Chapter 13

Luxor

I was already running when I saw Zoe hit the water in what had to be the most inelegant water entry since Giza got the hose wrapped around his knees and fell sideways into the pool a few years ago.

Mrs. Albee was calling to me, something about the dogs, but I had to trust her to get the few remaining out by herself. I thrust Hamish into her arms as I darted past her, eyes intent on the figure bobbing along in the too-swift current of Fishing Creek.

She can't swim !

I remember her telling me why she didn't go to the beach. Zoe was afraid of swimming, and she'd just thrown herself into the water to save a dog.

If I didn't love her before, I sure as hell did in that moment.

"Lux!" Giza bellowed behind me, but I ignored him. I had to keep her in sight.

My plan was to run along the bank as she'd done, cutting through yards and businesses, until I was able to—what? Reach her? That had obviously been her plan with Seamus, and it hadn't worked.

Why the fuck hadn't I gotten here earlier? I could have grabbed the pups before they went through the fence!

" Lux !"

I could hear my friends behind me, but they didn't matter. Seeing Zoe go into the water had all my attention and then some. I wasn't thinking about breathing, or where my feet were going, or what would happen to the kennel.

All I was focused on was that dark, wet head. Zoe was clutching the dog, the dog was trying to climb on top of her, and I wasn't going to waste my energy yelling to her.

I was just going to reach her.

It wasn't a question of if , but when. I would reach her. I had to.

She was mine, and if the universe didn't like that, I would just have to rearrange the universe until it became fact.

I wasn't losing her.

"Luxor !"

A hand wrapped around my forearm, and I whirled mid-stride to snarl at the other male, not bothering to hide my anger at being pulled from my—my Zoe .

Giza must've read that in my gaze, or maybe my growl, because he immediately stumbled back, palms out, eyes wide. "You are ill!" he blurted.

But then Sakkara was there, stepping between us. I swung on him, daring him to stop me, to tell me I should interrupt my frantic chase.

Instead, he placed his hands on my shoulders and shook me. I tried to tear away, but he pulled me closer, until our foreheads almost touched, until the world shrank to just the two of us.

" T'mak !" he was yelling, shaking me again. " T'mak , listen to me!"

It was the fear in his voice that finally drilled through my single-mindedness. The fear, and the fact he called me Little Brother .

I hadn't heard that from him—or anyone besides Giza—since Denver, a decade ago.

I reared back, blinking at him, trying to focus, and something like relief flashed across his face.

"Listen to me, T'mak ," he began in a firm voice, but I cut him off.

"I'm going after her!"

"Yes." It was his immediate agreement that kept me from swinging on him. "But listen: don't fight the currents . Just get to her and keep her afloat, okay?"

None of this was making any sense. I glanced over my shoulder, and when I couldn't see Zoe any longer, I tried to pull out of Sakkara's hold. He shook me once more.

"Once you're out in the open water, the currents are too strong to fight. Just stay afloat, Lux!"

I barely heard the last bit, and when he released me, I was already lunging for the water. Giza was halfway to the shrimp docks, and he turned to point. "She just went under!" he bellowed. "Look for the dog!"

He was right; Seamus would stay with her.

I don't know if I thanked him as I barreled past. But I hit the shrimp docks at full speed and didn't stop to kick off my boots, which was probably a dumb idea. All I was focused on was getting into the water. Getting to her .

My Zoe.

I hit the water in a far more graceful dive than hers had been, but then, I'd always been a good swimmer. Growing up on the near-freezing lakes, I'd always loved the feeling of weightlessness, of being able to propel myself without struggling to use my legs.

Even after being healed, I sometimes swam without kicking at all, just because that's what I was used to.

But I damn well wasn't forgetting to use them now.

My eyes burned from the salt water, and my boots were heavy, but I kicked and stroked harder than I ever had before. And when I saw her dark head bob to the surface near the frantic pup, I finally released my breath.

I wanted to call out to her, to tell her help was coming, but I also didn't want to take the time to keep my mouth above water. I just pressed my lips together and willed her to know I was coming.

I'm here, Zoe. I'll always be here when you need me .

We were even with the mouth of the river now, where the delta widened and spat the angry refuge of the king tide and the days of rain out into the ocean. And I couldn't see her anymore.

Zoe! Where are you ?

As if she could hear me, I saw her head bob to the surface, heard her hacking and coughing as she twisted back to face me. I doubted she could see anything—not with all her hair in her face, and Seamus climbing all over her — but I hoped to all the old gods that she could.

I'd stopped praying to Giza's gods two decades ago, but for the first time, I wished I was still on speaking terms with them. The best I could hope for was somewhere behind me, Geez was talking to them on our behalf.

