A second cough took her by surprise, and she grabbed her throat. No matter how much she tried to swallow, her throat became more and more irritated. Her chest grew tight and full until it felt like she couldn’t get enough air… something was tightening around her neck from the inside, like vines were reaching into her chest.
“Morgan!” Kincade was at her side in an instant. He gently pulled her hands away to see what was wrong, but she feared that he would find nothing. The rest of the guys crowded closer, concern darkening their expressions. She ignored their yelling and swearing.
“What…is…happening?” She gasped as water began to fill her mouth, her lungs feeling heavy, as if they were filling up with water. When her legs became unsteady, she leaned gratefully against Ryder.
Draven came toward her, concern clouding his eyes, completely missing the smug expression on Tamara’s face.
“After talking with my brother, it became clear that he would never willingly leave you.” Tamara shrugged, as if it was no big deal. “So I decided to take away his reason for staying.”
“What?!” Draven whirled on his sister, fury carved into his face. Then he turned back toward her and gently pressed his hand to her chest. “Slow, shallow breaths.”
The spot where he touched warmed with magic. “Just a few more moments.”
But no matter what he did, she couldn’t stop the water from spilling out of her mouth, until it felt like her lungs were close to bursting. “Not…working.”
Arguing erupted in the room, the threat of violence just beneath the surface.
“And it won’t.” Tamara wandered closer and watched with a feline smile of satisfaction. “He’s not really a true siren. He’s not strong enough to save you. The geas the queen placed will ensure that no one can reverse the effects. In another minute or two you will drown. And after another minute, your heart and brain will begin shutting down.”
“You could stay here, be a family, be a part of the Academy.” Morgan panted, barely able to catch her breath anymore. Ascher slipped his hand into hers, the sting of heat welcoming.
Tamara rolled her eyes. “Why the hell would I give up everything I’ve ever wanted to stay in this landlocked hell?”
“Your brother—”
“Oh, please. You expect me to give up everything for him?” Her lips curled in disgust. “He’s not worth me giving up my hard-won status. We would never be welcomed back to the sea. No thank you.”
Devastation hollowed out Draven’s face, and Morgan wanted to strangle the selfish bitch. Her lungs began to spasm with pain for every breath she took, but she needed to know. “He gave up everything to keep you safe when you were younger.”
“Is that what he told you?” Tamara crossed her arms defiantly. “I was the one that had to kill that ghastly man. I was the only one who had the balls to do the job and escape. He did nothing.”
“He stayed to protect you. He took beatings for you.” Morgan blinked up at her in confusion, not understanding how she could turn her back on everything that he’d done. “He could’ve left at any time, but he stayed for you.”
“As well that he should’ve.” Tamara waved away the protest. “It’s his job as a male to protect and serve the female.”
Morgan opened her mouth, only to cough harder, spitting up water.
Her time was running out.
She spotted Atlas pull out his blade, ready to cut the bitch, and Morgan shook her head, fearing that it was already much too late.
“You would damn him to a life of servitude. He deserves better.”
“He would be a treasured mate.” Tamara lifted her nose into the air. “It’s a great honor.”
“Mated against his will,” Morgan protest, appalled by the way Tamara refused to see the truth, the ache in her chest spreading through her whole torso, her stomach churning from all the water she’d swallowed.
“Please.” Tamara rolled her eyes. “What male would turn down sex? He would lead a pampered life, his every whim catered to.”
“He would be a slave with all his choices taken away from him.”
“You’re being overly dramatic.” Tamara scowled, looking ready to stomp her foot. “In time he’ll learn his place. It’s past time for him to come home.”
Morgan realized that no matter how much she might protest, Draven’s sister would never understand, too firmly entrenched in her own wants and needs.
Unable to contain the pain anymore, Morgan bent over, and threw up salt water until her stomach cramped. Strong arms wrapped around her, Kincade the only thing that kept her upright.
Draven grabbed Tamara, dragging her forward with a rough shove. “Fix her.”
