Page 79 of The Never List
Something struggles in the net at the base of the largest rock. A creature bigger than the dogs that roam the streets of the Ashlands, its coat dark and rubbery-looking, with whiskers flanking its wide nose. The sound happens again, this time paired with the jerky movements of the animal.
Wager all but forgotten, I push my muscles to the brink, maneuvering myself through the water as fast as I possibly can. I reach the creature in no time, hesitating only a moment as I take in its tangled position.
It’s stuck. Trapped.
I hurry to grab handfuls of the net, working it in and out of the rocks as I try to free the creature. A glimpse of sharp teeth makes me pause and wonder if this thing will bite my head off once free. But my heart races with each panicked cry, pushing me to work faster. Goddess, I wish I had a knife.
My arms ache from lifting and pulling and shifting the net, but I work through the pain, almost there—
A burning sensation expands slowly inside my chest. I furrow my brow, my vision going blurry for a few seconds. Oh no—this is what it feels like to run out of air… I didn’t take enough, and not even my powers can pull air from down here. Panic spiderwebs its way through me as I move toward the surface on instinct—
The cry sounds again, and I snap out of it, forcing myself back down to where I almost have the net clear of the creature. If I could just get this last…line…
My thoughts come slow and thick, like they’re coated in syrup.
A shadow looms over me, so large I think I’m passing out, but one look and I see it’s Axl, eyebrows scrunchedtogether, golden eyes blazing as he looks down at me.
The burning intensifies, but I ignore it and keep tugging on that net, keep trying to set the creature free. Another tug, and the creature is freed, swimming the opposite direction as fast as it can.
Axl waves an arm in front of me—
Water swirls around me in a spiral, driving me toward the surface at a gentle yet accelerated pace. A blink and the blue sky replaces the ocean, the water keeping hold of my hips as it races me toward the beach.
Kal is on his feet in seconds, catching me in his arms as the ocean finally lets me go.
I gulp lungfuls of air, the oxygen so damn sweet.
“What happened?” Kal asks, looking me over.
“I—”
“What the fuck were you doing?” Axl stomps out of the ocean and along the beach until he reaches us, looking very much every inch of the Legend he is.
I shift against Kal until he lets me on my feet, and I turn to face Axl. His eyebrows are drawn together, and there’s panic in his eyes.
“The creature,” I say, breathing easily now. The power in my blood dances at no longer being suffocated, the sensation downright intoxicating. “I couldn’t let it die—”
“At the cost of your life?” he cuts me off. “You could’ve died! I saw how long you held your breath, Rylee. It was too long.”
I feel Kal’s strong chest shift behind me, and I twist to look up at him with a silent assurance.
“I’m fine,” I say first to Kal, then focus on Axl in front of me. “I promise.” I gently smooth my hands over his forearms,trying to coax some of the tension out of his muscles.
“You were reckless—”
“And you love it,” I fire back, and his golden eyes widen. His black hair is soaked, sticking to the sides of his face, his powerful jaw, and down over his shoulders. He looks almost otherworldly, like some sea king in his own right. “Admit it.”
Axl parts his lips like he’ll argue, glancing behind me where Kal stands, giving him a confused, incredulous look before he returns his focus to me.
“Fuck me,” he growls. “Is she always like this?” He aims the question at Kal.
“You mean fearless, compassionate, smart, and downright fuckable at all times?” Kal asks, making my heart swell and my cheeks blush. “Yep.”
Axl blows out a breath. “Good to know.” He slides a finger along my jaw, planting those golden eyes on mine. “Don’t scare me like that again,” he demands.
A warm shiver skates down the center of me. I can feel every hard inch of him pressed against every soft part of me. Our bodies are slick from the ocean, and I tremble from the shift in temperature. Add to it Kal’s warmth pressing against my back, and my head is practically spinning with the sensations.
“I make zero promises,” I answer, then smirk up at him. “I got to the net first,” I say proudly. “I won.”
