Elyssa dragged Kadir’s massive body through the current. It was hard. Solitary. And she had to keep adjusting him.

But it was also like a dream.

Ping. Ping. Ping.

He loved her. He loved her. The more she thought of it, the faster their journey went.

“Might…already be…too late,” Kadir said, over the metallic pings emanating from the tracking bullet buried deep in his back. “Abandoned city…raiders…destroy everything.”

“If it’s all destroyed, my parents have a five-bedroom in the suburbs. You’re all invited.”

Kadir smiled. “Hold you…to that.”

She kicked straight to the Life Tree. The whole journey, the bullet Blake had shot at them in his modified gun — which had lodged in Kadir’s back — made a pinging noise. She thought that meant it was a tracking bullet, but Kadir was barely hanging on, and she was not going to stand around digging it out with her bare hands.

Soren met her at the border. The distant sound of metal striking metal echoed across the city, although she did not see its source. Some were already fighting but the main force hadn’t revealed itself.

Soren wrestled Kadir from her arms despite her protests. “I carried him this far.”

“And that is why he is nearly dead. Slow human.”

“Well, sorry for that. I thought we went fairly fast.”

Kadir roused himself. “Elyssa. Do not say that word.”

Gah. Had she apologized again? Well…wait. No. “You know what? Forget that rule. I’m going to apologize. It’s part of who I am. You’re not going to stop me. And you can just accept that.”

He smiled faintly. “You may apologize so long as you glow as you are now.”

“And I will.” Probably. She didn’t know. “Let’s get you healed.”

Soren agreed. “We are moving quickly to the heart chamber, my king.”

“Heart chamber?” She didn’t want him that far away. “Don’t you mean the Life Tree?”

“The healing chamber is in the heart,” he growled.

“The Life Tree is his heart,” she snapped back.

Kadir closed his eyes. “Obey your queen.”

Soren snarled. “I obey no one! My king.” Soren jerked him roughly through the water.

He grunted and winced. “Elyssa is gentle.”

“See?” She outpaced Soren during the short swim.

“I should feed both of you to the cave guardian. Why do you cross the open ocean without guards? How are you injured again?”

Elyssa filled Soren in. The Life Tree glowed brightly, calling them into its embrace. Soren navigated the protective petals to the inner sanctuary and laid Kadir against the Life Tree. He nestled into the healing loam. The wounds on his back and hands looked bad.

Ping, ping, ping.

“What is that pinging noise?” Soren demanded.

“You hear it too?” Elyssa touched Kadir’s shoulder blades. “I think it’s the bullet.”

“Balim is patrolling the outer regions. I will call him immediately.”

“Hurry. Blake is piloting a submersible. I think he’s using this bullet to track our location.”

“The submersible is so loud, it would disguise any other enemy.” He darkened. “Something is wrong about this attack.”

“You didn’t find the traitor?”

He shook his head. “One of the warriors heard someone speaking into the echo point, broadcasting dangerous news about our patrol patterns, but the traitor disappeared before he could be identified. Remain here, Queen Elyssa, and tend to your king.”

His approval, after so long of thinking her unworthy, made her heart swell. “You believe in me.”

“I believe in nothing,” he snarled. “Guard Kadir. With your life!” He kicked out of the sanctuary, leaving them with Zoan and Adviser Creo.

Adviser Creo remained on the far side of the chamber. He rested his head in his hands and didn’t acknowledge them at all.

Elyssa closed her eyes. Concentrate. Summon the Life Tree to make a protective barrier. She opened her eyes.

Nothing happened.

Well, Kadir’s eyes cracked. “Why are you disappointed?”

“Lucy could do all sorts of magic.” Form barriers. Protect warriors from speeding bullets. Make sonic energy blasts underwater. “I can’t do anything but bring back a blossom.”

He huffed and winced. “You have a strong push.”

“Thanks.” But pushing wouldn’t win the war. “I need more.”

He shook his head. “No.”

What? “No?”

“No.” He twined her fingers with his, keeping his injured chest stiff. “You are enough. Just as you are.”

She was enough? Just as she was?

It was okay if she couldn’t form energy barriers or make a shelter from speeding bullets. It was okay if she couldn’t make an inspiring speech or persuade boards of directors to launch new programs. It was okay if she wasn’t the smartest or strongest or most beautiful.

She was enough.

Elyssa could only bring a blossom back to life? That was useful right now. She spread her hands over Kadir’s chest, closed her eyes, and concentrated.

He let out a relaxed sigh. Her hands glowed with warmth.

Growl-growl-growl.

A strange rumbling noise sounded on the far edge of the old city. Faint as a whisper, but out of place as an eruption.

Blake’s submersible.

The distraction stole her concentration, and the warmth faded. Kadir opened his eyes and rose. He was still careful, but he moved more easily. He must feel a little bit better.

Good.

Zoan came to stand behind them. He held the long, curved adamantium knife tight in his smooth, undamaged hands.

Smooth? Undamaged?

His hands had been all ripped up only a few hours — or was it days?— ago when he had fled with her to the ruins. Mermen certainly were fast healers when they had a need. Zoan almost looked like he’d never been injured. She wished she could figure out a way to heal Kadir so swiftly. Or Faier. He worried his deep scars all the time, but he’d told her his useless right leg was improving.

“Are we safe in here?” she asked Kadir.

He looked up at the granite-hard petals enclosing the Life Tree in its sanctuary. Soren had stationed guards to block the single entrance. “Yes. No enemy will penetrate these walls.”

Outside, someone screamed.

Soren’s war cry bellowed.

Elyssa and the adviser both jumped.

Other war cries returned his. Soren had been right. The raiders lurking beyond the city had awaited the submersible’s arrival to attack. She reached for Kadir’s hand.

He jolted. His hand flexed, jerking free of hers, and his eyes bugged.

The tip of the adamantium knife emerged from his chest.

Behind him, a man with darker peach tattoos and glowing, almost yellow, eyes spoke into his ear loud enough for Elyssa to hear. “No enemy will penetrate these walls because they are already here.”