Tamara laughed, the sound full of amusement. “Why on earth would I do that? It’s time for you to come home and do your duty. You’ll forget about her soon enough.”
In seconds, Draven had a knife at his sister’s throat.
For her.
Any doubt she had about him vanished, a balm to her ravaged heart, but Morgan knew if he was forced to choose between them, it would kill him. He would never forgive himself.
It was an impossible decision.
Instead of being afraid, Tamara only shrugged. “Killing me won’t save her.”
The siren jerked out of his hold and danced closer, her steps light and effortless. “And before you think to kill me, know that by touching me, you would destroy my brother’s happiness. He would forever see you as the woman who murdered his sister.”
“Do it.” Draven was at Morgan’s side in an instant, his eyes stormy as he pulled her close and shook her when she didn’t respond. “Please save yourself.”
Her heart broke at the impossible choice his bitch of a sister forced on him. The guys hovered around her, silently urging her forward. Her lungs wheezed, frantic for more air, and she knew her time was up. She pushed away from him and shuffled toward the girl, swallowing repeatedly enough to speak. “But…I…don’t need…to kill you.”
Without wasting more time, Morgan pulled back her arm and cold cocked her.
The bitch dropped bonelessly to the ground, out cold with a single blow.
Only the drowning didn’t stop.
She waited for her immunity to magic to kick in and shatter the geas. Unfortunately, if she broke the geas with magic, she feared that it would kill her in retaliation. The phoenix etched along her back fluttered awake, sending a searing heat along her spine, and Morgan understood.
She whirled, reaching out for Ascher. “Heat.”
Ascher’s face was white as he quickly wrapped her up in his arms. Warmth immediately surrounded her, but it wasn’t enough. Unfortunately, she could no longer form words, stuck in one continuous cough. Every breath was like she was inhaling water.
She smacked him up the side of the head as the strength began to go out of her legs, and the room began to dim around the edges.
Chaos erupted and shouts echoed in the room, then it felt like she was engulfed in flames. Her chest crackled, her bloated lungs aching as the water evaporated, leaving her feeling like a wrung-out dishrag.
The geas around her neck flaked away like ash, feeling like it tore a strip of flesh off her as the spell broke and burned away. The spell was a failsafe, but not like the queen implied. The bitch installed it as a last resort, a way to kill her and win the hunt. Morgan felt foolish for being so trusting.
“Give her room to breathe.” Morgan pried her eyes open at Breanna’s exasperated command to see all the guys crowding close.
Morgan stifled a groan, feeling like she’d been taken out back and beaten, her throat and insides raw from the salt water. When she tried to sit up, arms tightened around her, and she glanced back to see Ascher was sitting on the floor with her resting in his lap. He clutched her to his chest, his grip smoldering. Steam still rose from him, his clothes full of singes, nothing more than rags. His blond hair was messy, his blue eyes wild and desperate.
The shimmering lines of the mating marks were boldly dis
played on his shoulder, the black lines highlighted by a dusky red that resembled live coals. Morgan reached back, gripping his arm, feeling completely safe while cocooned in warm coal. “You did it.”
Without speaking, he buried his face against her neck and shuddered. Wanting to give him a moment, she glanced at the others…then froze.
“Where’s Draven?” Another sweep of the room showed Tamara was gone as well.
Everyone glanced around the room, then cursed, scrambling to their feet, checking their weapons. Morgan pulled her legs under her, then tapped Ascher’s arm, as reluctant as he was for her to leave the safety of his arms.
Instead of releasing her, he rose, pulling her up with him. Ryder didn’t seem to care that she was still in Ascher’s arms. He came toward her, gently kissing her forehead, then rested his cheek on top of her head. “You gave us quite a scare.”
Morgan pressed her head against his chest, her legs still shaking at the near miss. “Ascher got to me in time.”
