13. GroundedAiden’s brow twitched. He could hear voices from a long way away. What were they saying? He screwed up his eyes, trying to hear past the dark waves that lapped against the corners of his mind. It felt like he had been trapped in the cold black water for days, halfway between drowning and breathing. If only he could hold on to the voices.
Suddenly he felt something on his face. A feather-light touch of warmth, like a gentle summer breeze. He thought he had felt the same thing before, but it was a vague and distant memory. Another gust rippled over him and the warmth was stronger this time, as if a sunbeam had pierced the darkness. He opened his eyes, but could see nothing except the black water swirling around him. He was about to close his eyes again when another streak of war
