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Rafe grabs Connor and kicks toward the surface. I turn to follow him, but something grabs me by the ankle and yanks back. I look down, and dread fills me. Severing the serpent was a mistake. There are two of them now. Struggling against its hold, I pull my free leg back and kick it between the eyes. I throw another spell at it, pushing even more power into it this time. My ball of energy slams into the beast’s face and it screams, the sound making the water shudder. The serpent’s eyes explode, and its body goes rigid before sinking into the depths. The other creature spins and flees. I swim to the surface, my lungs aching for air and fatigue pulling at me.

I struggle from the waves and run toward Connor. He is lying on the sand, and Luke hovers over him, his hand glowing bright white. I stare at his chest, searching for any signs of life. I clamp my hands over my mouth, trying to hold it together when I don’t see any. We all stand vigil, waiting for Luke to do what he does best and sending prayers to all our gods. Fear binds my body like a cocoon, lodging a sob in my throat.

It seems like hours pass before Connor chokes and starts coughing up water. I exhale on a sob and drop to my knees, pressing my forehead to his chest.

“What the fuck was that?” Rafe snarls at Alice.

“I do not know!” Alice replies.

Connor pants and we all relax a little, knowing he will be all right. I cup Connor’s cheek, my heart pounding.

“Ow…” Connor groans.

I press my forehead to his. “You scared me.”

“That hurt,” Connor says, rubbing his chest.

Luke says nothing, but his hands continue to glow. Fear grips me again, wondering just how badly Connor had been hurt.

“What is it, Ash?” Zach asks. I look up at her to see her staring out at the water.

“I’m going to check the perimeter,” she says. I barely recognize her voice. It is devoid of the cheer and pep I have come to expect from her.

Zach looks up and down the beach. “I’ll go with you.”

Ashley’s wings appear and she launches into the sky, followed closely by Zach.

“What was that?” Connor asks.

“A hydra. A big one,” I reply, pressing small kisses all over his face.

“Take a deep breath for me, Con,” Luke says, sitting back on his heels.

Connor takes a deep breath in.

“Feel okay?” Luke asks.

Connor nods, and I keep kissing all over his face.

Connor pulls back and tries to sit up. “I’m good babe, promise…”

I pull back and help him sit up.

Ashley lands nearby with Zach on her heels.

“There’s a school just past those rocks. We’ve runed it off.” She gives Zach a wry look. “Well, I did.”

“Wow,” Zach grumbles, but his lips are curled in a small grin.

Ashley wraps her arms around him and kisses him hard. “Your rune work is terrible,” she says, but relief that he is all right softens her voice.

He growls and snaps his teeth at her. “Harpy.”

Connor wobbles a little, and I steady him. “Al. Why don’t we go to your lake house? Is it close?” I ask, remembering Alice talking about it once.

Alice nods, still looking a little shaken. “Yeah, let’s go.” She glares at the water, watching it as if something is watching her back.

Luke comes up on Connor’s other side, and we support him as we walk toward the lake house. I loved the soft sand earlier. Now, it just makes things more difficult. Rafe walks behind us, a silent sentinel at our backs. His gaze constantly moves, and his wings are still out.