Dread fills the pit of my stomach when I don’t immediately see Alex or Sera. If the sun god got to them, Rae would be devastated. She wouldn’t be the only one.
“Alex! Sera!” I cry out, praying to the other gods that they’ve been spared.
I run down the path we cleared, calling their names repeatedly. I don’t see any bodies, but still . . .
One moment, I’m running, and the next, a force takes me to the ground, filling my mouth with leaves and dirt.
“Would you stop screaming?” Alex whispers harshly, his body covering mine.
“Thank the gods you’re okay.” I groan. “Now, get off me.”
Alex rolls away and springs to his feet, and I push up to my knees.
“Where’s Rae?” Sera’s frantic voice cuts in.
“Kyros tricked us,” I say as I brush the dirt off myself and stand.
“I knew something didn’t feel right,” Sera grits out. “When that asshole came flying out of the falls, Alex and I ducked out of sight as quickly as possible. We can only hope your screaming didn’t draw his attention.”
“It’s a good thing you hid,” I reply, ignoring the dig at me.
“‘Ducked out of sight’? Ha, that’s one way to put it. Sera tackled me into the bushes.” Alex huffs. “What in the hells happened in there?”
I shake my head. These two . . .
“He made her take his place.” I run a hand through my hair. “Rae is a goddess now . . . but she’s trapped.”
Sera and Alex stare at me, mouths agape.
“I did not see that coming,” Alex says.
“How do we rescue her?” Sera demands.
“As much as I hate this, we need to find Lord Astoria.” Sera oddly perks up at my words. “He was responsible for putting the sun god away the first time, so perhaps he knows what dark magic is holding Rae captive now. He’s our best hope . . . but the problem is, Kyros has a vendetta against him, and I’m not sure if we can make it to him before the god does.”
“Shit,” Alex and Sera say in unison.
“You’re telling me. I left some food and water for Rae, but we need to get back to Elsmont as quickly as possible.”
Alex and I march back into the jungle with Sera trailing behind.
The humidity isa million times worse with the sun out in all its glory, and we are sweating, panting messes when we finally make it back to the beach. We only have drops of water rations left, and Sera looks wan, her steps no longer sure as she favors her injured leg.
“Are you okay, Sera?” I ask.
She gives me a withering look, but there’s also a glint of . . . guilt? “I’m fine, Your Highness. Let’s just get to the boat.”
Without a word, Alex swoops her up into his arms.
“What in the hells are you doing?” Sera cries. “Put me down.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Sera. Your leg is killing you. Let me help,” Alex says, eyes straight ahead as he walks. “Besides, you’re only slowing us down.”
I wince.Wrong thing to say, buddy.
Sera crosses her arms and huffs.
Idiots.
