Several seconds slipped by, the air between us heavy with silence. Then he sighed. “This isn’t your fault. And the sea serpent
recharges the crystal somehow. Even if it hadn’t, though, I’d still help you. How could I not? You’re . . .” He stopped and a few more moments passed. “If you ever have trouble sleeping again, let me know. I want to try something. And Reagan?” I met his eyes and they softened. “Thanks for telling me.”
—
Though there was definitely an adjustment period, I had to admit a sea serpent could be useful. The hawk shifter likely wouldn’t approach the monster and the weight of our group didn’t bother it. Plus, the ability to have the crystal recharged regularly was a boon I couldn’t ignore. Still, there was something unsettling about the way the creature turned to watch me, its great eyes scanning me for secrets. I shivered.
“I’m almost afraid to say how I really feel about the thing. I think it’s listening,” Caspar said, drawing my gaze. His wings were spread as he held himself just off the scaled back—he had only landed when he conceded to exhaustion, then immediately jumped back into the sky after a short rest. “It’s terrifying,” he mouthed.
“Would she mind if I just . . . borrowed one?” one of the twins asked, running a hand fondly over the smaller green scales. They had been fascinated with the creature, studying every inch as it coarsed toward what Tarik swore was the right direction. I wasn’t so sure.
“Are you trying to get us killed?” Sebastian snapped. “Leave the animal be. It’s bad enough we’re stuck with it.”
The serpent turned its head, eyeing Sebastian. The Fae’s cheeks flushed before he shot Tarik a pointed glare, stuffing his nose back into the book he carried.
Stars littered the sky before the serpent stopped. I scanned the broad horizon, seeking any hint of what we might be looking for: the passage through the veil. But there was nothing. The water was still, quiet.
“Told you she didn’t know where she was going,” Micah—Malachi?—muttered under his breath.
Akeno snickered. “It’s a she now?”
The blond-haired boy nodded stoically, mischief in his eyes. “She’s too observant to be male.”
Laughter rippled through the group, but the sound was cut short. Tarik jumped to his feet, jaw slackened. His attention was focused straight ahead, but there was nothing there. No forms, no indicators, no ships. Nothing. Then Tarik reached down and grabbed my hand, helping me to my feet. As the gentle current of magic trickled between us, my eyes widened.
A small island, not much wider than the serpent itself, sat in front of us. Through the center cut a river, wide and dark, that led into the entrance of a cave encompassing most of the land. Heavy vegetation sprouted on all sides, the leaves and flowers both vibrant and welcoming. I glanced up at the eyebrow raised in my direction, waiting for a response.
“You were right,” I murmured. Tarik smirked. “So this means what? If I touch you, I can see what you see? Because of the crystal?”
He shrugged. “I guess so. Maybe I’m like a conduit. A channel.”
“So . . . you’re a television antenna?” Caspar chuckled.
“You two are just messing with us,” Nevaeh huffed. “There’s literally nothing here. Water. More water.”
I held out my hand, wagging my fingers impatiently when she didn’t move. She stood, pausing to catch her balance before she gripped my hand. And gasped.
“Yeah, we’re not messing with you.” My lip quirked at her wide-eyed stare.
Sebastian moved next, grabbing Tarik’s free hand before the others chained their hands together with ours. When we could all see the island, I considered the serpent. “Do we . . . can she go up river?”
Oh, she could definitely understand us. As the words left my mouth, the serpent shuddered into action, gliding toward the open river mouth. Caspar’s wings snapped open reflexively and I pulled Nevaeh away before he could clip her with a sharp edge. We waited, still linked, as the cave crept ominously closer. Small creatures scattered into the long grass, disappearing quickly as the serpent passed between the banks of land.
We entered the cavern opening and my grip on Tarik’s hand tightened. Darkness blotted out the stars. Silence stretched around us, the splash of water and our stilted breaths the only sounds. Rock walls rose on both sides and finally, from somewhere deep inside, the incessant squeak of bats broke the tension.
The serpent slowed after another minute, pausing before a vertical line of vivid green that sparkled in the air right above her head. I exchanged a glance with Tarik and he released our hands, then stepped forward. Instantly, the green light vanished, though the cave remained firmly in place.
“That’s not comforting,” Sebastian muttered, shifting the bag on his shoulder.
Tarik fiddled with the crystal in his pocket, pulling the green stone free and letting it roll across his palm. For a moment, he stared at the space in front of him. His fingers tightened around the stone and he shoved it forward, the muscles in his arms trembling as he struggled to pull at the air. The faces around me were carefully stoic, but the moment one of the twins broke, the others fell like dominoes. Sebastian scowled, but even my lip twitched a little. His struggle was pretty entertaining without the crystal offering us insight.
After another moment Tarik spun on his heel, a self-satisfied smirk on his lips. Brushing past the chortling twins, he grabbed my wrist and then Sebastian’s. “Take a look.”
This time, my jaw fell open. Where the green light had been there was now a portal, as if Tarik had ripped away a piece of canvas. The jagged edges shimmered bright green, but on the other side . . .
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed.
As Sebastian nodded his agreement the rest of the group clambered to see. One by one they stilled, varying reactions of awe spread over their faces. Against the black backdrop of the cavern, the bright greens, pinks, and blues from the other side were vivid. Brilliant. I tugged my wrist from Tarik’s grip, wanting to get closer but, the second the contact broke, the image fell away into darkness. He held out his hand again and I laced my fingers through his.
“Seems like we have to go through like this.” Akeno gestured to the portal, his free hand tight around Nevaeh’s.
I managed to nod in agreement before the serpent moved again, lifting her massive head as she curved into the opening. We staggered, balancing one another, while her back arched beneath us.
Bright sunlight filled our vision, blinding us to our surroundings. By the time we had blinked away the stars, the serpent had paused again, her side parallel to a bank of thick foliage and sand. Caspar jumped off first, the relief on his face laughable. The twins followed him, then the others, until only I remained. I hesitated for a long moment before I jumped. My legs wobbled slightly, then Akeno reached a hand to steady me. Not bad for being so near death maybe a day ago.
I owe Tarik. Big.
Peering around, I sought him out. He was beside the serpent, charging the crystal again—but his mouth moved, quickly, quietly, and a small smile spread over my lips. When he turned and caught my gaze, his hand slipped to his neck, rubbing at the blush that grew there.
So cute.
“Look in all the bags,” Sebastian demanded loudly, and I spun to face him. He was talking to the others, digging frantically through his own pack. “There has to be one somewhere.”