The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Seeing that Hastings was acting strangely, Citrine grew anxious something might go wrong. She turned, signaling to Sebastian, "Let's head back."

Sebastian glanced at Hastings, then nodded at Citrine.

"Come on," she signed again.

Without another look at Hastings, Citrine swam upward, steady and determined. Sebastian followed right behind her.

The two of them treated Hastings as if he didn't exist, not sparing him even a glance.

Watching their silhouettes rise toward the surface together, Hastings' expression darkened, his face twisted with resentment.

He had come all the way down here just to find her, and yet she couldn't even be bothered to look his way. All she saw was Sebastian.

A heavy, burning anger settled in Hastings' gut, drowning out all reason.

Suddenly, he surged upward, eyes locked fiercely on Sebastian.

Sebastian, focused on keeping up with Citrine, didn't notice anything amiss-until a sharp pain clamped around his ankle. In an instant, he was yanked downward, plunging toward the ocean floor.

body sink, Hastings felt a wicked satisfaction bloom inside him. A trace

was only then that Citrine sensed something was wrong.

Sebastian's limp form drifting downward, his face slack and

heart jumped into her throat. Without hesitation, she spun

intent, spread his arms out,

gestured sharply, "Don't go. He'll make it up on his

wanted to teach Sebastian a lesson-he

far. Sebastian wasn't that

stared him down, face grim, and slipped past

Sebastian was motionless, his eyes closed, not a hint

through her as she pulled him upright-and noticed, with horror,

to think. Instinct took over. Citrine immediately unfastened her own oxygen tank,

His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white All he could do was watch

sliced him like a knife, this moment was a sword driven straight through his

oxygen was all that had knocked Sebastian out, so the moment air flowed into his lungs

her—the flawless, beautiful face of Citrine, so close he could feel

everything-her oxygen, her gear. Realization dawned as he felt the mask on his