When I first intercepted the Zaqwarian prince’s special delivery, I never had any intentions of taking Celeste. The plan was to kill the prince and send a message. At the time, I expected the breeder to run off and flee back into the sea.

But when I spotted Celeste huddled by the rocks, my first instinct was to keep her. She had every chance to run off, but she had not.

She had some pull over me, and my guilt for wanting her that first night consumed me. How could I think of mating a woman with my brother still shackled in chains by the Zaqwarian leader?

I came to a decision in the den the night before. I would trade Celeste in exchange for the release of my brother. It was she who admitted to wanting to live a life on land. It was she who admitted to accepting that she would be sacrificed to the Zaqwar as a breeder for the safety of her people.

But my heart was torn. Celeste was gentle and pure. How could she want that life? It would be no better than her spending the rest of her days held in an undersea prison by a much wiser king.

But my brother had saved my life. I owed him. No, I didn’t just owe him. We had promised mother that we’d always protect each other. We were grown men now, but I needed him now more than ever.

“Not much longer,” I muttered, stealing a glance at Celeste. “There’s shelter on higher ground up ahead.”

She nodded, panting hard.

Even now as we rushed through the Quag with the threat of the flood behind us, her pace slowed. The rainstorm that I hadn’t anticipated was just another setback in my journey. If I turned back and traveled north to Rockming now, the boggy forest and flood waters would slow me down even more.

In one instance, Celeste was right beside me, and in the next, she was doubled over on the ground.

I knelt down next to her. “What’s wrong?”

She panted. “Let’s keep going.”

“Here, put your arms around me,” I instructed. My heart sped up frantically as I feared that I’d done something to make her sick.

Her eyes were a dull muted brown, and she could barely lift her arms. I handed her a canteen, but she pushed it away.

“Tell me what’s wrong. Do you need the water? The ocean?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t want to go back.”

“Then, tell me. What is it?”

“Food.”

"Food. You need to eat. Of course." How could I have been so thoughtless? I was used to traveling on foot, sometimes for days, without food. In the past, my brother and I would explore these lands in search of adventure and meaning to our existence. We'd track and take down animals as big as mountain lions and be satisfied for days after a big meal. Maybe Celeste was more human than I. This reminded me of why a warrior like me could never have a mate. I would never be able to give Celeste the attention she needed.

“I’m sorry. I thought I could go longer, but…”

“No, don’t be sorry. I’m going to get you food.” I pulled her arm across my shoulders, lifted her small frame on my back and carried her the rest of the way. Her arms gripped snugly around my neck and her legs wrapped around my waist as I navigated the landscape seeking dry shelter.

Finally, I found a cave that looked like it hadn't been occupied for some time. There wasn't any sign of inhabitants nearby, and I didn't smell any recent markings from any other entities, animals, or humans.

I placed Celeste down on a blanket and cleared out the cobwebs from the cave. After double-checking the area, I sealed the entrance with some rocks and bushes and started a fire.

I knelt down beside Celeste. She immediately brought her palm up and flattened it against my chest.

“I’ll be fine, really. I’m not like you. Strong. Resilient. Zaqwarian. I’m not enhanced like you. My energy comes primarily from a protein food source, mostly from the sea,” she explained.

“We’ve been traveling on foot for hours…” I cursed under my breath and then brought my spear and laid it beside her. “I’ll be right back. Can you stay here?”

She nodded and grabbed the handle of the spear, pulling it into her side. Then, she settled down on the blanket, using her arm as a pillow. The thought of her leaving me somehow pained me, but if she were gone when I returned, I'd understand.

I backed away and began removing the rocks from the entrance. “Stay,” I whispered.

“I’ll just take a nap until you get back.”

The curtain of rain that greeted me when I rose was a fresh reminder that no reward would come without obstacles. After gaining my bearings, I ran toward the nearest lake with determination.