Page 78 of The Seer

Her life.

But Fintan and, by extension, Ardghal, were too important.

“I’m going to attack Odessa,” she said.

“You’re as mad as a toddler with feckin’ glitter and no bleedin’ adult supervision!”

Eoin’s aghast expression amused her, but her laughter was in short supply.

“Maybe, but hear me out. If I can distract her, you and Creed can don dive gear and help Ardghal. You’re an earth elemental, Eoin. You might have an easier time moving the stalactites pinning him.”

“And you’re a water elemental,” Creed said. “I should be the one to distract her while you and Eoin combine your powers to free Ardghal.”

“But—”

“No buts.” He gave her a roguish grin. “Damian chose me as a Sentinel for a reason, Taryn. I’ve got mad fighting skills.”

“I thought it was because you were a thief?” she countered with an arched brow.

“That hurt.”

She rolled her eyes. “Someone needs to call Damian. He?—”

“Sure, and he won’t come here, not even for you, girl,” Peter said with a longing look at the empty glasses. “Ardghal can steal his power when he’s in full command of the necklace.”

“I thought an Aether’s ability could only be stolen if they are murdered, or something like that?”

Eoin picked up on Peter’s message first. “As the original Siren hybrid, he’s more powerful than most, yeah? Is it that Damian fears him?”

“Damian fears no one!” Taryn said loyally. “If he won’t come, it’s for a reason. Like Fintan, he’s able to see the immediate future. And as the Oracle, Sabrina would tell him all potential outcomes.”

The men remained silent, considering what she’d said.

“But I guess we do this alone,” she concluded with dread burning her guts. “Whoever survives may want to get the Healer here. I’ve a feeling we’re going to need Jordan in short order.”

CHAPTER24

From atop a boulder at the water’s edge, Taryn hesitated to follow Eoin into the pool. She had a bird’s-eye view of the fight and it looked to be going sideways.

If Creed were a prizefighter, he’d have lost the championship belt to a knockout in the first round. The vicious blow caught him unawares when he went to Narissa’s aid as she went down. The crack of her head against the ground was sickening, and despite his claim of not caring, Creed did. A whole helluva lot. In his rush to check on Narissa, he exposed himself to danger, and Odessa quickly took advantage.

If asked, Taryn couldn’t explain how she understood the Succubus’s intended move, but she felt it clear to her bones. Closing her eyes, she drew water from the grotto. She reshaped it into five-inch-thick, foot-long spikes by changing the molecular structure of the water to ice.

She’d created five before Brenna’s Siren trilled a warning and launched herself at Odessa’s back. And when Taryn looked up, it was to see the Succubus bearing down on her.

“Stay back, Brenna. She’s too strong,” she hollered.

Her warning served to fuel Brenna’s anger, and she attacked with vigor. The precious extra minute gave Taryn time to construct two more ice stakes.

But Odessa was done being nice. With one of her lethal tentacles, she tossed Brenna into the cavern wall, stunning her to stillness.

Pulling up her element, Taryn directed the water to chuck her icy weapons at Odessa. But she only managed five before she was facing down seven feet of enraged beast.

“Has anyone ever said that you resemble Ursula fromThe Little Mermaid? But only if she lost a fight with a weed whacker and her glam team quit halfway through,” she taunted.

Odessa hissed. Her unwavering, sly-eyed stare slithered under Taryn’s skin and stayed there.

Digging in her heels, she held onto the last dregs of her courage. “No? It’s just a tragic coincidence?”

---