Page 40 of Battle Fluke
“Is that possible?” Honour’s eyes were wide, her mouth curved open in the most delicious O.
“It’s possible. May I have the permission to do so?” Kyree moved her hands down the sides of their flukes, fingers sliding over their scales and warming from their bodies.
“Yes,” both answered immediately.
“Then we’ll begin. As long as we are all touching, I’ll be able to filter some of your strength. But I’ll only use what I have to.” That settled feeling moved into the center of her chest, filling her completely. Kyree wasn’t quite sure what it meant, but she liked it—whatever it was. She wanted to have more of it in her life—she wanted to keep it forever.
“Okay.” Honour’s serious expression made Kyree want to reach over, take her face in her hands, and kiss her. But there were more important things to do.
Kyree closed her eyes and focused on the energy that swirled around Nylah as she continued to float between her two mers, the two who would root her back down if she started to float away, the two who would come find her if she was lost. She knew that now, even without them explicitly saying that.
Kyree wasn’t certain if the movements Nylah made were her own form of meditation or if the ray had knowledge long lost to their mer companions. It might have been minutes or hours.Kyree forced herself to breathe slowly and deliberately, the water tickling as it brushed over her lips with each intake and exhale.
Soon, too soon, she reached out to Hudson and Honour at the same time. Just a little, she siphoned some energy from their strength. The movement of the water reached her, and she smiled, eyes still closed, hearing Nylah’s excitement inside her mind and her heart.
Can you find her, sweet Nylah?
Nylah’s excitement and thrill grew, and in her mind, Kyree could see, though the light stung her eyes and the restrictions she saw made her own body, her free body, ache for those in front of her eyes, those in front of Nylah’s soul.
“I’ve found them,” Kyree whispered, and both of her hands were squeezed tightly as Hudson and Honour reached fingers toward her.
“Are they okay?” Honour asked.
“They’re alive. But they’re in cages.” Kyree heard the trembling in her own voice. “Confined in some bright torture. It’s so hard to see.” The ache behind Kyree’s skull was already a dull roar, like the first time she’d come to the upper soundings.
“Soulara and Nylah’s soul?” Hudson asked.
“Soulara and Autumn.”
“The human who’s been helping us.” Honour filled in for Hudson. Kyree wasn’t certain if Hudson needed the clarification, but she enjoyed Honour’s willingness to give it without prompting.
“Can you speak to her? Is she really okay?”
“Nylah’s soul has been trying, but something is blocking them from reaching her.” Kyree pulled on more strength from her two mermaids, searching for more information more details. “Oh.”
“What is it?” concern and worry filled Honour’s question.
“She doesn’t have the stone. They took it.”
“But if she’s made contact before, does she really need the stone?” Hudson asked.
“I have heard whispers of those who don’t need the stone to contact their companions’ souls, but I’ve never seen it. Our people have lost too many of the stones through the years. We no longer communicate the way we used to, but our companions do still talk to us and help us.”
“I…” Honour started and then hesitated.
“You what?” Hudson asked.
Kyree wasn’t sure if the two of them still kept their eyes closed, but she was hesitant to open her own, to break the tenuous connection she had to Soulara and Autumn.
“I might know where there are some soul stones.”
The words were enough to have Kyree’s eyes fly open, the connection snapping in an instant.
She stared at Honour, and saw from the periphery of her vision that Hudson stared at her with as much shock and alarm on her face as Kyree felt within her.
“You—” Kyree’s voice choked for a moment, the words not truly finding a way to sit comfortably in all she had ever been taught, all she had ever known. “You know where there are soul stones?”
“Perhaps.” Honour’s face reddened, and she rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. “I know where Soulara got her stone from, and I suspect it’s the same place she received Zendalia’s.”