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This gets her attention, her golden eyes glittering, and I can practically feel her excitement at the prospect. There’s a slight probing feeling against my mind as she attempts to see if I’m telling the truth, holding herself back from pouncing on the idea.
And what do you want in return for freeing me?
Clever, very clever. She knows nothing is for free. Thankfully for her, our needs align. “Those who trapped you have my family, my pack, and I can’t do this on my own. They have a lot of power, and I need more people on my side.”
I stumble over the word “people,” as I have no idea how to describe her, but I manage to keep going. Emotion laced my words as I spoke, but I’m not embarrassed because it shows how much I care and how invested I am in making this work.
Her eyes narrow slightly, and she releases a long, warm huff of air, almost knocking me back with the strength of it.
I will not hold myself back. I am not one to talk and be diplomatic, she warns.I will tear them apart and make them regret the day they dared to trap me.
She’s going to help us. My heart leaps in my chest, and hope surges through my body as I allow a small smile to pull at my lips. “I would expect nothing less.”
Then let’s see how brave you are, little one.While the words sound like a pet name, there’s still malice in it that makes me shudder. The creature moves back into the centre of the lake, lowering itself so just its head is above the water.
It takes me a moment to realise that I’m going to have to get into the lake with her to uphold my part of the deal. Remembering how cold it was last time, I wince but strip off my jacket and chuck it back at Syn.
I have no idea how I’m going to break the curse, but my instincts are still guiding me to trust the creature, and unfortunately, that seems to involve getting into the lake.
“I really hope you’re not about to do what I think you are.” Stepping up to the edge of the lake, Syn reaches out and grabs my shoulder, turning me to face him.
“To free the creature, I have to follow her into the water.” Before he can argue, I press my finger against his lips, stilling him with my touch. “I know you didn’t hear what she said, so you’re just going to have to trust me on this.”
“I trust you,” he grumbles through my finger. “It’s the fucking water dragon with evil eyes who’s watching you like a snack that I don’t trust.”
Smiling up at him, I drop my hand to his shoulder and squeeze it gently, appreciating how difficult this must be for him. Directing Star to stay on the bank with Syn, I take a deep breath and glance up at the moon, praying for strength. Bracing myself, I count to three and dive into the water.
The cold hits me immediately. Any thoughts I had of being prepared for how it feels to be submerged in the freezing water were naïve. My body immediately goes into shock. Resurfacing, I gasp on reflex, my heart beating like a jackhammer. My movements become jerky as I fight against the instinct to flail my limbs around. Forcing myself onto my back, I float and take several deep breaths as I work on calming my breathing.
I can’t afford to stay like this for much longer. I can already feel my strength being sapped from my muscles, so as soon as my breathing calms, I begin to swim, needing to get some warmth back into my body. Swimming is a past time of mine. I used to love swimming in the lakes where I grew up, so I’m a decent swimmer. However, in cold water, it’s completely different. Each movement is difficult, but I keep going, swimming towards the creature who watches me with just the top of her head exposed.
As I reach her, she disappears below the surface, taking my hopes of an easy encounter with her. Treading water, I slowly spin in a circle, a nagging feeling in my gut reminding me of the last time I was in this lake. I tell myself that this isn’t the same and force down the rising panic, attempting to reason with myself. Syn is calling out to me from the bank, and Star is whining, feeling my fear and wanting to be closer to me.
I’m just thinking about turning back when the water shifts around me. Sucking in a shocked breath, I twist around to try and see what’s happening. When a talon wraps around my ankle, I shout out with terror, but it’s quickly cut off as I’m pulled below the water.
Coldness surrounds me once more, and the blackness of the murky water presses in on me. I’m pretty sure that only the dragon and her prey live down here, but my mind starts to play tricks on me. Panic flares in my chest, and I can’t hold my magic back any longer. Stars suddenly surround me and light up the darkness as I’m dragged farther down. The light doesn’t penetrate the darkness very far, but it’s enough that I can see the creature’s back as she pulls me behind her.
She suddenly lets me go, and before I can even think about it, I’m instinctively swimming up towards the surface.
Something slams into my body, knocking precious air from my lungs. Another hit comes from my other side, and I’m sent spinning, but not before I spot the creature. She moves so fast that I almost can’t see her. Hit after hit knocks me about, my body aching and my lungs screaming. I’m out of air, and my body is battered, my limbs so cold I can barely feel them. My vision begins to become black at the edges.
Is this how the creature breaks her curse, or was she just toying with me? Was this all an elaborate trick to get me into the water so she could hunt me for sport? I don’t understand why she would kill me when she has the chance to be free, unless my death is the only thing that will free her.
I’m dying, and I am no longer afraid. My only regret is that I never got the chance to say goodbye to my mates. At least the creature will finally be free, so some good will come from my death.
A bright light burns through the dark water, warming my body. I must be hallucinating, the shock of the cold water making me believe that I’m warm. Movement catches my eye, and I turn my head sluggishly in time to see the dragon surrounded by the light. With a flash so bright that I have to squeeze my eyes shut, the water around me shifts.
When I open my eyes, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen is floating in front of me. Long dark hair floats around her, and her facial features are beautiful but harsh, all sharp angles and perfect pale skin. Her eyes give her away, the golden irises shimmering in the unnatural light, and two, tiny curled horns poke from her hair.
The lack of oxygen and shock finally take their toll on me, and my eyes close, my mind starting to shut down. I feel a gentle set of hands on my cheeks, but I don’t have the energy to react as she lifts my head and presses her lips to mine. Shock registers in my mind, but it’s only as the burning in my throat suddenly eases that I’m able to open my eyes. My lungs fill, and instead of choking from the water that’s now flooding them, I instantly feel better. That’s when it hits me.
I’m breathing underwater.
Frantically reaching for my throat, I find three little slits on either side of my neck. She’s given me gills. She’s smiling, enjoying my reaction, her teeth pointed and sharp.
You broke my curse.Tilting her head to the side, she watches me with her golden eyes as though she can see straight through my chest and into my soul. Whatever she finds, she seems to be pleased.
Worried that I’m suddenly going to be drowning again, I feel on edge, wishing we could have this conversation on solid ground, yet she isn’t in a hurry. Question after question fills my mind, as I have no idea how I managed to break her curse. I press my hand against my throat and attempt to speak, but no sound comes out. I have no idea how to reply to her, but thankfully, she seems to know exactly what I want to say.
