It blotted out the sun’s heat and light, sending us under the cool curve of its shadow. Taller than the cliffs at our side. A small mountain of wild surf, folding in over us.
Thaan threw an arm toward it, whipping it away.
The entire tide.
My breath grew cold. Frost gathered in the pockets of air around us, fine crystals winking into seaward wind as they expanded, then falling to the sand in flakes of snow under the heavy sun.
“Selena,” Thaan snapped. “Get to the coach.”
“Stay where you are,” Aegir growled. His arm still thrust to the side, he blocked me in, but from the thin view I had of his face, the anger in his eyes, I couldn’t decide if his reach was a shield or a cage.
The drones kept appearing. More and more of them. Standing up from behind alcoves, swinging their legs over rocks, emerging from cresting waves as though the ocean had breathed them out. Aegir hadn’t felt them in his waters. He’d only noticed when the wave surged over Thaan’s feet.
“Selena,” Thaan said.
Aegir’s hand clamped down.
Sindri turned, back to back with Aegir, locking me between them.
“Did you betray us?” Aegir asked.
My gaze shot to the Videre facing my sister’s form. But it was clear, by the quiet anger in his voice, the question was meant for me.
“No,” I said, a sting in my chest at the thought.
The drones stepped closer. Aegir’s hand tightened. “If you didn’t betray us, you won’t go back to them.”
Ten feet from us. Eight feet. Seven.
The longer my feet didn’t move, the darker Thaan’s gaze grew. “Selena.”
“Don’t,” Aegir thundered.
But he didn’t understand. It wasn’t the lull of safety that dragged my gaze from Aegir to the carriage. If anything, safety waited in the sea. Deep in Venusian waters, with Naiads who hated Thaan as much as I did.
Danger waited in that carriage. Along with my only way back to Cebrinne.
The drones stopped an arm’s reach away.
My eyes darted to Thaan. To Sindri. To Aegir. To the coach.
The drones lowered their hoods.
Sindri’s knife flew into the neck of the closest one.
His body dropped. And the world blurred with sand and movement.
They moved like Pheolix. Fast. Sharp. Precise. Fighting with their hands, not water.
One man stepped in, aiming a fist at Aegir. TheViderethrew himself to the right. Leaving me a gap.
I ran.
Sand flew under my feet, hot and grainy.
A knife sailed over my shoulder. I lunged to the side, though it had already passed me, sinking into the eye of a drone. But it was enough to force my attention over my shoulder. Slowing my steps.
A body rolled over the back of my legs.
