Page 25 of In Violent Waves

Wilder held his breath, attempting to hold back his roar of frustration. He closed his eyes and let the breath out.

It wasn’t worth it. She was attempting to get under his skin, to throw him off guard so that she could escape.

But oh, was he going to have words with his father when he returned. Why in all the realms would he have sought this mermaid?

Wilder closed his eyes and worked on controlling his breathing to settle down his fury. He was only three breaths in when Lyra’s slow, shallow breaths met his ears. And that only enraged him further.

It was dawn before he had cooled off. The sun was gilding the sky with rays of gold.

They had a long day of travel before them. If she traveled as slowly as she had last night, then it would tack on another half day of travel to Fresia, where his guard waited. They would not be happy about the delay.

They might have alerted his father to his elongated absence, but surely Otto had seen the cause of their delay.

And if not—King Oberon would be furious, naturally, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. He had plenty he wanted to say to him after this mission.

Stretching his arms up above his head, his neck and back popped. Closing his eyes, he took slow, deep breaths, centering himself in the world around him. Feeling the water in the tree roots, the life pulsing up through the branches and into the leaves. He could feel the birds awaken to sing, and the smaller animals scavenging for food.

And her. She was awake now.

Lyra watched him as he stood with his back to her, as still as any predator.

“It will be a long journey today. We should move.”

He turned to find her flexing each foot.

“They don’t hurt.”

“Wonderful. We should be off.”

His words were brusque, and she grimaced. The lines between them had blurred last night, and he was doing his best to rectify it now. But when she clutched her stomach, he grew concerned.

“What is it now, Legs?” Wilder studied her expression.

“Yes. Um, I need to empty my bladder,” she replied.

Wilder’s ears burned with mortification. How could he be so stupid?

“I’ll stay here,” he replied and jutted his chin towards the denser forest. “Don’t go too far and yell if you need anything.”

Lyra nodded and stumbled off in the direction of the larger trees.

They walked in companionable silence for quite some time. Lyra’s stomach growled, and as they passed brambles full of berries, she racked her memory to see if they were the kind she could consume. Wilder slowed their pace as she picked some and nibbled.

“Are you sure those are edible?” he asked with a quirked brow.

Lyra’s eyes screwed shut at the sour and sweet taste. “Mhm—these are raspberries. Would you like one?”

Wilder crossed his arms and shook his head. He watched as she puckered her cheeks before smacking her lips.

“And?”

“Water, please,” she spat. “They’re not quite ripe.”

Wilder huffed and handed her the flask of water.

She gulped it down greedily before handing it back.

“Don’t you need to eat?”