Piper's hands were already wet with power when they hit the safe house floor. She dropped to her knees beside Lika, pressed her palm to the girl's cheek, and pulled water out of the air like she owned the sky. It wrapped Lika's face in a cool sheet, then poured down to her chest and ribs, humming with that ocean-blue thrum only Piper could make. Mortis paced in tight little circles, muttering curses at the ceiling.
"Stay with me, dummy," Piper whispered, and the water flared brighter. "I said you are fine."
A few minutes of focused breathing and the glow dimmed. Lika's lashes twitched. She blinked, squinted, and groaned. "Uh… Piper? What happened to me?"
Piper didn't even answer with words. She hauled Lika up, hugged her so hard the water halo broke into glitter, then kissed her full on the mouth. "Oh my sweet, ridiculous soft brain, you're okay." She peppered kisses all over Lika's lips and cheeks like she owned them. "Mwah. Mwah. Mwah."
