The creature deposited him on the rocks at my feet—not gently, but not cruelly either—and retreated back into the water. Graham lay motionless, his skin pale as death, his lips blue, water streaming from his hair and clothes.
He wasn’t breathing.
“No.” I fell to my knees beside him, my hands finding his face, his chest, searching for any sign of life. “No, no, no?—”
I tilted his head back, pinched his nose, breathed into his mouth. Once. Twice.
Nothing.
I pressed on his chest. Hard. Harder.
“Come on, Graham. Come on.” My voice broke. “Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare leave me now. Not after everything. Not after?—”
I breathed into him again. Pumped his chest again, once more falling into the rhythm of saving his life. My arms were shaking, my ribs screaming in protest, but I didn’t stop.Couldn’tstop.
“Breathe!” I choked out, my eyes going to where my friends waited across the water. I needed Faelan. How could I get her here in time?
It’s too much.
He’s been under too long.
It was too late.
The Beithir watched from the water.
The Kelpies circled in silence.
The crows settled on the rocks around us, their black eyes fixed on Graham’s still form.
And Gran’s ring, clutched in my bloody hand, began to glow.
I didn’t notice at first, as I was too focused on the rhythm of breathing and pressing and begging the goddess to give him back to me. But the light grew brighter, golden and warm, spreading from the ring to Graham’s chest.
And Graham coughed.
Water erupted from his mouth—so much water, how had there been so much water inside him?—and then he rolled onto his side choking.
Choking, but alive.
“Graham!” I curled around him, not caring about anything except the fact that he was breathing, he was alive. “Oh goddess, Graham?—”
“Agnes?” His voice was wrecked, barely a whisper. “What... what happened?”
“I think I broke the curse.” I couldn’t think straight, instead just helplessly pressed kisses to his forehead, and savored the overwhelming miracle of having him back. “I think it’s over.”
It had to be over. Bloody hell, but it had to be over, because if the Beithir struck again now, we were screwed.
He reached up, his hand trembling, and touched my cheek.
“Hi ya, gorgeous.”
“Now is not the time to flirt,” I said, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“You’re a belter, you are, Agnes. You did it,” he said. “You actually did it.”
“I told you I would.” Had I? Nervous, I glanced over my shoulder at the island, but no threat loomed that I could see.
“You bloody infuriating woman. I can’t believe you came out alone.” His voice gained a little strength. “We’re going to have a conversation about that later.”
