She recoiled. “How do you know it’s the shard?”
“It’s glowing. It’s bright—and cold. The water temperature drops all around it.”
She shivered. “Are you sure I’ll fit?” Her hand and wrist didn’t have the same heft and muscle as Carver’s, but that didn’t mean she could slip them in and out of wherever.
“I think so. It’s close for me, and you’re smaller.”
She breathed through rising panic, pushing back when it tried to constrict her lungs. “Okay. I’m coming.” Reluctantly undressing, she left her boots, belt, and clothes next to Carver’s. The only thing she kept on was her medallion. She wasn’t about to let it out of her sight, especially this close to the Shard of Olympus.
Nerves tightened her body as she eyed the distance she’d need to swim to reach Carver. He watched her, his gaze fixated, and if she hadn’t been so anxious about heading into deep water, she’d have been shy about her nakedness. As it was, fully revealing herself for the first time was the least of her worries. She shuffled forward to the very edge of the rocks, their roughness digging into her bare feet as she peered down into the water. The bottom was right there, clearly visible, but Carver hadn’t been able to stand. Those inviting sandy ripples were deceptive and a lot farther away than they appeared.
Her heart pounding, she shifted her weight back again, wincing when a jagged rock poked into her heel. Just being able to stand, feet on the ground, head above the water, would make all the difference.
“Do we have something you could use to grasp the shard? Like tongs? Or a hook?” she called over to Carver.
“Not that I can think of,” he called back.
She swept a searching glance over the beach, not seeing anything that could help them. “What about your sword?”
“I might just push it farther back.”
She rolled her lips in, pressing hard. “So putting my arm in a narrow crack of rock underwater is the only option?” What if she got stuck? How long could she hold her breath for?
“We’ll come back with tools.” Carver slipped into the water, ready to swim back to her.
“No.” She held out a hand to stop him. That would take days, and they might not be as lucky in avoiding magical creatures. She squared her shoulders. “I’m coming.”
This time, she didn’t let herself hesitate. She jumped in feet first, her magic flinching as she sank underwater.
She surfaced, gasping in a shocked breath. The sea was warm, so the only real jolt was feeling her fire suck inward with a numbing suddenness that chilled her skin and probably dulled her hair ten shades in color.
She blinked salt from her eyes and kicked off in the direction of the cavern. Her long braid soaked up the water, turning heavy and dragging behind her. It wouldn’t spark now. None of her would. She tried not to think about it as she struggled her way toward the cavern. It wasn’t far, but it still took forever to reach Carver. She’d never been a strong swimmer, and the tide seemed to be pushing against her, even the small waves and light breeze impeding her progress.
She finally grasped Carver’s outstretched arm, and he hauled her up onto the partially submerged ledge with him. Water lapped at their hips. Their legs brushed underwater. The clear sea hid nothing, and distorted what they saw.
Breathing hard, she muttered, “At least it’s not cold.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Her body was the only thing she was modest about, and she wasn’t ready to brazenly flash it, even for Carver.
“You did well.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed, kissing her wet temple.
She reluctantly smiled, his husky voice and easy show of affection doing more to reassure her and rekindle her fire than it had any right to. Leaning against him, she said, “It isn’t over yet.”
“It’s not too deep.” He gently squeezed again. “And I’ll be right beside you.”
She glanced over her shoulder into the dark cavern and chewed her lip, the harsh bite of salt stinging her taste buds. “Next, you’ll say, ‘Don’t worry.’”
He shook his head. “You’re entitled to your fears. You have so few of them.”
Did she? Or was that just what Carver thought? Frowning, she asked, “Why do you say that?”
“Because you don’t overthink. You just do.”
She snorted. “That sounds like stupidity.”
He burst out laughing, sharp and short. “That’s not what I meant. I just meant that, in the action, you can make split-second decisions and fear doesn’t control you. You get things done. I admire that.”
Warmth swirled inside her. “You’re pretty good in a pinch yourself,” she murmured.
As incapable of accepting praise as ever, Carver didn’t answer. He turned his gaze ahead, his eyes on the coastline.
