“Quick!” Roslyn shouted to Lili. “Before it’s sucked inside!”
The women leapt across solid patches of earth, racing ahead of the men.
“No!” Oskar shouted, rage reddening his face. “Don’t touch her!”
Similarly, Blaze screamed, “Leave him alone!”
Oskar drew blades from his bandolier, following after the women with a vengeance so pure that Augustus almost let him have it. But the women were after Selene, and she was his, and he would save her. He would cut down anyone who dared?—
A line of fire erupted in front of all the men, startling everyone back. The flare was gone as quickly as it landed, merely scorching the moss and vines.
Little Gus zipped up into Augustus’s face and nudged him in the chest. Pushing, pushing,pushing?—
“Stop that,” Augustus croaked. “Don’t you see? Selene is right over there.”
Gus squawked and pushed, wing beats frantic.
The other men were free to go on, but it was the women who reached Selene first.
Roslyn spun with her swords, slicing through the air.
Selene ducked the swing. Her limbs melted, flesh stretching like wax in fire. One arm curled the wrong way. Her jaw split downward, and kept splitting, mouth gaping too wide, too long?—
A piercing scream ripped through the air.
Augustus collapsed, hands over his ears.
Gus landed on his shoulder and tugged at his shirt collar, pulling him away.
But, Selene…
Augustus looked up?—
Gods.
Wait.
That wasn’t Selene.
That wasn’t…
Roslyn’s words struck like a mallet to the chest.
Nahrin.
A fucking swamp siren.
They were all dead.
Selene’s exhaustion vanished.
Pure shock overtook her.
In the clearing, the shapeless, viscous figure—its skin a pale nude color—seemed to be sucked—no,slurped— into a hole in the ground. That same small island of land vibrated and lifted. Mud and moss and black water shook from a massive dark green head. Vertical slits opened to large, yellow eyes, and its mouth appeared next, showcasing rows of sharp teeth.
The creature rose and rose and rose—easily twice the height of the tallest man facing it down. Maybe more.
Tentacles shot from the soft earth and slapped down, throwing mud.