A rumble of distress rose in his chest, and she ran her arms up and down his sides, then she pulled away. “We need to go. I have a feeling Draven is going to confront and kill the sea queen.”
Silence descended. The others were grim. No one would look at her. “Guys?”
“Is that such a bad thing?” Atlas was pinning on weapons even as he spoke.
Morgan wanted to smack each of them. “Even if by some miracle he manages to kill her, it would mean a death sentence for him.”
While the men would stand by her through anything, they also wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice themselves or each other to keep her safe. Morgan shrugged out of the comfort of Ascher’s hold and backed away.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let that happen.”
Kincade’s head snapped up, sensing something in her tone, his face hardening. “Morgan, whatever you’re thinking about doing—don’t.”
Morgan called up her magic and focused on the wing of the school the sea queen was occupying. Her skin tingled painfully, the cold from beyond creeping into her flesh and bones as she drew more and more power. She couldn’t get this wrong. She only had one chance.
She looked at each of them, one by one. “I’m sorry.”
As the guys lunged for her, Morgan stepped back and skipped.
The world around her seemed to explode, and she was sucked into the madness.
Moments later, she was spit out into a rough landing. Her legs buckled, and she smacked the stone floor hard enough to leave bruises. She’d swear that she could still feel the guys shouting in her head, almost able to sense them rushing toward the door.
To her surprise, Breanna seemed to step out of thin air, her ghostly form solidifying only a few feet from her. The sharp smell of the deadly oleander flower swirled down the hall before it gradually faded. “I wonder if chaos finds you or if you just create it,” she mused.
Morgan grabbed the wall, using it to pull herself to her feet, huffing out a laugh. “It’s something I often wonder myself.”
Breanna’s stance softened, as if she’d been expecting a fight.
“Why did you follow me?” Morgan wouldn’t turn away the help, but she needed to know what she could expect.
“Honestly? This has nothing to do with you.” Breanna glanced down the hall, her face hardening. “The sea queen and I have a little score to settle.”
This was about more than just banishment.
Whatever the queen did to Breanna, it destroyed her.
Shadows shifted behind the banshee, then Shade strode into the hall, casually walking toward them. Then Ward appeared in an explosion of particles as he used his magic to skip into view.
“What are you two doing here?” Morgan sighed in exasperation.
Breanna edged to her side, the slight widening of her eyes showing her surprise.
“I told you to cover your tracks.” Ward scowled at Morgan, but his gaze flicked curiously toward Breanna.
Shade shook his head, keeping his attention directly on Morgan. “We felt a surge of power and figured you were about to get into trouble. Unfortunately, it’s our duty to keep you safe and deliver you to your meeting later.”
When his gaze flickered behind her, Morgan whirled to see Draven striding toward them, carrying his unconscious sister in his arms with no more care than a stack of wood. His expression was tight, his eyes so dead it was like he didn’t see her.
“Draven…”
A muscle ticked in his jaw, his gaze flicked toward her, and the devastation there nearly gutted her. “This needs to stop. I can’t allow—”
“I agree.”
Draven narrowed his eyes on her, a spark of life returning to them.
Morgan breathed a sigh of relief.
She wasn’t too late.
She nodded toward the corridor housing the sea queen’s rooms. “Shall we?”
Draven slowed, probably suspecting a trap, but she would not let him carry this burden alone. When she didn’t try to stop him, some of his tension eased, and she fell into step next to him. When they turned the corner, they saw two guards posted outside the door.
“Let me handle them.” Ward strode into the hall like he owned the place. The two guards snapped to attention, drawing their weapons. But with a wave of his hand, Ward opened a portal beneath their feet and dispassionately watched them scream as they dropped out of existence.
“Where’d you send them?” Morgan couldn’t help asking.
Ward raised a brow, then shrugged. “Antarctica is a nice place at this time of year.”
Without giving them a chance to knock, Draven shoved open the door, and Morgan hurried to follow.
And could have sworn she’d entered a whole new world. It was like she’d entered an underwater oasis, the walls and ceiling completely obliterated.
