If he were here, I know I could fight enough to get through this, but without him, everything was starting to feel more and more hopeless, and as I sank deeper into the water, I prayed for death.
At least it wouldn't be at Kane's hands. In fact, death such as this might be my only chance at revenge.
CHAPTER SIX
Kane
“Save her!”Anna and Ella screamed at the same time.
The human dipped below the surface, disappearing from sight, the bogey most likely dragging her down to the bottom.
“I’m sure she'll be fine,” I said, even though I knew the chances of that were unlikely. “A little drowning might quiet her.”
Anna flew over and tugged hard on my ear.
“Hey!” I yelled, ready to swat the pixie away, but she dashed out of my hand’s reach.
“Why did you even bring her here if you were going to kill her?” Anna scolded.
“Firstly, I’m not killing her.” I waved my hand at the creature. “He is. Secondly, she’s still very much alive. This could help her appreciate that a bit more.”
“You can’t be serious.” Anna’s face scrunched with fury. “She's supposed to be our future queen!”
Olivia smirked. “I say we see how long she can hold herbreath.” She kicked the rest of the wooded cage that had fallen on the ground, climbing out. After smoothing out her little black dress, she fluttered up near her sister. “We don't need a human queen.”
It would be bothersome having to deal with the backlash of killing the child of prophecy. Though my alliance with the humans was unstable at best, I found their king tolerable and he would not be too happy with this outcome, nor would the magi… and Anna was right about one thing: letting the human die now would be a waste, not when she could bring so much more entertainment.
“Fine. I'll save the little thorn.”
Walking toward the pond, I looked at the bogey’s home. Though I didn't need to worry about drowning, dying and coming back was never pleasant. Rumors had all of Saol believing I’d died multiple times, but it had only happened once, and that was enough for me.
Shivers ran through me when I thought back to the sickness that took my life. If it wasn’t for my pixies demanding I be left in my chambers, my court might have burned me on the altar, and I would never have returned.
I was fully healed the next day, the torment of the previous night a hazy nightmare, one that seemed to haunt me whenever I felt ill or became wounded.
Peaceful sleep was a distant memory. A painful curse of my immortality.
I didn't want to relive being reborn this afternoon. Taking a deep breath, I dove into the water.
The murky pond made it nearly impossible to see, but thanks to the draconic bloodline rumbling through my veins, my sight was keener than most, allowing me to see heat pulses.
Reddish-amber hues moved around toward the bottom of the pond which was not too deep, ten feet, twelve feet at best.
The bogey’s gas wouldn't work underwater, but it had quitea nasty poisonous bite. They captured their victims on land, paralyzing them first before dragging their intended meal into the water to feast.
It sat on the human who lay still, most likely paralyzed.
The bogey took her arm, bringing it to its mouth, ready to chomp into her pale flesh.
I swam to her, and the bogey stopped, holding her arm close to its razor-sharp teeth. Golden eyes peered at me.
We held a long gaze. It blinked first, head tilting to the side, assessing me.
When I called the shadows to my head, they twisted into a crown then curled around my arms to end in blades.
The creature dropped her arm, receding back into the depths of the pond.
I had never bothered the bogey in this area, and it understood not to harm any of the royal court, but humans and other creatures stumbling by its home were free for the tasting.
