Page 72 of Fate Promised

He grunted and staggered, loosening his grip. It was enough. She jerked, her wrist exploding in pain again, and slipped free. Could she make it to the gate? Was she fast enough?

She dug her toes in, sprinting forward. Clammy fingers closed around her ankle, and she fell. The creature lay on the sand, holding on. She kicked at his face, spraying sand, and he hissed, grabbing her other ankle. He got on his knees, dragging her backward. She clawed at the sand. She must stay up on the beach.

The last thing she heard before slipping under the water was Juri’s roar.

Rocks bit at her stomach and arms as the water churned over her head. Slippery black seaweed passed by and she grabbed at it, but it came out of the sand in clumps. The creature kept dragging her steadily backward. Down.

The ocean. She stopped struggling and let the water stream through her fingers. Underneath the waves, everything became muted. Hushed. Except for the faint heartbeat of the sea, the slow thumping of the waves on shore.

The steady beat of the water had called her with more intensity every day. Begging her to join it. And finally, she was here. She wasn’t in her seal form, but even as a human, she could hold her breath a long time. Enjoy being here. Go deeper.

She was jerked downward, and she frowned. Why was this green monster touching her? He pulled her to the sand and moved over her, releasing her feet. He bared his small, sharp teeth and moved toward her throat. She kicked, and the monster’s eyes opened wide in surprise right before the heel of her foot jutted into its gills. The demon jerked back, and she was free.

Quick as an eel she shot forward. Her clothes flagged in the water, slowing her down, but she raced forward in long strokes, anyway. The water here wasn’t clear, it was murky. Dark. She twisted and turned, getting as far from the creature as possible. Grinning, she did a fast turn.

Her lungs ached, nudging her for air. Frowning, she glanced up at the surface. Why couldn’t she stay under for longer? She didn’t want to go to the surface. She belonged here.

An arm snagged her waist and hauled her upward. She kicked and squirmed. No!

The arm was warm, so warm. Her head broke the surface, and she sucked in a lungful of air. “Let me go,” she struggled, flailing blindly. Clawing to get back under the water.

“Triska, it’s me. The demons are dead. I’ve got you.”

She stilled. That voice was familiar. “I need to swim. The ocean needs me.”

The arm tightened around her waist, and in long, smooth strokes, she was dragged to shore. Her head was fuzzy, like she was in a dream. The insistent pull to go deeper into the waves turned into hard stabs in her chest.

They reached the beach, and she lay cradled in powerful arms, staring up at a vulk. She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. She shook her head, clearing it. Juri.

“Are you all right?” His expression was grim as his gaze searched her face. “You were under so long I was certain you drowned. You’re so pale.” He rubbed her arms. “Something’s wrong, we need to get you back to the palace.”

Everything faded except for his face. It was all she saw. The pull, the painful tug, to return to the ocean faded. She slumped against him. “There is something wrong. I’m a selkie, Juri.”

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“What?” His mouth dropped open, and his stomach clenched. Something was really wrong with her. “No, you aren’t. You must have hit your head.” He shifted to sit up, bringing her farther into his arms. Into his warmth.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Selkies were seal shifters, and he’d never seen her take seal form. She’d have to have a pelt. Did she have a pelt? Why on earth would she say she’s a selkie?

It was his turn to shiver.

Koschei came into view. “You all right?” He brushed his palms against each other, and sand rained down onto Triska’s face.

She flinched, and Juri growled. “Stop being a pest and see if she’s injured. She’s saying strange things.”

Koschei glanced at her and waved a glowing purple palm over her. He pointed at her wrist. “She’s all right except for that.” Magic licked over her wrist, healing the torn flesh.

Juri clenched his teeth. They’d lost the bird, and something was wrong with Triska. She lay in his arms barely moving—barely breathing—even after Koschei had healed her. She shivered and closed her eyes. His heart stopped. “Let’s go back to the palace.”

The red demon joined them as Juri stood, keeping Triska in his arms. His hackles rose. He was a vulk, yet he’d missed the water demons sneaking up on them because their scent was the same as the damn water, and when he was fighting them, he hadn’t known how to kill them. Vulk knew how to kill everything.

This red demon—a demon! —had helped show him to target the breathing flaps on the side of their necks. But why would a demon help him?

Koschei gave the demon a brief nod of hello. “Ah, a warrior fenix demon. Well met.”

The demon studied Koschei, and his eyes widened. Despite having large, curling horns rising in a smooth arc above his head, he looked like a man. A red one, almost as tall as a vulk, and scarred. Several faint slash marks marred the demon’s bare chest. They appeared similar to the marks a vulk’s claws made, or perhaps a sword. His wings were tucked behind him, becoming nearly invisible. He bowed his head several inches in greeting. “Well met, guardian. Have you returned?”

“Have we met before?” Koschei asked.

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