They were in a short tunnel of some sort. The walls were made of water, with sea creatures swimming along the barrier, the blue so clear she could see even the tiniest detail in every direction for miles. The ceiling was an arch, the water rippling as if pulled by a current. A light mist filled the tunnel until it felt like she was breathing in water, and she barely repressed a shudder.
Morgan rubbed her fingers together…the water was real.
Magic saturated the room, prickling painfully against her skin, begging to be set free and used. Half a dozen dark shapes in the water darted forward at an incredible speed, only to pull up short just outside the barrier.
The sea queen and her court.
Their beauty was uncanny in the water, until one of them smiled, revealing alligator-like teeth. Their eyes were pure black, like a shark, a little larger than normal human eyes, and bulged slightly. Their skin was various shades of gray, green and blue, and so smooth they resembled putty.
They calmly emerged from the water as one unit, reminding her of pod people with no will or personality of their own. As their skin came into contact with air, they morphed, became more human. The bitch queen was in the lead, her eyes narrowed dangerously. “What is the meaning of this?”
Chapter Twenty-four
Draven walked up to the queen, callously dumping his sister on the floor, then returned to Morgan’s side. “The hunt is over. She failed. Leave this place and never return.”
“You foolish boy.” The queen snarled. “Do you dare think that you can order me to do anything?”
She lifted her hand, magic gathering in the air until a trident appeared. Morgan stepped between her and Draven, ready to deck the queen, knowing that she’d be able to take the bitch in a physical fight.
“He no longer bears your mark. Even if he returned, you would no longer be able to control him. Harm him and this game you’re playing will be over. I will hunt you down no matter where you go.” Morgan leaned in closer, letting her lust for vengeance show. “And I’m very good at my job. You will never be able to hide. You will never know peace.”
The sea queen lowered the golden trident slowly, the metal shimmering with raw power, and her e
yes narrowing dangerously, hatred making them glow like bioluminescence of deep-sea creatures. “You honestly think a child like you would really be able to take me?”
“If she can’t, I most certainly can.” Breanna ghosted into view, her calm face belying the way her crystal eyes cut into the queen.
“You wouldn’t dare.” The sea queen’s nose all but quivered in outrage.
“It’s not like I have anything to lose…you made sure of that.” Breanna pulled out her obsidian sword, power humming in the air. “I don’t even have to touch you.” Breanna’s smile was all teeth, pleasure making her eyes shimmer. “A quick trip to the veil is all it would take. With your power, they would rip you to shreds in seconds.”
“Or we could send her into the void.” Ward vanished from the back of the room only to reappear next to Breanna. “She sent an assassin to take out Morgan. An attack on school grounds. During the day. Against the terms you both agreed upon.” His eyes were a combination of silver and black, as if pure magic from the void filled him, the silver flecks seeming to move in their depths. “I’m one of the last wardens. It is my job to see justice is done.”
“You have no proof.” The sea queen stuck her nose up in the air. “I might have offered to reward her if she could talk to her brother and take care of the problem on her own, but never once did I ask or order her to kill you. Whatever she did was completely on her own. Our deal still stands.”
Morgan wanted to protest, but the sea queen was right.
It also meant they had one more night to survive.
“I say we just send her to Tartarus and consider this matter done.” Shade’s violet blue eyes were hard, little wisps of dark smoke curling around him. “You know how to open the gates to hell. You have pure blood from the gods running in your veins, more than a half-breed like me. It’s not like anyone would miss her tyrannical ways. The gods would take their time killing her, draining her slowly of power until she was little more than human…that is if they didn’t feed her to the dragons.”
“Shade—”
“Why not?” Shade turned and aimed his fury at Morgan, and she could feel the darkness around him pulling at her. He was a nightshade, a literal night mare who could scare a person with their dreams so badly that he could rip the soul right out of them. “You needlessly risk your life, and subsequently mine, on this little game she’s playing.”
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