Julia secured the anchors in the rocks and looped the rope through them, tugging the restraining knots to ensure they would support their weight. Her stomach churned as she tried to block out the expanse of grey-green water only a short distance away—the lake they were going to cross to escape. She’d mapped the cavern with the Sweeper. There were two exits on the far side of the enormous chamber. They were high above the waterline, but there was a way out. She had hoped that Garrick and Foster would appear at one of the two dark exits, but so far, she was alone with Sawyer.

If she had to choose there was no one else she wanted to be with. He was behind her, working quickly and methodically, only the beads of perspiration on his forehead betraying his apprehension.

His deep voice never wavered as he outlined what they were going to do. “We plant these in a staggered trail as we work our way through the water.”

Explosives were lined up between them, each remotely connected to a timing device Sawyer had set to allow them to exit the cavern on the opposite side. There was more than enough TNT to blow the entire cavern into the stratosphere—if they could plant the charges. Neither of them had seen the swimming Chittrix again, and its absence eased the sporadic tremors that shook Julia’s body in paralyzing waves.

She smoothed her fingers across the surface of the charges. She’d dedicated her career to weapons. “Going to be ironic if I get blown up,” she whispered.

His hand closed over hers. “The only things going boom are the Chittrix.” He slid a finger under her chin, tilting her face upwards. He kissed her, his tongue slipping inside her mouth. She returned the kiss, leaning into him, desperately memorizing the taste of him. She grasped his face, not wanting the kiss to end because when it did, she’d have to descend into the dark, Chittrix infested lake.

She finally broke the kiss, breathless, butting her head with his. He believed in her, despite everything. Time to buckle up.

They abseiled down to the water in tandem, their boots lightly bouncing off the rock face as they descended in silence. Five minutes later, their feet hit the thin strip of rubble beach at the water’s edge. They unclipped their ropes, leaving them lying in a bright yellow puddle at the base of the grey rock.

Julia shifted her backpack to the front of her body so she could access the primed charges she was carrying. The Sweeper was strapped snugly to her back. She needed her hands free to plant the TNT and swim.

They walked to the water’s edge hand in hand, carefully picking their way over the rubble as quietly as possible. Ahead of them, the body of water was calm, disturbed only by the faint swishing of Chittrix tails on the far side.

Julia laced her fingers into Sawyer’s, enjoying the last few seconds of his touch. Now that they were at the edge of the water, the hexagonal egg chambers were clearly visible. Murky, elongated shapes fidgeted behind the transparent cases, which continued below the surface, obscured by cloudy water. She stirred the mossy silt and sediment with the toe of her boot. They would be almost blind under the surface once they were in. She swallowed, forcing the lump in her throat back into her chest before it escaped.

Sawyer squeezed her hand. “I’ve got you,” he mouthed.

He waded into the water, guiding her. Warm water rose around Julia as she followed, pushing her body into the darkness one step at a time. Her knees locked, and she squeezed his hand, hard.

He whipped round, concern marking his face.

She had to say it now, before it was too late. “I love you.”

His face lit up, his smile deepening the creases at the corner of his eyes. God, he was beautiful when he smiled. He drew a zipped line across his mouth with two fingers and indicated again the direction they were heading.

Her knees released, and she tracked him, hugging the left-hand curve of the ledge. Finally, the bottom disappeared from under their feet, and they swam with slow, careful strokes to the first point where they would plant charges. Above, the Chittrix hung by barbed talons. A soft chittering charged the air as they communicated even in sleep.

Julia hit the rocky edge after Sawyer, her fingers closing on a thin wedge of stone. She counted backward from one hundred. Anything to distract her from the void of turbid water below. She hadn’t swum in water deeper than her waist since her sister had died nearly thirty years ago. Her nostrils flared as she struggled to suck in enough oxygen to supply her thundering heart, and red motes danced at the edge of her vision.

Sawyer turned to face her “Breathe,” he murmured, his eyes gentle. She inhaled a slow breath at his command, still fixated on the resting killing machines above.

She reached into her backpack and removed the first charge, placing it in his open hand. Sawyer secured the charge with sticky putty and activated the timer. They had allowed themselves twenty minutes. Ten to plant the charges, ten to escape.

After they planted the first charge, they worked in silent synchrony, swimming from one point to another. Julia passed Sawyer charge after charge, until the pack hung empty from her body. Then they switched to his. He sank low in the water, so she could hook them out and pass them to him. Her legs were numb from the burn of adrenalin through her body as she slid under the oily swish of Chittrix tails. Warm moist air beaded sweat on her forehead and the further they progressed into the nest, the more humid it became. After what felt like an eternity, she pulled out the final charge, handing it to Sawyer. “It’s the last one.”

A sharp cracking rose from close by. Julia didn’t dare turn in the direction of the sound. If she looked, terror would trap her.

Sawyer’s fingers wrapped around hers and for a moment they both held the charge as a sleepy Chittrix stirred a few feet away, spine stretching in the curve of the scaled wall. They didn’t have long. The Chittrix were going to wake soon.

Something solid brushed past Julia’s legs. She blinked, not daring to move as Sawyer set the explosive.

“There’s something in the water.” She barely heard her own voice, but he nodded and brought his pulse rifle forward, scanning the murky area surrounding them. Julia pressed her hand to her mouth as she waited, but nothing appeared. She dared to glance down, but the water was so thick with sediment it was impossible to see even her legs.

Sawyer lowered his rifle.

“We must keep moving.” His voice was hushed as he pushed off from the edge, heading for the far side of the cavern where the two dark exits loomed. He inclined his head for her to follow.

Nothing had ever seemed so far away to Julia. Panic strangled her throat. It was madness to think they could make it up there in time without any of the Chittrix waking and tearing them apart.

A trail of silver bubbles surfaced in front of her, breaking the greasy surface. She watched each bubble, transfixed, waiting for the Chittrix to pull her under.

Sawyer checked over his shoulder, his eyes darkening when he saw she hadn’t followed. He turned and kicked powerfully back to her, his large hands grabbing hers and dragging her away from the edge. Julia’s legs swam on autopilot, but her brain had disengaged.

“Julia,” Sawyer hissed, his voice barely a mutter.

More silver bubbles appeared.

“Julia, look at me.”

She looked up, treading water. Her voice sounded disconnected and far off to her own ears. “I’m good.”

He crushed her hand, as he towed her through the water hauling her to safety. Whenever she looked up, he was there, dragging her onwards, urging her to the rubble-strewn beach.

Her feet found purchase, and suddenly she was walking. Julia staggered forward, the spell broken.