When Lucian snapped out of the simulation, his heart was pounding. He sat for a moment in bewilderment, wondering just what had happened.

  Something was wrong. That much was clear.

  He reached for his slate and called Emma. There was no answer.

  He opened his pod and dashed out into the corridor. He ran to the starboard side of the ship, where he knew her cabin was. Was it 204 or 206?

  He ended up knocking on both doors, but only 204 opened, revealing a middle-aged woman with short, brown hair. Her eyes widened in fear immediately upon seeing him.

  “Is Emma here?”

  She blinked a few times, taken aback. “Why?”

  He looked inside the cabin and saw that one of the pods was closed. “She’s in trouble. We need to open her pod.”

  “Did you do something to her?” she asked, her expression twisted with disgust. “I’ll call the captain."

  “No! Just open the pod. Something’s wrong.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed as if she didn’t believe him. Lucian lost his patience and shouldered himself in. The woman let out a huff, running into the hallway and shouting for help.

  Let her. He had to get to Emma.

  He found the button to open the pod. Thankfully, it wasn’t locked, and it slid right open.

  To reveal Emma thrashing on her back and wailing in pain.

  Lucian touched her shoulder, trying to hold her steady. She only screamed louder, the sound bloodcurdling in the cabin’s dim confines. She slashed with her arm, scratching him on the neck.

  Lucian took a step back. How could he stop this? Might Vera know what to do?

  When Emma’s body went still, coldness crept across his skin. Others were shouting behind him now, telling him to get off her, as if he were the cause of this.

  No. She couldn’t be . . .

  When he touched her arm, her skin was cold and clammy, and her complexion was pale.

  He was being pulled back. He fought against it, blind to them all. He had to get to Emma.

  At that moment, she coughed, and her eyes fluttered open and found him.

  “Lucian?”

  But he was already being pulled out into the corridor and out of sight. A group of four men, two of the same male crew from before, was dragging him to the bridge.

  This time, he was sure they would kill him.

  #

  They had brought him to the galley. Half or more of the ship’s passengers had gathered to watch, eyes burning with hatred. They were shouting, arguing about what to do with him. Lucian fought to free himself, but, as with Dirk and his lackeys, it was useless against so many.

  He bit back the scream that wanted to come. If he lost control of his emotions, this could be bad. It might even be worse than with Dirk.

  “Stop! Stop right now!”

  Emma broke through the crowd, stumbling as she did so. “He didn’t do anything! He was just trying to help! Get off him!”

  Surprisingly, people made way for her, but the two crewmen who had dragged him held on tightly.

  “Lady, there’s no need to defend his likes,” the bald one said, named Emerson. “This time, he won’t be a bother to anyone.”

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  “Let him go, you idiot! I have epilepsy. He was just trying to help me.”

  It was only when she started slapping at the crewman that they let Lucian go with startled expressions, finally giving him space to breathe.

  Emma took Lucian by the shoulder, leading him back in the direction of her cabin. Such was her determination that no one stopped her.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Fine. What about you?”

  “Not really, no,” she said, her face still red from anger. “Let’s just get away from these people.”

  They finally reached her cabin, and the door shut behind them, leaving them in peace. Emma’s cabinmate had left, thankfully, and hopefully wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.

  “Thanks for your help,” she said.

  “I don’t feel like I did anything.”

  “It always helps to know someone is there. It makes the pain more bearable.”

  She sat on her bed. She looked up at him, her eyes still fearful, as if reminiscent of the pain. Despite her brave face, Lucian knew she was shaken.

  “Let me stay,” he said. “I want to make sure you’re okay.”

  She nodded, making space for him on the bed.

  “I . . . want you to hold me,” she said. “If that would be okay.”

  “Of course.”

  She closed the door to her pod, shutting the two of them inside. As soon as they were alone, he put his arms around her.

  "Are you comfortable?” he asked.

  She buried her face in his chest. “Yeah. I’m just . . . so done with everything. With everyone. You’re the only person I can talk to right now.”

  He felt warm tears staining his shirt. He rubbed her back soothingly.

  “Just relax. Breathe. Everything will be fine.”

  It took a few minutes, but her breathing slowed, and her shaking ceased.

  “Lucian?”

  “Yeah?”

  There was a long pause. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  She touched him on the neck, where her scratch still stung.

  “Don’t worry about that. I just got into a fight.”

  She gave a small laugh. “Looks like you got your ass kicked.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah. Maybe.”

  She smiled. When she did that, it felt as if everything would be fine.

  “How often does this happen, Emma?”

  It took her a moment to respond. “Too often, though this is the first time on the ship. Why?”

  “I . . . wish we could make that go away. I don’t want to see you like that again.”

  “That’s two of us. I feel better now, though.”

  “There has to be a way to stop this.”

  “There is. Training. Learning to stream, so that the ethereal buildup can be dispelled.”

  And how far away was that? Two weeks at a minimum, plus the time it took to get to the Volsung Academy, get accepted, and start lessons. Probably one month, all things considered.

  “I don’t know how I did it myself,” Lucian said. “I would teach you if I could. All I know is I was angry and scared, and it happened on its own.”

  “I’ve been angry and scared plenty of times. It hasn’t helped.”

  “I don’t know then.”

  “Same.”

  She pulled away from him, creating a bit of space. Her brown eyes watched him sadly.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She hesitated a moment before answering. “Nothing. Let’s . . . just enjoy this. While it lasts.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  She hesitated a moment. “I want this as much as you do. But at the Academy, they don’t allow it.”

  The words were like a dousing of ice water. “I’m confused. We’re not even . . . involved. Though, to be honest, I wouldn’t mind that.”

  Her eyes widened. “You wouldn’t?”

  “I mean, it’s not the craziest thing, is it?”

  She lowered her eyes and snuggled her head into his chest. "No, I suppose not.”

  They lay there for a while. In the privacy of the pod, feeling her warmth, Lucian felt safe for the first time in a long time. He didn’t want the feeling to end. He had closed his eyes, nearly asleep when Emma shifted against him, pulling away slightly.

  “When the Academy sent me their invitation, the message said something along the lines of coming to Volsung with a clear conscience, unfettered, and willing to devote myself entirely to the streaming of magic. If my mind is occupied with things other than my training, the Transcends will likely not accept me.”

  “It said that?”

  “It did. What those words mean is up for interpretation, but it would be all too easy to let myself be . . . distracted.”

  Lucian understood what she meant, even if he didn’t like it. If either of them weren’t accepted, it would all but spell their doom. And yet, he wanted more than this. She was the only good thing in his life right now. But how could they proceed when it could mean her death down the line, and his as well?

  “We should stop, then,” Lucian said. “The last thing I want is for you to not be accepted because of me. It’s not going to be easy, but—”

  Emma placed her lips on his, the movement needful and wanting more than the restraint she had just suggested.

  When she parted from him, they were both breathless. Lucian wanted more, but to make that move now felt false. Not in light of what had just been said, and even if she probably wanted it too.

  With a shaky hand and tearful eyes, she opened the pod. Once the door was fully retracted, she did not tell him to go, as if she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

  Lucian realized he would have to make that move, as hard as it would be. This was his path, at least for now. He exited the pod, leaving her warmth behind. They stood and watched each other for a moment, and to Lucian, it seemed he stood at a crossroads. What would things be like between them now?

  He watched her sadly. “If you need me for anything, let me know. I’ll be there.”

  Emma closed her eyes, tears falling. “I know. But we can’t. We just can’t.”

  Lucian nodded slowly. “Okay. I understand.”

  She didn’t have the heart to say anything more. Lucian left.