast in the Underworld!” Death calls out to us, his voice dour as the courtiers rush to the front of the viewing platform. Screams echo around me and I gasp as the water rises, licking at my neck, my cheeks. “Whichever of you is still alive when the waters recede will have truly shown that she is capable of the impossible!”

I struggle to move beyond my panic – to stand on my toes, to gasp at a little more air as the water comes higher and higher, rising to my jaw, spilling into my mouth. I tilt my head back, a cry breaking from my throat, trying to find anything – any way –

But the last thing I see before a wave crashes over my face is Death, standing there, smirking.

Smirking at me.

And I realize in a sudden flash of rationality that this actually isn’t just about me.

That he’s running out of time before the God of Darkness seizes back this kingdom.

So, death is killing two birds with one stone.

Or, eight birds.

He’s rushing, trying to get rid of all of us – everyone in the Bottom, all today, all right now.

But me – I’m just the great coup here. I can tell by the way he watches me, relishing the sight of the water soaking my face, my hair.

And I snarl, my fangs elongating as water crashes over my face again and I go under.

I panic as water floods my mouth, any plans I had for survival fleeing my mind, and stupidly I gasp –

Brine hits my throat and I hack, coughing out the water as the wave pulls back, letting me gasp in a rough breath of air. I suck in as much as I can, desperate, but the water already in my lungs chokes me -

My eyes flash back towards the shore, searching for Anton – and over the waves I hear him roar – see the flash of a blue wolf leaping for the water –

I scream his name and just see Death’s hand snatching out, grasping at his fur, just as another wave takes me.

I hold onto my breath this time, my heart pounding, running through my short supply of oxygen, as I wait, hands clenched, for the wave to pull back.

And it does, but the water –

It’s so high –

The tide, it rises so fast –

I tilt my head back, lifting my mouth as high as I can, and gasp one final bare breath of air before the swell comes again and takes me under.

And I know – I know by the silent peace under the water, the fact that the waves crash above me now – that the swell is above my head.

That there won’t be any more air.

That – that I’m going to die down here -

A panicked moan rises in my throat as I look frantically around for anything – anything that can help –

I thrash at the ropes around my wrists, panicking, trying to call on fire that does nothing –

I look down at my feet to find them strapped to the sea floor in what looks like great metal boots. I try to concentrate on them, to will them to let me go –

But nothing –

My head fuzzes, my tiny gasp of oxygen running short, and I panic again.

What –

How do I – how can I get out of this –

But nothing. Nothing. I come up empty at every panicked turn.

Oh…oh my god. Is this it? Is this seriously how I go?

My wolf howls in my heart, faint, already feeling the effects of the lack of oxygen.

Breathe, she begs, nudging me. Breathe, breathe! Please, breathe!

But I hold fast to my air, what’s left of it, staring around me. The water is clear – clearer than I thought it would be, and shockingly peaceful beneath the waves that crash and foam above me –so far above me in…so incredibly short a time -

I sob, the sound crawling through my throat, grief flooding me as I shake my head. I don’t fucking want to die – there’s so much I want to do –

God, I’m so stupid. Why did I take this stupid bargain, for Blythe, who never deserved me -

Why did I leave my home? Leave my mom!? My wonderful dad!? True grief rises in me and I tilt my head back, my lungs aching as I remember them – and my stupid, fantastic, annoying siblings – who I’ll never get to see again –

But most of all…

God, as stupid as it is…

Most of all my heart aches for Tony.

Because I have this stupid crush! And I never got to kiss him! And I’m going to die now, and it seems the greatest fucking shame of my life, to have missed that! Missed everything with Tony – a whole life -

Suddenly I close my eyes and wish for it, vehemently, with everything I’ve got. I wish for him, wanting him close, wanting just…one fucking kiss. My wolf tilts her nose to the sky and lets out a terrible howl, half longing and half mourning.

Because we’re out of air. I know it.

The bubbles slip from my lips as I exhale finally, unable to hold my breath any longer.

And I shake my head as my wolf continues to howl, calling for him.

The light shifts on my eyelids, going from black to blue, and my eyes fly open.

I wobble a little, in my fucking metal shoes, my head spinning, and I wonder if…

Yes, it must have already happened. I must have slipped away.

Because why else would he be here? Death – death was holding him back – there’s no way he could have escaped -

So, this must be a ghost of a ghost, walking forward towards me through the water. Because how else would he do it? How else would he just walk through the water, instead of swimming like a damned normal person?

Tony smirks at me, his hands in his pockets, coming close. He shakes his head and looks at me in that way I love, like he thinks that I’m fantastic.

And I smile, glad that he’s here to welcome me into the afterlife. Because if he’s here, then…it can’t be so bad, right? At least we’re dead together.

My eyes flutter, then, and my head gets ever woozier, my lungs burning.

Anton steps close, slipping a hand around my back, and I look up at him, locking my gaze on his face, determined to let it be the last thing I see. He shakes his head at me, his other hand moving behind my head, his fingers tangling in my hair that floats around me like seaweed. All the time I just continue to stare up into his eyes, barely seeing him as my vision starts fade, barely conscious enough to notice when he leans forward.

And presses his mouth to mine.

And breathes.

Air floods my mouth, and my throat, and my lungs.

And I breathe.

I gasp, my eyes again flying open, my body jerking forward, wanting more. My arms strain as I pull against the ropes holding me to this pillar, as I tilt my face up as far as I can, wanting him, wanting the air and the life he provides.

Tony breathes again, holding me close, pressing his body to mine, sealing me to him, passing me air in breath after breath. I press my eyes shut in relief as the oxygen floods me and I moan, breathing, coming back to myself, joy and love and life pulsing through my veins with every beat of my heart.

But as I breathe, as I become more secure, something changes. Anton’s hand drifts over my cheek, loving and sweet, and his mouth moves against mine. No longer passing me air; instead moving his mouth against mine like a lover, kissing me, his lips soft and then hard, fervent.

I breathe – barely noticing how, not caring at fucking all –

Because Anton is here, and he’s kissing me, and my wolf is howling for joy, and – impossibly – nothing else matters.