29. Tori

My leg felt like it was about to split, and all I could think about was the image of this ugly thing swimming away with my foot in its mouth as some grizzly prize. The harder everyone tugged, the more I felt the tendons and sinew of my leg give way under those razor-sharp teeth. But then, through the pain, I felt something soft.

Withouta single word or look, I understood Jun's request. I pulled up a tiny thread of magic for him. It was all I could manage with my mind so stretched with pain, but it was enough.

"BURN!" Immediately, flames sprouted all over the creature, and it released my leg. I splashed down into the wave, the saltwater stinging my exposed flesh. Hands dragged me onto the shore, and the creature let out a wail that sounded like the cry of a woman who had lost everything. It dove beneath the waves and did not resurface.

Raulaand Noki pulled me to shore, and more faces than I could comprehend stared down at me.

"Is my leg still there?" My dulled mind didn't know what else to ask.

"Yep, nobody's snack today, Princess," Avlyn quipped. I leaned back into the strong hands that carried me and heard them shout a few more commands before unconsciousness took me.

I awoke in a tent with Jun stroking my hair gently. My leg throbbed, but the pain had lessened. I heard Oryx directing someone to wrap my leg, but all I saw was my brother's face stretched tight with worry.

Ismiled. "You saved me."

Therewas a small glimmer in the corner of his eye. "We are strongest together."

Igave him a broad grin. "That was a pretty flashy move."

Hissmile started to mirror mine. "I just thought, what would Tori do?"

Ilaughed but then hissed as Oryx tightened something on my leg. Spinner was wrapping my leg in his silk, creating a softly shimmering cast.

Thehealer nodded at the spider before turning to me. "Your leg will be alright; it's just going to take longer to heal due to… well, you know how wounds from beasts are."

Isat up. "Just another scar to add to the collection." It was the same leg the Leviathan had grabbed. I ran my hand over the scar on my neck and the one on my shoulder. I was quite the grizzly display at this point.

Avlynpushed aside the tent flap, and Pallas followed.

"Everything alright out there?" I asked.

Thecommander nodded. "We are staying away from the water's edge; patrols are in groups of three now. I'm bolstering our defenses for the attack."

"Attack? What attack?"

Avlynraised their eyebrows and shot a look at Pallas. "CommanderLuxos somehow managed to track us here. He threatened an attack on the beach."

Myeyes locked with Pallas, and comprehension dawned on her face. "No, not on the beach…" she whispered.

Itried to keep my mind calm, my heart still, and my breathing steady. In an instant, the great ocean that was my mind evaporated. It vaporized into nothing but mist, and all that remained was flames.