The sea went quiet. Not calm, but silent, like it had stopped breathing. Leviathan froze mid-step, the tide lapping at her ankles and foam trembling around her.
She looked at me as if I'd stolen something from her.
"Well?" she said, voice pressing. "Why aren't you giving it to me already?"
Elaris shifted beside me, her shoulder brushing mine too quickly. I grabbed her upper arms, steadying her. "Don't be scared."
"I'm not," she stuttered, then swallowed. "It's just… she looks scary."
Leviathan's gaze slid to my hands—more precisely to the jewel. Her blue eyes became impatient, and she demanded,
"Hand it now. Before my patience runs out."
I tilted my head. "You're rushing."
Her mouth twitched. "And you're stalling."
"They say getting angrier makes your face full of wrinkles."
She didn't like my joke. With a flick of her fingers, cold water licked Elaris's boots.
Leviathan studied me. "Do you really want to test me?"
