She closed her eyes, hiccupping back a sob, and searched for her power. The power she was so used to ignoring that she forgot she even had. She tried to coax it out to strengthen her limbs, but her mind was too splintered to focus.

Past the point of caution, she drove straight down into the center. She grabbed at it frantically, ripping it out of every vein and forcing it through her entire body.

There was a pause. Like the heavy silence following lightning, just before the thunder sounds, the frigid air seeming to still in anticipation. Then light exploded from her chest, illuminating her surroundings and pumping wave after wave of adrenaline into her.

The water she was in was not endless after all, but a lake centered in a cavernous room. The surrounding walls were on every side and extended so high that even with her enhanced eyesight, she could barely make out the ceiling.

And everywhere, intermixed among the rocky surface, were what looked like glass shards of every color. They hung from the ceiling and walls, down to where the ground met the shore.

It was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen. Something that could have been breathtakingly serene, if it weren’t for the lake of death trying to drown her.

Knowing her hasty power draw wouldn’t strengthen her for long, she began her efforts anew, kicking and slicing her arms through the water, aiming for the faraway shore, even as the light began to fade.

She searched for her power again, but just as she reached in, someone—or something—circled her waist. And before she could even take a warning breath, the hold on her waist yanked, pulling her under.

Water pressed in on her from every side, choking and trapping her all at once. She bucked and threw her body around, trying to loosen the vise-like hold around her body, but more water shot down her throat, and a voice spoke behind her.

“Hello.”

She tried to turn toward it, but her limbs refused to obey, and her eyes began to close even as she fought to open them.

“My name is Alean Arenaris, and I seek entrance.”

That voice. Who was—

“VERALIE!”

She lurched up, twisting just in time to vomit water all over the floor. Her chest convulsed as she heaved again and again. She squeezed her eyes shut, digging her fingers into her temples. Her head was pounding, and her eyes felt like she’d poured cleaning polish in them. What the fuck just happened?

“You’re all right. I got you, Veralie, I promise. Yinlanem dupye, a li.”

She heaved one last time, and her chest burned as her lungs worked overtime to bring in air. Her body was shaky and limp, like every minuscule amount of energy had been siphoned right out of her.

She slumped forward, not realizing she was cradled in Jaren’s lap until her forehead hit his body with a wet thud. He didn’t say a word. He only held her closer, tucking her legs in and stroking a hand down her spine.