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“It’s too hot,” I protested, coughing back the smoke choking my lungs. “The water will turn to steam. We won’t make it.”
“Never say never, your royal ass.” Fin gave my cheek a quick kiss. “Hold my hand. Pool our power together.”
His optimism reminded me of Nemo, and my heart stung. If he’d taught me one thing, it was to remain hopeful. I had to hold on to that with every part of my being.
Fin dragged me over to the hole in the wall. We found Gill waiting with both mermen’s tridents. Gill handed one to Fin and grabbed my hand.
“Ready?” Fin asked, squeezing my other hand.
“Yes,” Gill and I both replied.
My skin tingled as I called upon the water within to shield me. A thin, watery film washed over me. I forced it across my mermen to cover and protect them, too. Their rippling liquid flushed across me like a current bringing fresh water.
Fin sent us all a message. “Time to go.”
My heart pounded against my sternum so hard it hurt.
Gill jerked me forward. Flames curled at him, hissing, spitting embers at him as if the trove didn’t want him to escape its grasp. He pulled me into the tunnel.
A beam crashed down behind me, and I jumped, breaking my bond with Fin. Shellfish. What had I done?
“Fin?” I screamed in my mind. “Fin?”
He didn’t answer.
Gill’s calls to his comrade echoed in my head.
I continued to cry out for Fin. Where was he? Had the wood fallen on him? Sea god, no! I groped for him, but the heat penetrated my shell, drying my skin further.
Gill yanked me forward, and I fought him, not wanting to leave Fin behind.
“Princess, we have to go,” he insisted in my head.
“Not without Fin.” My efforts to draw Gill backward were useless.
I had two options. Let go of Gill, and try to find Fin—and possibly lose them all—or keep going with Gill but be left devastated, my heart sliced in two. That choice wasn’t afforded me when suddenly I was lifted off my feet and carried away. I wailed for Fin, scratching at Gill to put me down, but he refused to respond to my cries. I’d likely already lost Nemo. I couldn’t lose Fin, as well.
Another slab of wood slammed onto the ground, sealing off the tunnel behind us. The impact rocketed through my bones.
“No.” I kicked at Gill, wanting to go back and check.
His hold was so strong. He carried me all the way out of the tunnel and into the forest, at least three hundred feet from the trove’s entrance. Under his arm, he squeezed his trident.
Green flames had burned half of the tree. Soon, it would fall, too, leaving my beloved burning inside it. The knife in my chest threatened to cut the rest of my insides.
Gill released his liquid shield, and I felt his magic drain from me. I did the same. My skin was so sore and dry. Every muscle in my body ached. I could barely move, I was so tired. We needed water desperately.
When he set me on the ground, I collapsed, my heart heavy with grief. So heavy I could hardly breathe. I’d failed Fin. Failed my father. Failed my people. Warm tears trickled down my face. I couldn’t afford to lose the moisture, but I didn’t care. My chest shook with my sobs, and I cried against Gill’s powerful shoulder.
“Fin. Nemo.” I buried my head in my hands.
Gill cradled me and whispered, “Fin’s coming. I know it.”
Fin’s death was all my fault. I should have gone back to search for him. If he’d perished in the trove, I’d never forgive myself.
Gill kept repeating, “They’re coming.”
But with each passing moment, my hope diluted.
