It didn’t move.
The current shoved at it, packing mud around the iron, locking it deeper with every second.
“ASH — STOP PULLING!” Dev shouted, splashing in beside me.
Kieran was already scrambling up the bank, boots slipping in the mud. “I’ll get leverage!”
Sy thrashed, the movement tearing the wound wider. Blood clouded the water, dark ribbons twisting downstream.
“Hold him still!” Dev yelled.
“HE’S A DRAGON, DEV!”
Sy roared again, twisting, his jaws snapping toward the iron like he could tear it free himself — but the movement only jammed him deeper into the roots beneath the riverbed.
And I still couldn’t see her.
“Ready?” Kieran shouted from the bank.
Dev and I locked eyes. No room for doubt.
“Sy, we’ve got to get this out. Don’t eat us, yeah?” Dev yelled.
Sy snarled — then forced his head away, bracing.
“One—two—”
YANK.
The bolt tore free with a sickening sound, and Sy collapsed backward into the water. His wings flared on instinct, beating wildly—
—but they wouldn’t catch air.
“Change back! We can lift you!” Kieran yelled.
Sy thrashed instead, trying to force himself skyward, water exploding around him.
And then I understood.
He wasn’t trying to escape.
He was trying to search.
My blood went cold.
I grabbed his horn, forcing his gaze to mine.
“SY!” I shouted. “Where is she? WHERE THE FUCK IS SEPH?”
Chapter 18
Seph
I woke up coughing on the rocks by the river.
Water burned in my lungs. My whole body shook as I dragged in air that felt too thin, too sharp.
I didn’t remember hitting the water.
