Chapter 23

Tulia screamed. A deep, angry wound appeared where the dragon had bit Austin’s leg. Her dragon roared her anguish long and loud in her mind. The second Austin met her gaze, she knew his intentions. He was sacrificing himself for her. She didn’t stop screaming until water closed over their bodies with a splash.

Holding her breath for as long as she could, she waited, praying the dragon would release her so she could shift. If she could get to him fast enough, maybe, just maybe she could bring him back to the surface. Deeper they went, the claws around her tight as ever as her lungs burned for air. It thrashed around, stirring up mud and debris from the bottom even before they reached it, making it harder for her to see.

It tumbled this way and that, fighting the water, but it wouldn’t make it back to the surface. Pain lanced through her, slicing into her soul. As big as that dragon was, Austin was bigger. Heavier.

Just when she thought the dragon would reach the bottom with her in its grip, it finally released her.

In an instant, she shifted. Though there was still plenty of murky water around, her vision cleared enough that she could see. The dragon fought an invisible enemy, trying to go to the surface, only to sink again and again. And just beyond it, was Austin.

Although he, too, struggled, his movements were slower, almost sluggish. It only took her a second to reach him, but already, his eyes were bulging, and a look of terror shone in them. He expected to die. She wasn’t going to let that happen.

Gripping the top edge of his wing, she pushed up from the bottom, swimming as hard as she could. If she could get him to the surface, he could shift and she could keep him alive until they reached the shore.

She had him halfway there when fatigue slammed into her. Pushing her body as hard as she could, she got to within a few feet from the surface. The sun shining through the now clear water teased and tormented her as gravity twisted its wicked fist, pulling them slowly down despite her best efforts.

They were so close, but with each passing second, panic seeped deeper into her soul. Austin no longer struggled—no longer moved. If they went back to the bottom of the lake, he’d never survive. Her lungs burned. She needed air. If she let Austin go, she’d never get him up again. If she didn’t, they’d both perish.

Giving it one more desperate try, she moved them up, gaining inches rather than the feet she needed. She exhaled the breath of air she’d held for so long already. The bubbles came out in a rush, blinding her. When they cleared, black dots swam before her as her vision narrowed. Disoriented, she twisted. Which way was up? Which was down? Her heart hammered against her ribs as panic exploded from her, stronger than ever. She fought to keep hold, but her grip on Austin’s wing slipped.

A second later, a splash of white came hurtling through the water, straight for her. Expecting an attack, she released Austin, but rather than an enemy, her father’s familiar form came into view. He swam sure and true, then caught hold of Austin and pulled him up. Without the added weight, Tulia followed his lead until they broke the surface.

Gasping, she dragged air into her lungs, struggling to keep her head above water as she took in the much-needed oxygen.

Tulia spotted two male dragons the moment her vision cleared. She didn’t recognize either of them, but her father brought Austin closer. In a show of precise flight formation borne of years of practise, both dived simultaneously, clutching Austin wherever their claws would reach, then flew toward land, leaving both her and her dad to catch up.

By the time she reached the sandy shore, Jace and a man she didn’t recognize were bent over Austin’s body. All three had returned to their human forms, though only two of them moved. Austin was so still—too still. Pain sliced through her throat in her effort to keep from screaming or roaring, or both. Jace was on his knees at his side, his hands compressing against Austin’s sternum, while the other tried to force air into lungs that had taken too much water.

“Please,” she begged, her voice barely a whisper. “Please don’t take him from me.”

Jace looked up at her then, his eyes bright with unshed tears, but he didn’t stop.

“He’ll be okay,” she said, trying to reassure the man trying to save her mate’s life—or maybe herself.

“Tulia, you don’t need to see this,” her dad said from next to her. She hadn’t noticed he’d come up onto the bank with them, yet there he was, his face pale after the exertion with a body that hadn’t yet healed.

She shook her head, and a small sob tore from her. “He’s going to be okay, I said. I’m not giving him a choice. You’re not fucking allowed. Do you hear me?” she shouted at Austin as though her command could keep him with her if death tried to take him.

“He was bitten, sweetheart.”

She glared at her dad. “No. He’s not dying. I know it. In here,” she said, thumping against her chest with her fist.

Jace caught her gaze then, giving her a look that was both filled with pity and grief, but he set his jaw and continued his compressions.

Austin still didn’t move, but a small trickle of foam spilled from his lips, then more. Jace yanked him to his side, swiping it from his mouth before setting him back. He reached with two fingers, finding the artery at Austin’s neck and holding very still.

Tulia’s heart pounded so hard she couldn’t catch her breath and her fingers grew numb.

“He’s got a pulse. Give him more air,” he ordered. The other man did as instructed, and again, foamy fluid bubbled up.

In the next instant, Austin coughed. It was weak—ineffective—and nowhere near enough to clear his airway, but the men continued working on him until he coughed a little harder. Once the liquid drained from his mouth, Austin wheezed in a breath, then coughed some more.

No longer able to hold her own weight, Tulia fell to her knees next to her mate. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she fisted whatever sand and pebbles lay beneath her palms. She didn’t know how long she remained there, fear and relief warring inside her. She didn’t look up until a warm hand came to rest upon her shoulder.

“We have to get him home,” her father said. “Jace will carry Austin. Can you fly?”

Finding her courage, she looked over to where Austin lay. His eyes were still closed, and his skin was deathly pale, but his chest rose and fell under his power. Now that the shock was wearing off, uncertainty crowded her mind—her soul. Surviving the shot was one thing, but add to that the venomous bite and then drowning, and she just didn’t know.

“Will he be okay?” she asked, looking right at Jace.

“He should be dead already,” he said, then snorted. “Maybe forbidding him to die was the way to go, little sister. Either that, or the active ingredient in the bullet was a derivative of the venom, and the antidote I gave him has neutralized it. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

Unable to say anything past the lump in her throat, she nodded and swiped the tears from her cheeks. Yes, he’s going to be okay. She’d deny him every single time if he dared try and die on her again.

“Ready to go?” her dad asked.

She stroked a trembling hand over Austin’s brow, not caring about the streak of dirt she left. Sniffling, she pressed her lips to his forehead. “I’m ready.”