She whirled around, splashing violently as she thrashed, trying to free herself and find me. A strange light illuminated the cavern, outlining her face and wet hair. Her brown eyes met mine before they slowly turned to look behind.
High walls rose into shadow, and the water widened into a reservoir before meeting a thin shore. But it wasn’t the promise of salvation that commanded my thoughts.
Something moved in the darkness. A shadow stirred, rising from the water level and stretching toward the ceiling.
Seas.
Slipping the pin into my shackles, I struggled to unlock them. Gasping for breath, I glanced at the shadow every time my grip slipped. I breathed in relief when I heard the lock click, and I shrugged the metal bands off. They sank into the depths.
Shivering violently, I swam to the girl’s side and reached forher wrists, pulling her toward me. Hand trembling, I found the lock and poked my pin in, but with every breath, my body grew numb, and my movements clumsy.
“It’s—” The girl stammered. “It’s a—!”
I looked up to see the shadow moving. Water rippled out from its bulk, rising in waves that swept toward us. Distinct shapes formed in the black mass: a long neck and an enormous head.
What in the Maiden’s namewasthat?
Gritting my teeth, I forced her shackles loose and pulled them off her. A scream erupted from her lips the moment she was free.
An unearthly blue light shone down on us, but it did not come from a lantern or fire.
It came from the creature’s eyes.
Dragons were supposed to be myths. Legends.Fairy tales. But one peered down on me, its great head lined with scales; its maw widened to reveal a row of teeth, each as long as a sword.
It lunged. With a reverberating snap, the jaw closed, and its head dove into the waters.
Darkness swallowed me as the force pushed me down. Searing blue light tore through the waves, searching for me. Swimming for my life, I drove myself in the opposite direction, but what point could there be in trying to outrun such a thing?
Shit! I neededhopeto cast offensively! All I could muster with dread were damnflowers.
The dragon’s head reared from the waters, throwing waves through the lake. I tumbled over myself, crashing into something hard and jagged. Blood seeped through the water, and pain cracked through my elbow. Swallowing another mouthful of frigid water, I grabbed the rock I’d struck, using it to propel me back to the surface.
Crimson stained the dragon’s white teeth. A body hung limply from its jaw. One of its arms was missing, and its midsection had nearly been ripped in half. Snapping back its head, the dragon swallowed what remained of the girl’s corpse.
Blue light focused on me. But it did not shine alone, this time. Shadows writhed behind it, like a cluster of snakes emerging from a tunnel. Seven more heads joined the first, each watching me with those terrible eyes.
This was no mere dragon. It was ahydra.
Gods, I’d thought them only myths.
The Oracle had claimed the sacrifice was not being sent out to die. She’d claimed to be our ally.
Ainwir had been right, as always. Nobles had nothing to offer but false promises and lies.
Even as the dragon bore down on me, all I could think of was that girl. I hadn’t known her name, her story. Why had she been brought to this place? Her horrifying end circled in my skull, pulling at my insides like hooks dragging my skin from my bones.
Sharp pain pierced my thoughts as a terrible headache took hold. Wincing, I grabbed my throbbing elbow and stared down my demise.
The dragon reared back to lunge. Scarlet whistled over my head and struck the creature’s neck. Blood rushed from its throat as a spear of blood lodged between its scales.
Seth. I whipped my head around violently, desperate to find him in the darkness.
Flailing in pain, the creature slammed its head into the wall, sending tremors through the cavern. A second and third head snapped forward, glowing eyes searching for their enemy. A fourth turned in my direction, widening its jaw before it struck.
A scarlet broadsword slammed into the side of its head just before it reached me. Whipping back, the hydra hissed in pain before snapping its jaws again.
Something collided with me, dragging me into the water. The cavern shook as the hydra clamped down on the space where I’d been a moment ago.
