19
Savannah
I glanced around the pool. Apart from the creaking of branches, it was quiet. I stashed my jacket and the talisman beneath a fallen log, then cursing, I took several deep breaths, then dove into the pond. After swimming in lakes most of my life, I knew to make my angle shallow.
The icy water squeezed my chest, which left me mildly hyperventilating when I came up for air. Keeping my head above water, I freestyled it to the stone turret in the center of the pond. Mosses and small ferns covered the base.
Who the hell put a tower in the middle of a pool?
When I reached the turret, I tried finding the bottom of the pond with my feet, but they hit nothing solid. Treading water, I took a few more deep breaths, then dove into the murky green water.
I was so fucking stupid. This was so fucking stupid.
The cold water pressed in around me, and I cleared my ears as I kicked downward. The only bright side about this situation was that I had my Swiftleys on. I swore I’d kiss the Moon’s feet for giving them back.
By the time I’d swum a dozen feet down, my lungs were screaming. I swung my head around, peering through the dark water. A gentle glow shimmered off to my left.
Gotcha.
Then something brushed my thigh. Shit. Things were definitely lurking in the water.
Trepidation wrapped around my heart, and the rising panic only made the burn in my lungs stronger. I frantically kicked toward the glowing moonstone, glancing around me, half expecting to see some monster come out of the darkness.
Dizziness began to fog my mind, but I kept kicking until my ears were throbbing and the rocky bottom appeared. The moonstone shone like a beacon in the dark. I scooped it up in my fist, then pushed off the bottom, shooting to the surface like a torpedo.
As soon as my head broke the water, I launched into a coughing fit. Through my blurry vision, I saw Jaxson burst out of the forest, his shirt and arm bloody. His eyes locked on me, and relief flashed across his stricken face, and—
Something grabbed my ankle and towed me down. I barely sucked in a breath of air before I was pulled under. Kicking with my free leg as I was rapidly towed toward the muck, I connected with something solid and fleshy.
Oh, my God.
Panic and survival instinct flew into overdrive, and I began thrashing and flailing, hoping I’d strike something sensitive.
The grip on my ankle loosened, and I was free. Coiling up near the bottom of the pond, I looked around the dark, murky water. Shit, shit, shit. I didn’t want to stay down here, but I also didn’t want to risk swimming to the surface, where I’d be an easy target.
I called my magic, feeling it fill my aching chest. Come on, you bastard, show yourself.
As if answering my summon, a face appeared from the darkness. Red and blue splayed out around her head like a crown, and brilliant scales covered her arms. Though I couldn’t make her out perfectly, she seemed to have the torso of a woman and a fin where her legs should be.
A nymph or mermaid? I wasn’t certain of the difference—or that they’d even existed until that moment. All I knew was that the creature looked more than happy to drown me and drag me off to her lair.
As I tried not to lose my shit, the fish woman surged forward. All I saw were teeth before I blasted her with my magic. A shriek reverberated through the water, and I kicked to the surface. Gasping, I grabbed hold of the slick rocks at the base of the turret and pulled myself out of the water.
“Savannah!” Jaxson roared.
I slipped the moonstone into my pocket and climbed the turret as fast as I could in case the fish woman jumped out after me. There were enough handholds and gaps between the rocks that the ascent was easy with claws. The thing was only fifteen feet tall at most, and I was at the top in seconds.
I craned my head back and frowned at the orb hovering high overhead. Jumping up and clinging on for dear life didn’t seem viable, so I was going to have to risk using my shadows again.
As if reading my thoughts, a black ribbon snaked from my palm and danced in front of me. Wonder squeezed my chest. My magic was blossoming, and I felt a deep…affection for it.
I’m getting jealous,Wolfie teased. But seriously, what’s going on? I faded out for a bit. Why are we wet? I thought the plan was to avoid the water…
That didn’t sound good, but one thing at a time.
I’ll explain later,I said as I swallowed the rising lump in my throat and prayed that the shadows didn’t drop the stone again.
A tendril broke free, and after winding around the stone, it plucked it from my palm. The ribbon snaked up around the orb, and I didn’t dare break my concentration for a second—not to look down at the water or back at the shore. About twenty strangled heartbeats later, a soft clink echoed from the top of the orb, and in the space of a breath, the stone sphere began glowing brightly and a column of light rose above.
My shoulders relaxed, and I slumped onto the corner of the turret. Sam stood at the edge of the pond with her hands on her hips and a worried expression on her face, while Jaxson prowled the edge of the lake, looking murderous.
“I’m fine! I’ll be right there,” I shouted. “Let me get the spent moonstone back!”
Jaxson stopped pacing and watched me like a hawk. I sensed his agitation and protectiveness.
After a minute, there was another soft clink and a sound like a rolling marble. I glanced up to see the spent moonstone drop over the edge of the orb. Acting almost on instinct, I thrust out my hand, and a tendril of shadow jetted out.
It caught the moonstone in midair.
I’m getting good at this. Did you see that, Wolfie? I asked as I reeled in the stone and tucked it in my pocket.
No response.