I dove on top of it, ripping another dagger free from my holster, and slammed the blade into its wriggling back. Blue-black blood oozed from the wound, mixing with the water and clinging to my leathers with an oily sheen.
The creature stopped thrashing beneath me, but then another launched itself at my arm. I threw it off before its teeth could penetrate my leathers, but then two more leapt at me as I turned.
This time, I didn’t have a chance to raise my blade. I winced in anticipation of those long, horrible teeth sinking through my leathers and piercing my flesh, but the creatures flew backward into the filthy water as though repelled by some unseen force.
I stared after them in bewilderment, not understanding what had happened. But then I felt the fizz of magic against my skin. I couldn’t see it, but it was there — an invisible shield that crackled with power.
I looked over at Kaden, but he was still entrenched inbattle. At least eight of the amphibious beasts remained, surging from the water and crawling up the tunnel walls as Kaden slashed and hacked with his sword. He seemed utterly focused as he moved his blade, and yet he’d thrown up a shield to protect me.
I didn’t allow myself to think about what that meant — or about whether that burst of magic would be enough to alert the Watchman to our presence.
Instead, I concentrated on the beasts that had surrounded Kaden. When he slashed at one, another dove in. It was as if they shared a single mind — each one able to anticipate the other’s move.
The thought slammed into me with such stark clarity that I knew my instinct was correct.
The beasts shared one mind.
Thatwas why one always seemed to lunge at Kaden the second he fended off another — and why we couldn’t gain any ground.
But before I could voice my realization, one of the beasts lunged. Wickedly sharp claws dug into my leathers as it slammed me against the tunnel wall, snapping its needle-like teeth.
In one rough motion, I plunged my dagger into its side. The creature howled but didn’t release its hold.
Panting, I groped for another dagger, but the sheaths along my thighs were empty. My hands slipped and slid as I tried to reclaim the one I’d lodged in the beast’s ribs, but I couldn’t get a good grip.
Then I felt the warm spray of blood against my cheek, and the monster went limp against me.
I released a shaky breath as it slid down my body,sinking beneath the water. Kaden withdrew his sword as another one leapt toward me.
I rolled just in time to avoid its sharp teeth, and Kaden drove his blade into its back.
The creature’s death cries rang in my ears as the beasts clinging to the tunnel walls tumbled into the water. Kaden pivoted to fend off the next attack, but it never came.
Our rasping breaths filled the silence as the water stilled, the murky blackness settling to the bottom.
No more eyes beamed through the dark. No more beasts leapt from the water.
“You killed it,” I gasped. “The one controlling the others.”
“Oh.” Kaden sounded pleasantly surprised, though there was a strain to his voice that hadn’t been there before.
“You saved me,” I croaked. “When you threw up that shield.”
“All in a day’s work.”
His voice was uncharacteristically hollow, and something about it made me look up.
Kaden just stood there, frowning down at the fetid water as if he expected the beasts to resurrect. After a moment, he wiped the gore from his blade on his leather pants and smoothly resheathed his sword.
A slight hum of power tickled my senses, and I heard a splash as my daggers rose from the water. They floated toward me on a whiff of magic, and I caught them one by one.
I stared at the handsome dark fae who had somehow become my ally. His face was shadowed — his expression unreadable — as he turned and sloshed down the tunnel.
He moved with a slight limp, and I followed, glancingover my shoulder as we continued along the passageway. I didn’t see any more blue eyes peering through the darkness, but I couldn’t shake the sense that we were being watched.
Finally, we reached a narrow staircase at the end of the tunnel, and I nearly sobbed in relief. Water poured out of my leathers as we climbed onto dry stone, and my sodden boots squelched with every step I took.
Now that the adrenaline had worn off, I became aware of my aching muscles and the burn of saltwater in all my cuts and gashes.
