The tension slowly drains from my body, the coldness numbing the ache in my muscles and quieting the relentless thrum of adrenaline that has been pushing me forward. I glance over at Kai, watching as he closes his eyes, his face tilted slightly upward, letting the coolness wash over him. His breath comes out in a long, ragged exhale.
I reach over and spin him around, pulling him deeper into the water. A growl rumbles in my chest as I carefully examine the four wounds marring his skin, their angry red color stark against the eerie black shadow that pulses around them.
Rage surges through me, and I want nothing more than to bring Abchanchu back to life just to kill him again for hurting my mate. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I gently rest my hands over the puncture wounds and close my eyes. I’m not a healer, but I can manipulate magic.
I focus, channeling my magic into the wounds, trying to encase the dark, poisonous energy that has seeped into Kai’s body. But the malevolent force is slippery, elusive, evading my attempts to contain it. The poison writhes and twists, resisting my efforts to draw it out. I grit my teeth, pouring more of my energy into the task, determined to save Kai from this insidious threat. I should be able to do this.
Why can’t I do this?
With a labored grunt, I push more magic forward, my temples pounding from the effort I’m exerting.
Finally, I break away, panting heavily, my body racked with violent trembles. When I move to try again, Kai spins, gripping my wrist in his hand. “Enough, Ash.”
“No!” I snap, tugging my hand free. “I’m not done trying.”
ButKai gathers my hands in his and sinks into the water, so we are at eye level. “Baby, the best we can do is to get what we came for and get the fuck out of here. Nesrin will heal me when we get back to Nero.”
His words send a sharp sting of shock through me. “How do you know Nero?”
Before Kai can answer me, there’s a loud splash to our left and we turn abruptly. My daggers instinctively form in my grasp as I carefully scan the water. The shadows grow restless, their energy vibrating against my shields, pleading for release.
“I think we should get out now,” Kai whispers, the sound of his voice barely audible.
Without averting my eyes from the water, I nod in agreement. Slowly we walk backward, Kai a few steps behind me. A firm grasp around my ankle sends my heart pounding, and a startled yelp erupts from my throat. Kai’s hand wraps around my upper arm, pulling me into his chest as he backs out of the water. The grasp on my ankle remains firm, neither loosening nor pulling, just steady and unwavering.
“Kai, something has a hold of my ankle.”
His grip on me tightens. “Can you see what it is?”
I scan the water, but a murky haze has replaced the once crystal-clear surface. Panic rises in my throat when the grip increases, sharp points digging into my skin.
“Kai,” I plead, my voice rising in panic.
“I got you,” he says.
Suddenly, there’s a hard yank on my leg, jerking me downward with enough force to throw me off balance. The unexpected pull sends a jolt of panic through me, and Kai, caught off guard by my sudden movement, loses his footing on the slippery rocks beneath us. His grip on my waist tightens, but it’s too late—we both go under, the cold water swallowing us whole.
Fora brief, disorienting moment, everything is chaos. The world around us is reduced to a swirl of water, muffled sounds, and the sensation of being pulled in different directions. Kai’s arms remain locked around my waist, his hold both protective and desperate, anchoring me as we fight to break the surface.
We finally burst upward, gasping, the chill of the air slapping me in the face. I frantically scan the area around us, my gaze darting across the water’s surface. But whatever grabbed me is gone, leaving behind nothing but ripples that slowly fade away into the current.
“Kai, did you—”
“Come on.” Kai cuts me off, his voice urgent and tense. He grabs my hand, his fingers lacing tightly with mine, and pulls me toward the embankment.
There’s no time to question what just happened—we need to get out of the water now. The air around us feels charged, as if something is lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for its moment to strike.
As we scramble up the embankment, another loud splash echoes behind us, sending a shiver of dread down my spine. I whip around, eyes wide, just in time to see something rise from the water. My breath catches in my throat as the creature emerges, its small, humanoid figure dripping with water. It’s no larger than a child, but its presence is anything but innocent.
The creature’s skin is covered in glistening scales, a greenish-blue hue that blends seamlessly with the surrounding water. Sharp claws extend from its hands, and its long, wiry arms end in unnaturally long fingers, like twisted branches ready to ensnare. Its dark, unblinking eyes are unnerving as they lock onto us with a predatory intensity that sends a chill through my veins.
“You are trespassing,” it hisses, low and guttural. The words are more felt than heard, vibrating through the air with a disturbing quality. It staresat us with an almost sinister interest, its sharp teeth bared in what might be a smile—or a threat.
Kai’s grip on my hand tightens, his body tense beside me as he slowly pulls me back, inching us further away from the water’s edge.
My heart pounds against my ribcage as we continue to retreat, every instinct screaming at me to run. But I can’t tear my eyes away from the creature, its unblinking gaze following our every movement, as if it’s considering whether we’re worth the effort of a chase.
Chapter twenty-nine
