Page 126 of Faerie Hunted

The boat jolted and I lurched forward in my seat.

“What’s happening?”

The moment I spoke, the water churned, the boat moving faster over some rapids. The bow dipped forward and sent us all out of our seats. Noren tumbled, off balance and heading toward the side. I let go of the seat to grab hold of him when he almost flew off.

No amount of magic would stop us now and I halfway wondered if any attempt would increase the rapids.

We slammed against the rock walls, sending loose pieces dropping into the rapids. They hurtled against us like missiles before disappearing into the swirling whirlpools.

Water sprayed, soaking through our clothing, chilling me to bone. Worse than being caught in a rainstorm. Worse than a wild ride because there was no stopping or getting off.

I clung to Noren, my foot locked against the seat in front of us.Please let us make it.

Please, please, please.

But who was I praying to?

Who was out there to listen to me and stop this?

We’d made a choice to come this far. The boat careened again into the cavern wall and the wood gave a groan underneath us.

Water sloshed in and around us.

Livvy had said Faerie was a real being, and had called her a goddess. I focused on that concept, conjuring up a clear image of Faerie in my mind.Help us, please. If the goddess existed then we needed her. We weren’t going to make it off this boat alive.

The front caught in one of the whirlpools and sent us spiraling in a circle. Heading along the river backwards. My stomach flipped and my heart jumped into my throat.

The bitterness of fear filled my mouth.

Noren growled and the sound vibrated through his body and into mine. I lost feeling in my arms and fingers.

Please, goddess, get us out of this.

Something had to give. The ride had to stop so we could get off because we weren’t going to get to the other end if the rapids got any worse.

Please!

The boat crashed again and wood splintered as the front end tore off. Behind me, Onyx and Livvy were screaming, their cries suddenly swallowed by the water. Still clinging to Noren, I went into the water, and didn’t resurface.

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I’m drowning.

The water was over my head and I sank fast, my arms and legs flailing and kicking but unable to propel me in the right direction. Or maybe I was swimming down instead of up. The pressure came from every side, and without any light, confusion took over.

Disoriented, I kicked harder.

Everything around me was chaos. I’d lost hold of Noren. Was he out there in the gloom with me, underwater, struggling?

My lungs burned and the muscles in my legs screamed for relief and found none. If I didn’t get to the surface soon?—

Was Livvy safe?

Had Onyx stayed with the boat?

The pressure increased and my heart thundered in my ears. Everything inside of me pulsed, my lungs constricted, going smaller and tighter. Gods, the pain.

I’m dying.

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