Page 17 of Rescued By the Great Grim

When the water column depletes, Hailey sags beside me.

I pull her toward me, but before I can get her into my arms, the creature jolts out of the water and latches onto Hailey. She drops my hand as she tries to fend it off, struggling to keep her balance.

They both disappear beneath the surface.

An inhuman growl erupts from my lips as I blindly grab for her but catch nothing but water. They surface further out in the lake and I throw myself toward them. The creature drags Hailey behind it, trying to drown her.

“If you kill her, she can’t tell you where the trident is,” I shout.

That stops the monster, and it turns toward me with that inhuman grin stretched across its face. “Good point.” It holds Hailey above the water and relief floods my body as I hear her grasping for breath. “Tell me where my trident is and I will spare your life.”

Hailey’s gaze meets mine. I see sorrow and an apology with it. “I’m sorry,” she mouths silently. A chill runs down my spine as I realize she’s going to sacrifice herself.

“No,” I growl, startling the creature to look my way. I dive and swim toward them under the surface. As I reach them, I pull on the connection I have with the lake and funnel through all the power I can. Hailey’s legs are still under water. I grab them and throw her toward the shore, praying that I’m strong enough for her to land far enough to where she can reach the bottom.

The creature shrieks out its rage as it loses the grip on my love.

I surface right next to it and punch it in its face. The surprise attack gives me the moment I need to grab its hair and force the head below the surface. The creature struggles fiercely, raking nails as long as claws down my forearms. I barely register the pain from the cuts as a hundred and fifty years of rage and frustration floods my body and I use it all to keep this despicable monster from surfacing.

How dare it come tomycabin bymylake, threateningmywoman?

This time, when it stops struggling, a wail escapes the creature, and it shrinks. I turn toward the shore and want to cry with relief when I see Hailey sitting on land, a brittle smile on her face.

I swim toward her, dragging the creature behind me. With only a few strokes, the water is shallow enough for me to reach the bottom. I walk ashore and have to pick up the monster’s body the last few feet.

Hailey meets me out in the water and we stare down at the creature. It looks like a mummified body from eons ago. “Pretty sure something possessed him,” Hailey says.

I drop the creature on the shore and hug her close to me. “Pretty sure you’re correct,” I mumble into her hair.

She leans back, a cheeky smile on her lips. “How did it feel to drown your first victim, Nixie?”

I kiss her before I answer. “I preferFossegrim.”

“What does that mean?”

“That’s nixie in Norwegian.”

She laughs loudly, but then she turns serious. “I’ll call you whatever you like, as long as I can be with you.”

I cradle her face between my palms. “I’ll answer to whatever you call me as long as you are with me.”

She smiles. “We should probably figure out what to do with the trident before we plan our life together. The hiding spot I picked is not the safest place.”

I kiss her again, long enough to where she’s out of breath when I finish. “I might know someone who can help us with that.”

CHAPTER 12 (HAILEY)

Nick texts a friend, using some kind of satellite communication device. As dawn rises, Rae rides into the clearing on an electric dirt bike. She’s a magnificent bundle of energy and pulls off her helmet to expose wavy dark hair framing a lovely face with big aquamarine eyes. I’m so impressed by her, I almost forget I’m straight.

She sits astride the bike, dressed in leather, and watches us for a moment as we stare back at her from the porch. A big grin slowly stretches across her face. “You’re a linked pair.”

Nick throws up his hands. “Can someone please explain what that means?”

Rae lowers the kickstand, drags off her gloves, and then puts her helmet on the seat of the bike. She walks up to the porch, leaning one boot on the edge of the stairs. “It means you can boost each other’s powers because your souls recognize each other.”

Huh. I never heard that part about the souls, just that the powers vibrated on the same frequency. But that makes sense. I definitely feel like Nick’s soul and mine know each other. I shoothim a cheesy grin. He smiles back. “Okay then,” he says, as if that’s all he needs to know.

Rae laughs. “You’re a gonner.” She holds out her hand to me. “I’m Rae.”

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