Page 7

The fire gave me enough light to stroll down to the small stream running through the cavern. Splashing water on my face, I gazed up, sucking in a deep breath.

Everything felt so out of control, out of my hands, and I hated it. Even in the most extreme situations, I always felt like I had the upper hand. This time I felt like I was being played.

Your little kitty dies. I won’t hesitate. But you already know that about me.The letter in my pocket burned through my mind, that last line tapping at something, nagging me to understand, to figure it out. A puzzle I didn’t have all the pieces to.

“Gods dammit, Katrina.” Her name whispered from my lips, and I rubbed my face with irritation.

A wisp of her scent, the feel of her sliding over me like a ghost, my name whispered back through my gut.

“Croygen.”

My head jerked up, air halting in my lungs, my heart pounding. But the moment vanished faster than it came, leaving only the bubbling stream talking to me.

Groaning, I scoured my eyes, feeling like I was losing my mind. Being away from the sea was making me crazy. I missed my ship, my crew, and the open water. With Tsai and Scot in charge, I knew they’d be okay, but I longed to get back to where I belonged.

Walking back, I found Annabeth sound asleep in Cooper’s arms. His gaze drifted to me as he stroked her hair. I sensed the grief and fear, the desperation and sliver of hope that this nectar might save her.

If we lost AB, it wouldn’t only be Cooper who’d fall over the edge. She was my redemption, my salvation. It would be the only thing Lexie would ask of me—save her sister. There was nothing I wouldn’t do; I just didn’t know if it was in my power. Though with Cooper and I, if it was even a small possibility, we would find a way.

Whomever I had to kill, whatever I had to do. I would do it.

Taking the beans off the fire, I struggled down a few bites before wrapping them up for later. Rolling out of my bed, I muttered to Cooper to sleep. I’d be on watch.

Hours of staring at flames dancing across the cavern walls, listening to the soothing sound of the stream and my companions’ heavy breathing lowered my lids, dropping me into slumber.

I knew I was dreaming. Grazing the surface between awareness and unconsciousness, like a specter. I peered down at Katrina, her body curled up, her eyes shut. Her arms and legs were tied, a metal goblin band wrapped around her wrist, keeping her from shifting.

A mix of fury at seeing her tied up and peace knowing she was okay fought for dominance. Though the longer I stared at her stunning face, my chest warmed, and I exhaled a happy sigh.

“Katrina…” I slid my fingers through her hair, feeling her silky strands on my skin. Her body stirred at my touch, but her eyes stayed closed.

This was a dream. I understood that, but she felt so real, like this was really happening.

Still wearing my shirt, she now had on ill-fitted black pants and worn shoes. Her face was bruised, her lip freshly cut, telling me these weren’t wounds from the fight in the barn. They were new. They had beaten her.

Anger filled me like a cannon, ready to detonate. The need to protect her and kill whoever dared to touch her flowed through me. I tried to peer around, find the culprit, but I saw nothing except shadowy forms by a fire in the distance, hearing low murmurs I wasn’t able to make out. But I knew they were in the same caves.

“Katze?” I whispered, my thumb sliding over her bleeding lip, feeling the cut and blood on my skin. How the hell could I feel it in a dream? This wasn’t even real, right?

My gut was telling me differently.

“Kitty-Kat?” I rumbled in her ear.

She stirred again; her lids fluttered but stayed closed.

“Wake up.” I brushed my thumb over her cheek again. “I need you to tell me where you are.”

Her brows furrowed in pain, awareness pulling her from numbing slumber.

“Kitten. Wake up,” I growled.

Her lids popped open, her head lifting. Her eyes met mine. Seeing me, seeing into my soul. She sat up, her mouth parting in surprise and fear.

“Where are you?” I asked, my voice feeling further away. I felt something pulling me back to my slumbering body. An awareness stirring me.

A warning.

Katrina’s attention darted behind me, her eyes widening. I tried to turn to see who was coming. All I saw was a thin silhouette in the shape of a woman before Katrina’s voice jerked me back to her.