And hopefully stealing a boat.

As I pulled through the swift current, I remembered what Sakkara had said: Just stay afloat . I had to trust them to find us. I would trust them.

I just had to reach Zoe.

I did.

I did.

Just as the water turned colder, as the ocean currents took over from the discharge of Fishing Creek, I reached out and my hand connected with hers.

At first, she screamed—which turned into a cough—and flailed about in the water. But I pulled her to me, lifting her out of the water as far as I could, my strong legs kicking to keep us both afloat…and I saw her realization.

"Lux?" she croaked.

I wanted to joke that I was the only one dumb enough to jump in after her, but since she'd been the one to jump in after the dog, she likely wouldn't laugh. Seamus gave a worried little bark and tried to climb on my head.

"No, down, baby," she crooned, grabbing the animal. "Don't drown Daddy."

Daddy ? I kicked hard, wincing at the way my boots dragged, and decided she'd swallowed too much salt water. "Zoe, are you okay?"

Another cough, and I moved my hands to her armpits, holding her up as high as I could.

"I'm—I'm okay now." Suddenly she grinned, blinding and bright. "You saved me."

"Uh…yeah. Of course." I was focused on my kicking. "Was there any doubt?"

She brushed her fingers across my cheekbone. "Not once."

Oh good, I'm glad one of us was so fucking certain .

But I had to admit, now that I was holding her—as well as I could—I felt much better. Yeah, we were being swept farther and farther away from Eastshore Isle, but Zoe was in my arms. And in this position, I could handle anything.

This was, of course, the universe's cue to send a wave to swamp us.

I went under, and so did Zoe and Seamus. All three of us came up sputtering.

"Zo!" I gasped, trying to maneuver her. "I have to—my boots…"

"I got it, hon. Seamus, baby, come hang out with me for a second." She pulled the dog toward her, but I had to admit, with her arm thrown around the puppy, it looked like Seamus was trying to keep her afloat. I hated the thought of releasing her for even a moment.

"Hold on to my shoulder," I commanded, even though I knew it would push me lower in the water. Worth it.

She did as I told her, and I forced myself to release her torso. As I feared, she bobbed lower. "Kick your legs, Zo. You can do this."

She nodded grimly, and I could feel her legs working underwater.

Okay, this bought me a few seconds. Keeping my eyes on her, I lifted one leg to untie my boot. It was a struggle with the laces waterlogged, and fucking exhausting to keep myself afloat with the other leg…but when it released, I happily kicked the boot off and peeled away my sock.

Now I was able to spread my toes and kick to keep us both afloat while I worked on my other boot, which went faster. Soon enough, I was able to pop my head above water again and relish the feel of water across my bare feet.

"Come here," I said gruffly, pulling her around in front of me again. "I'm going to use one arm around you, Zo, okay?"

"Of course." Her smile looked tired.

Of course it looks tired, you idiot, she's barely afloat !

I could hold her with both arms and rely on my legs, but having my right arm to keep us above water would be useful. Still, if she didn't want me to release her… "Zoe?"

"I was just thinking…" Her hand rose to cup my cheek again before she pulled it away to readjust an exhausted-looking Seamus. "You're keeping us afloat with your legs right now?"

I nodded mutely, realizing my legs had never been as tired as they were right now. But I couldn't stop, or we'd sink. Orcs are not natural floaters.

Thank fuck you're not also trying to fight the current .

She smiled again. "I'm glad you have such strong legs, Lux," she whispered wearily, then leaned over to kiss me.

It wasn't a good kiss…more like a saltwater-flavored peck of friendship.

But it was enough.

Enough to keep me—keep us both going.

Because with her in my arms, even if I could barely see the island at this point, I could do anything.

I just hoped I didn't have to do it forever , because my Zoe gave me strength, but I wasn't a machine. And there was no way I could stop kicking, even for a moment, and fail her.

Suddenly, she lifted her head. "Do you hear that?"

Oh fabulous, she was getting delusional.

Without warning, Zoe slid from my hold, dipping her head beneath the water. Panicking, I grabbed her a little tighter than necessary and yanked her up. But when I did, she was grinning.

"Sound travels better underwater, Lux," she assured me, one arm wrapping around mine. "There's a boat coming. The engine is getting louder."

I almost didn't believe her; didn't allow myself to hope. But I turned us both in the current so we were facing back toward Eastshore Isle, and on the next wave that lifted us, I could see a small boat coming toward us.

With two big, green shapes, each with an arm frantically waving.

I closed my eyes in relief.

But I didn't let myself stop kicking. I couldn't fail Zoe.