Holding my position, I thought only of the water and the breath I would soon run out of. That couldn’t happen, and with a flick of my fingers in front of my face, I separated the hydrogen and pushed it outward, away from the oxygen until it formed a protective bubble around the precious air I needed to breathe. With no time left, I pressed my nose into the air pocket and drew in a deep breath. Only, the air bubble rose. Drat. I kicked swiftly upward with it, dragging in the oxygen I needed. Oh, that worked.
With enough air, I dived, returning to swim lower. Silas. I had to tell him. I unblocked our telepathic link and threw it open. “Guess what?”
“Tell me.” A dark edge to his tone said I’d better speak fast.
“I can breathe underwater. That’s what I’m doing right now.”
“Come and show me and don’t block me again.” A darker sense of urgency.
“I’m with my family. I told you I was in Dralion.”
“I want you back.”
“Hey, you knew this would happen. I spend half my time here.”
“What are you saying?” His voice was too loud, almost ringing in my ears. “How long do you expect to be there?”
“My father won’t permit me to stay long. Hold on, I need to take a breath.” I focused on forming another bubble of oxygen by pushing the hydrogen atoms away. With my nose in, I inhaled and swam upward with its natural rising. “Yes.” I did a little spin in the water and dived down.
“What was that yes for?”
“The air I’m breathing. I can form pockets of air, only they rise naturally. It means I have to chase them, but it’s pretty cool.” I rubbed my arms and a shiny gel smeared over my fingertips. “Oh. I should feel cold since this is ocean water, and I did at the start, but now it’s…”
“What? What?”
“Don’t be anxious. It’s all good. There’s a clear coating on my skin. It’s keeping me warm.”
“Did Elizara get a coating on her skin?”
“Hmm, in the oasis with the other women, those with the water skill were faster, sleeker and slippery to the touch. They must have. This is their element.” I grinned, recognizing it was now mine too.
I worked at creating another bubble of air. Rising with it, I drew a breath in then turned cartwheels, playing as the water slid over my insulated skin.
“Are you still underwater?”
“Uh-huh. How long’s it been?”
“Too long. Get your feet on dry land.”
“It’s been a minute.”
“More like five.”
“Maybe two.”
“Four,” he grumbled.
I laughed. “I think I may need an incentive to get out. I like this too much.”
“Come to me and I’ll give you that and more.”
“I don’t think so. This is heaven.”
“Heaven would be you getting out.”
“Tell me what you’re up to while I swim.”
“Hyperventilating. I have a paper bag shoved under my nose.”
He so did not. What a liar, and I would have argued, but Dad circled the perimeter of the watery shield, signaling me out.
“I gotta get out. Dad’s calling.”
“So, you’ll go for your father?”
“He’s bossier. You haven’t mastered that yet.” With a chuckle, I closed our link and kicked to the water’s edge. I pressed a fist through and hit air.
Dad grabbed and drew me through.
With a suctioning gurgle, I was out. The surface behind me rippled, and then resettled as I maintained its shape with my mind.
“What’s this on your skin?”
“This gel protects me from the cold. It must be part of my water skill to create it.”
Donaldo approached and rubbed at his chin. “Simply amazing.”
Goldie touched the slick stuff on my hair. “How do you get this off?”
“I don’t know.” Or perhaps I did and all I had to do was send it away with the same focus I used with water. My heartbeat skipped in excitement. Oh, that was it.
With a sweep of my hands, from my head to my toes, I directed the gel away. It slid to the ground and coated the soil at my feet.
The breeze lifted my hair, the dry strands fluttering across my face. The salt of the ocean was on my skin, but it was perfectly dry. Even my sleeveless outback shirt ruffled in the wind, and when I patted my jeans, not a drop of water remained. “I can’t believe the control I have.”
“It’s wonderful, but do not forget the wall of water behind you.” Donaldo wagged a finger at it. “As much as I hate to see that go, it better.”
Raising a hand, I swept the water out in an arc. It cleared the cliff and crashed far below.
Dad ran his hands down my arms. “Incredible. You were underwater for several minutes.”
Goldie skipped in a circle around me. “Mar-vel-ous.”
“It is,” he agreed. “But you two need to go.”
“As do I. I have meetings. I will see you girls later.” Donaldo inclined his head, and flashed away. No surprises there. He always had a mountain of work to do.
With a sigh, I glanced up at the windows of Dad’s wing. My mother would be in a room somewhere within. “How much longer do I have to wait, Dad?”
“I’ve seen your purpose is great, as is your sister’s.”
Warrior (Princesses of Myth #2)
Joanne Wadsworth's books
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