10
Cayden and Stephanie rushed to my sides and we all looked agape at the calm, empty bay. My heart quickened. I cupped my hands to my mouth again. “Xander! Xander!”
Nothing. The water was as calm as the grave. I ran forward and reached the shallow waters before Cayden wrapped his arms around my waist and picked me up.
“You cannot go, Miriam!” he insisted as he turned us around and walked back to the shore.
I twisted around to look over my shoulder. My scream echoed over the waters. “Xander!”
That’s when I saw it. A head lifted from the waters, but it wasn’t either of the dragons. This was the head of a woman of forty. Her face was narrow and her skin was as pale as cream. The sides of her face were spotted with small dark blotches. She wore a heavy veil that, despite the
