A vine. A fucking vine. Wrapped around my ankle, tightening, twisting, dragging me back into the abyss.
“What is it?” Her voice was faint. Alarmed.
I didn’t answer.
“Go. Now.” I shoved her toward the surface. I didn’t have a knife. I didn’t have a sword. I clawed at the vine, but the thorns bit deep, sinking into my flesh, cutting through muscle, the water turning black with my blood.
My gaze traveled up to the surface. I closed my eyes, trying to keep myself going. Breath wouldn’t materialize by hoping, but panic would speed my drowning.
Noises muffled as water filled my ears, my pulse the loudest sound of all. I bore through the pain, reaching down and tugging at the vine. My fingers tore into the thorns, razor-sharp against my skin, and a swell of panic rose with the crushing desperation for air.
I ripped with everything I had. But it kept pulling.
I didn’t have time.
I couldn’t fucking breathe.
The pressure in my lungs reached a breaking point, and the edges of my vision darkened.
“Seren.” I reached for her through the bond, but my mind was fogging, slipping, spiraling into the void.
I need air.
I need?—
I couldn’t fail her.
But the only powers I had right now were from her and everything I took from her made her weaker. Less likely to survive.
Dammit, I need to breathe!
My lungs screamed, a hollow ache that turned to fire. My limbs felt heavier, slower. The vine coiled tighter, like it could feel me weakening, feel me giving in. The pressure built, a vise around my ribs, crushing, strangling. The darkness in my vision stretched wider.
My grip on the vine slackened, my head spinning.
“Seren …”
Chapter 40
Seren
Rykr’s soft call filled my head as I dove back into the water.
“Rykr?”
Nothing.
Dammit! A wave of fear surged through me and I swam faster, trying to return to him. What if I couldn’t find him?
“Rykr!”
Still no response.
Oh gods.
My heart pounded so hard that my chest felt as though it would burst. Dammit, dammit.
He only had precious seconds or he’d drown.
