“Don’t you worry. Your job is safe as long as I have anything to say about it.”
She grins, but her teeth chatter. “Let’s hurry this up before my tits freeze off.”
My toes have gone completely numb, but the water is refreshing. I welcome the final rays of sunlight, enjoying how they sink into my skin, making me feel almost warm despite the icy water. After a quick rinse of my hair and a brief scrub in the waist-deep water, I wade back toward shore.
Just as I reach the sandy bank, a piercing scream freezes my blood to ice. I spin around and witness Sera being dragged beneath the water, a look of pure terror on her face.
Chapter Forty-Seven
RAELYN
I’m frozen to the spot. Surely I’m no match for whatever is down there, but I can’t abandon my friend. The water goes still, and my heart sinks like a stone.
“Kian!” I scream before I rush back into the waist-deep water and duck beneath the surface, trying to look through the murky depths for something, anything.
What am I doing?I can’t swim. I can’t save her.
A wild scream erupts out of me under the water. In desperation, I stretch my hands out, shocked when light shoots from my fingers, illuminating the waters.
Almost too surprised to react, I continue soundlessly screaming as light pours out of me.There!I blink and spy Sera floating lifelessly twenty feet away as a dark shadow darts away from her. Whatever it is seems to be avoiding the beams lighting up the water’s fathomless depths.
I’m wrenched out of the water and start coughing. Kian’s entire body is rife with tension as he holds my back to his chest, his arms tight around my middle. “Are you okay? What in the hells is going on, Rae?”
“Sera!” I gasp as I point in the direction I last saw her. “She’s not moving,” I choke out. “There’s something in there.”
A splash is the only indication, and we turn and barely catch Alex disappearing beneath the surface of the lake.
“Let go of me, Ki. I can help!” I cry.
With no hesitation, he drops his arms, and I duck back under the water, trying to recall the sensation I felt before the light poured out of me.
Come on, Rae. You can do this.
I close my eyes in concentration, feel for the buzzing in my veins, and will it to leave my body through my fingers. It’s different from the ribbons of light from my childhood memories with Erika. It’s deeper . . . more powerful. A zap of warmth courses down my arms, and I open my eyes in awe as the light pours out of me again, making a clear path for Alex to find Sera. I hold my breath as he reaches her, then quickly kicks to the surface. Worried about whatever beast might be lying in wait, I continue shooting out beams of light until Alex swims past, and then I burst out of the water, sucking in a deep breath. Alex rushes Sera to shore, and gods, I hope she’s okay.
“We should probably get out of here,” I say as my teeth chatter with cold. The sun has sunk below the horizon, and darkness is swiftly falling. “Whatever is down there didn’t like my light, but I don’t think I have anything left.”
My body is weak and drained. I could sleep for a week if left alone.
Wordlessly, Kian picks me up and carries me out of the water. He’s clenching his jaw so hard, I’m worried he’ll break a tooth.
Kian puts me down, and my fear for Sera sends a rush of energy through me as I hurry to her side. Alex laid her on the sandy beach and is doing quick compressions on her chest,stopping only to blow a few quick breaths into her mouth before starting compressions again.
My heart clenches, and I pray silently to any god who might listen. I can’t lose my friend.
“Here, love,” Kian says, handing me a clean, dry tunic from my bag, and I pull it over my head. Perhaps the embarrassment of Alex seeing me completely naked will hit later, but I’m not entirely sure he paid me a lick of attention, he is so focused on Sera.
I reach out and squeeze her unmoving hand. “Come on, Sera. Breathe,” I plead.
It was only moments, but it feels like a lifetime until she finally turns her head and coughs up a lungful of water. A slew of foreign-sounding words bubble out of her, and she grabs at her head.
“Sera!” I cry, tears rolling down my cheeks.
Alex rubs and pats her back. “It’s okay. Let it out, Spitfire.”
Sera’s eyes flutter open, and I sag in relief against Kian. “Thank the gods.”
Sera looks around, spies Alex’s worried gaze, and snaps at him, “What in the hells are you looking at? Get me some clothes.”
