Chapter 218

Chapter 218: Chapter 218

Heather

For a while after the fight with Luciana, a bunch of baddies had come out of their hiding holes.

Vampires. A few goblins. Some lower-level demons here and there, but nothing as bad as what we’d seen when Luciana opened her hell portal. A handful of pissed-off fey who’d stuck around when the courts disappeared.

The worst of which Serena dealt with in Ireland. A will-o’-the-wisp had even popped up at the Grand Canyon and started guiding unsuspecting people off a cliff. It’d been a little more than the Cazadores were used to, but definitely manageable.

At least that was what everyone told us. Which was why we’d felt okay disconnecting.

I threw my phone down on the towel and walked to the edge of the water. Everything had been fine, but two weeks ago, clearly something had changed. Xander was right. There had to be a reason for the sudden spike in demon attacks in Texas.

What had changed? And why after Serena’s wedding? Was that just a coincidence?

There were no other messages about demons attacking the rest of the world. Why were the demons only in Texas? And maybe scariest of all—why were they only in our specific area of Texas?

My imagination came up with a number of scenarios, but maybe Xander wasn’t so crazy. Maybe what Luciana had done wasn’t over. Maybe we were in for another fight.

That thought sent a zing through my body, urging me to run and hide.

But I wasn’t about to hide.

Maybe some of the outbreaks could be well-timed flukes, but this was too much. I didn’t believe in coincidences. Everything happened for a reason. I didn’t know what was going on yet, but I’d find out.

Left a message for Presley and I’m going to start working on travel now. Want to come back to the house and eat?

I’m not hungry anymore. The swirling pit of anxiety in my stomach made it impossible to think of eating right now.

Then why don’t you go for a swim? Clear your head. When you get back, I’ll have our travel figured out.

Are you sure? Shouldn’t I be helping?

We only have one reliable phone line, and I need the WiFi to book the airfare once I have the boat and ferry lined up. Go for a swim. If nothing else, it’ll kick your appetite back into gear.

I took a breath. The water did look nice. I took a few steps back to the beach towel to grab my fins, mask, and snorkel. Tell me if you need my help. I’ll come back.

Of course. Go. You’ll feel better after a swim.

I walked into the clear water, watching tiny electric blue and green fish swimming around my ankles.

The water was waist-deep but clear as crystal. My toes disappeared under the sand as I tried to balance while pulling on my fins. Part of me still felt guilty. Like I should’ve been helping Brent and Xander and everyone else right now, but there was nothing I could do yet except worry. That wasn’t going to help anyone.

The mask tugged on my hair, but I got the straps in place and dove in.

The warm water was like a balm on my soul. Until we got to the island, I hadn’t been swimming since becoming a werewolf. The change had made me a stronger swimmer, but too much muscle wasn’t a good thing when it came to floating. I couldn’t lay in the water without sinking at least a little bit anymore.

I used my legs, flicking the fins just enough to keep my head above the surface as I watched the colorful fish dart around the coral.

After a few minutes of tuning out, I felt better. Anxiety wasn’t making it quite so hard to breathe anymore and I started to swim farther out. A mile or so away was a tiny island that we hadn’t explored yet. We’d talked about kayaking over, but if we were leaving tomorrow, then this was probably my last chance.

We can come back, Brent said.

That’s a given. Now that I knew this place existed, I was addicted.

I froze as a nurse shark swam under my feet. They were harmless, but they still made me nervous. I pulled my legs up, and it ignored me.

As I floated there, waiting for the shark to pass, I wondered if I should go ahead and call Claudia. I didn’t want to bother her before I had to, especially since she was in Peru on her own version of a honeymoon, but I was pretty sure that my messed-up visions had something to do with the demons in Texas.

Even if she didn’t have any answers for me, I was sure she’d appreciate knowing that there was some stuff brewing. As soon as I was done with my swim, I was going to try texting her.

The water grew rougher the farther from shore I swam. I’d passed the drop off and couldn’t tell how far down the bottom was anymore, even with my enhanced werewolf sight. Maybe if I’d brought a light with me, but I was only snorkeling. I couldn’t swim down that far unless I had SCUBA gear, even as a werewolf.

I looked around to make sure the current hadn’t knocked me off course. The island looked a little too far to the right. I spotted the strip of white sand beach that I’d come from behind me. The tree line nearly gobbled up the beach, forming a horseshoe. I’d made it all the way out of the inlet but had definitely drifted too far to the right.

I corrected my direction and started kicking my feet. I’d gone another fifty feet when pain sliced through my knuckles, one by one in rapid succession.

I screamed out bubbles as I sank under the water. Kicking hard, my head broke the surface. Air filled my lungs in one big gasp.

For a split second, I thought the shark had come back, but my hands looked fine even though I couldn’t feel my fingers.

What’s happening? Brent asked. His worry beat against my mind. Are you okay?

I don’t know. I shook my hands, trying to get rid of the pain, but it lingered.

I kept kicking, keeping my head out of the water. I didn’t know what was happening, but I suddenly didn’t feel much like swimming anymore. Whatever had happened to my hands was freaking me out.

Coming back, I said to him. I don’t know what the hell—

My arms locked in place as pain slashed through my wrists. Through my elbows. My shoulders.

I couldn’t move through the searing pain. I started to sink into the ocean.

I kicked harder, my legs burning as I struggled to keep my head above water. Brent! What’s happening?

I’m coming! Swim back toward the beach.

I tried to look around, but the pain left me gasping for air.

I couldn’t focus enough to even see the beach. It was like someone had chopped off my arms, bit by bit. But they were there. Totally intact. I could see them under the water, but all I could feel was searing pain in my shoulders.

Whatever I was feeling, it wasn’t real. It had to be witchcraft. A curse. Something.

Think, Heather. Think. I had to stop whatever this was. I needed a protection spell. Something to break—

I screamed as the pain multiplied. This time it started with my toes.

Then my knees.

And then I couldn’t move my legs.

No. No. No.

I wiggled my body around, but it was no use. I sank like dead weight.

Screams ripped from my throat until my lungs were burning.

Which way was the surface? The light was getting farther away.

Pressure started to build in my head and my ears felt like they were going to explode.

Oh fuck.

I held my breath, trying not to suck in water. I didn’t have any air left in my lungs.

I needed to reach the surface or I was going to die before Brent got here.

My heartbeat thumped in my ears as I tried to swim with just my torso. With my arms and legs locked in place, I couldn’t work up any momentum.

I was still sinking.

I flailed around, tossing and turning as I fell. Brent! I can’t see the surface! The water had gotten almost as dark as the night sky, rolling me until I’d lost all sense of direction. What do I do?

Why couldn’t I find the surface? What magic was doing this to me?