Page 90 of Tempting Fate

She turned towards the speeder. “We should go back. We’re taking a risk being out here anyway.”

My bones ached, white noise buzzing in my ears. Bounty Hunters. My Imani, hurt. Back to confinement. “We only just got here. I want to stay.”

“But your kalidi…”

Everything in me, already stretched taut, snapped. “I’m the one suffering it, and that’s what I want.”

Too late, I realised it was the wrong thing to say. Imani surged up, a tiny, towering spirit. “How dare you? I’m not at your beck and call. I’m not here to… to service you in the manner you desire. God!” She stomped to the water’s edge, sand crunching under her small feet.

My veins froze, the cold dousing me as surely as if I’d been dunked in the lake. I would never expect that of her. “I did not mean it that way, you know I did not.”

Imani paced along the shoreline until she found a stick. She trailed patterns with it in the sand, getting closer and closer to the lake’s edge until it met the waves.

Beyond her, dark shapes gathered, edging towards the shallows.

“Imani, please move back.” Whatever those things were, I didn’t like the way more heads bobbed above the surface, or the way the water filled with a writhing, black mass.

“It’s fine. I’ve done this before.” She gave the water a vicious jab.

The lake boiled with movement.

Something long, black, and thin shot out and grabbed the stick. Imani screamed. She let go—but not before she’d toppled forwards. Tentacles slithered further up. They coiled around her arm, and in my mind’s eye, I saw more of those reaching tentacles, could see my Imani being dragged under the water, an unthinkable image from the worst nightmare.

I sprung to my feet and ran. Energy surged through me as I grasped Imani around her waist and pulled her backwards.

Another scream knifed through the air. Another black, slimy tentacle wrapped around her other arm, tugging her towards the water and away from my grip.

Wraiths knifed through my bones, but I forced down the panic. Grasping her tight with one arm, I slashed at the coiling appendage with my claws, and when that didn’t work, I drew her arm—and it—to my mouth, tearing at the tentacle with my teeth.

Bitter, dark blood flowed over my tongue, but I didn’t let up, not until the creature receded and I could get us to the safety of the higher shore.

My heart thumped, my chest tight.

The lake churned with activity, angry tentacles whipping through the air, lashing the water. But nothing followed.

I cradled Imani in my arms, her small form against my chest, sinking down to the sand as she sobbed against me.

Gently, I held her close, stroking her back in a rhythm that matched my words. “All is well, my moonlight, you are safe. I have you.” The vile taste of blood assaulted my senses, and I longed to wash my mouth out, but not until she was calm.

As her crying lessened, she drew back to look at me. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“All is well,” I said. “All is well.”

Her face twisted in horror. “Your mouth. You…”

Spines of Kri, she must think me a monster to have attacked the creature as I did. “I am sorry, there was no other way.” I thought only of her safety, to extract her from its clutches.

Reluctantly, I let her scrabble away. Imani. Where was she going? Was she leaving? I groaned, lurching upwards, staggering a few steps, and I fell to the sand again.

“Airi!” Imani knelt beside me with a water bottle. “Are you hurt? Oh, god.” She poured clear, fresh water into my mouth.

My vision swam. I swished the liquid around then spat it to one side. “More,” I croaked.

She did, again and again until the water tasted clean. “Baby, you don’t look so good.”

“It is just… I expended energy. I will be well…”

Everything went black.