going to have to explain how a calm, staid stone ended up with a flighty water.”
He gave me a small, close-mouthed smile, but it was genuine. This crazy man truly liked Lana. “I’ll tell you as soon as I figure it out. Maybe over one of those ten glasses of wine.”
“Deal.”
He kept staring at the water. With no warning, his placid stone expression distorted into shock and confusion. “What the…?” He took long strides to the water, face darkening with every step.
I walked after him, my gaze following his own.
Then, I started running.
A black speedboat pulled away from the rear of the house. There were two figures in the boat. One was Sera, struggling to free herself from the driver. He steered with his left hand while keeping his right arm locked tightly around her waist. It was a familiar figure, a man with an average height and build that belied the power he wielded. A man with the same bronze skin and dark hair and eyes as the woman in his arms.
Josiah Blais. Sera’s father—and mine.
I didn’t think. I didn’t give the anger time to build and interfere with my water magic. I gave into the fear instead, the panicked certainty that I would lose my best friend if I didn’t act. Our father loved us, in his way, but his pathological need to protect both his daughters meant Sera would be locked in a chamber somewhere on her family’s Hawaiian compound and not released until Josiah had eliminated everyone who dared threaten his daughter’s life.
It wasn’t the first time he’d tried that maneuver.
They were moving fast. In a matter of seconds, they’d be out of range.
I flung the magic from my body. It flew toward the boat, grabbing molecules of water as it rushed toward the target. I didn’t bother with finesse. I just needed enough power to force an enormous wave into the escaping boat, and I had more than enough control to do that.
The water crashed over the speedboat, filling the hull and seeping into the electronic controls. The boat sputtered and paused, but it didn’t stop. The engine had too much horsepower to give up so easily.
I dove into the ocean, calling my magic back and demanding it push me through the water at unnatural speeds. The water fed off my desperation until I was nearly as fast as the speedboat. I only needed to delay them for a few seconds, just long enough to reach Sera.
I begged the magic to fly toward the boat. I felt the water molecules attach, felt the control in my fingers. I pictured the magic spinning, turning in faster and faster circles until a whirlpool began to form, one capable of swallowing the boat whole.
I didn’t know if Josiah could swim. I didn’t much care, either.
The engine roared, trying to escape the ravenous water, but whichever direction it turned, the whirlpool followed, relentlessly pulling it down. From my position under the water, I saw the moment the boat gave up the fight. It was sucked under the waves, along with its passengers.
I released the whirlpool and raced for Sera. She was still in Josiah’s arms. He stared at me through the water, unmoved. He wouldn’t let her drown, I knew. He was counting on the fact that I wouldn’t either, and was waiting for me to save them both.
Most people move slowly under water, their muscles unable to work at full speed with the ocean’s weight pressing against their bodies.
I wasn’t most people. I pulled back my right arm and punched Josiah hard in the nose.
His head jerked back, and his grip lessened. I hit him again, enjoying it probably more than I should. I wasn’t strong, but I had my element on my side. Plus, I hated this man, and it’s staggering how much fuel hatred provides.
The second time, he flew a foot backwards through the water, releasing Sera. I grabbed her arms and wrapped them around my neck, giving her an underwater piggyback ride, then burst upwards. It wasn’t far to the surface, but I only stayed above the water long enough to ask her a question.
“Can you
He gave me a small, close-mouthed smile, but it was genuine. This crazy man truly liked Lana. “I’ll tell you as soon as I figure it out. Maybe over one of those ten glasses of wine.”
“Deal.”
He kept staring at the water. With no warning, his placid stone expression distorted into shock and confusion. “What the…?” He took long strides to the water, face darkening with every step.
I walked after him, my gaze following his own.
Then, I started running.
A black speedboat pulled away from the rear of the house. There were two figures in the boat. One was Sera, struggling to free herself from the driver. He steered with his left hand while keeping his right arm locked tightly around her waist. It was a familiar figure, a man with an average height and build that belied the power he wielded. A man with the same bronze skin and dark hair and eyes as the woman in his arms.
Josiah Blais. Sera’s father—and mine.
I didn’t think. I didn’t give the anger time to build and interfere with my water magic. I gave into the fear instead, the panicked certainty that I would lose my best friend if I didn’t act. Our father loved us, in his way, but his pathological need to protect both his daughters meant Sera would be locked in a chamber somewhere on her family’s Hawaiian compound and not released until Josiah had eliminated everyone who dared threaten his daughter’s life.
It wasn’t the first time he’d tried that maneuver.
They were moving fast. In a matter of seconds, they’d be out of range.
I flung the magic from my body. It flew toward the boat, grabbing molecules of water as it rushed toward the target. I didn’t bother with finesse. I just needed enough power to force an enormous wave into the escaping boat, and I had more than enough control to do that.
The water crashed over the speedboat, filling the hull and seeping into the electronic controls. The boat sputtered and paused, but it didn’t stop. The engine had too much horsepower to give up so easily.
I dove into the ocean, calling my magic back and demanding it push me through the water at unnatural speeds. The water fed off my desperation until I was nearly as fast as the speedboat. I only needed to delay them for a few seconds, just long enough to reach Sera.
I begged the magic to fly toward the boat. I felt the water molecules attach, felt the control in my fingers. I pictured the magic spinning, turning in faster and faster circles until a whirlpool began to form, one capable of swallowing the boat whole.
I didn’t know if Josiah could swim. I didn’t much care, either.
The engine roared, trying to escape the ravenous water, but whichever direction it turned, the whirlpool followed, relentlessly pulling it down. From my position under the water, I saw the moment the boat gave up the fight. It was sucked under the waves, along with its passengers.
I released the whirlpool and raced for Sera. She was still in Josiah’s arms. He stared at me through the water, unmoved. He wouldn’t let her drown, I knew. He was counting on the fact that I wouldn’t either, and was waiting for me to save them both.
Most people move slowly under water, their muscles unable to work at full speed with the ocean’s weight pressing against their bodies.
I wasn’t most people. I pulled back my right arm and punched Josiah hard in the nose.
His head jerked back, and his grip lessened. I hit him again, enjoying it probably more than I should. I wasn’t strong, but I had my element on my side. Plus, I hated this man, and it’s staggering how much fuel hatred provides.
The second time, he flew a foot backwards through the water, releasing Sera. I grabbed her arms and wrapped them around my neck, giving her an underwater piggyback ride, then burst upwards. It wasn’t far to the surface, but I only stayed above the water long enough to ask her a question.
“Can you
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