They stepped into the wash together.
The current hit like a freight train. Ice-cold water slammed against her legs, stealing her breath, threatening to sweep her feet from under her. She slipped immediately—her foot skidding on slick rock, body lurching forward toward the churning depths.
Liam’s arm whipped around her waist. Yanked her back against his chest. His grip iron strong, unbreakable.
“Easy.” The word vibrated through his chest more than his voice.
She nodded, white-knuckling the rope. They moved forward inch by inch. Water rose to her thighs. Her waist. Each stepheavier, harder. The rope frayed before her eyes—two strands gone, one barely hanging on.
It had held the teenagers. Some of them were bigger than her. But every creak, every groan of stressed fibers made her chest tighten another notch.
Five feet from the bank, her foot found solid rock. But beyond it—nothing. The current had carved a hidden channel, water surging deep and fast beneath the murky surface.
Her stomach plummeted. Going under wasn’t an option.
Mostly because she couldn’t swim.
“Jump!” One of the teenagers shouted from safety. “Hold the rope, stand on the rock, and jump! We’ll catch you!”
She looked back at Liam. His jaw was set granite hard, but his eyes held hers.
“I’m right behind you.”
Her legs shook as she climbed onto the rock. Fought for balance while water tried to knock her loose. Please don’t let her drown.
The burly teen stretched out his hand, friends anchoring him, shouting encouragement at her.
She couldn’t hear anything over her thundering heartbeat. This was so dumb—oh—no, no?—
“On three!”
Nimue counted under her breath.One, two, three?—
She launched herself toward shore.
Strong hands grabbed her arm as she fell into the water. Cold shock jolted her, but before she could go under, they hauled her onto the bank.
Solid ground. Safety.
She’d made it.
A shaky smile started forming as she turned back to watch Liam follow?—
The smile died.
The rope had snapped, the other end trailing, swallowed into the churning brown river.
And somewhere in all of that, Liam had disappeared.
TWELVE
He wasn’t dead. Yet.
But that could change fast if he didn’t move. The rope’s snap had hurled Liam into the furious water, cold enough to stop his heart, the frothing current strong enough to drag him under and drown him.
He clung to the frayed rope remnant, fingers screaming against rough hemp.Please hold. Please.
Branches hammered his face. Rocks gouged his arms. Muddy water blinded him, filled his mouth with grit and his thoughts with desperation. His pack dragged at him like an anchor, deadweight trying to pull him to the bottom.
