With Shaw out of the way, I cast my arm toward the kraken one last time and lassoed Flipper around the hips. A bestial roar rattled my teeth as the nubs from its severed limbs writhed. The marshals restraining the landlocked appendage shouted as the kraken’s thrashing bucked them. Rescuing Flipper became a tug-of-war with the submerged beast I couldn’t win without ripping her in half.

Limbs quivering from exertion, I cried out, helpless as the heady dose of power taken from the kraken expired. Stinging magic marched over my body, hungry ants nipping at tender skin. Flesh paled. Bones and muscles slid into their natural shape. Ragged toenails shrank to their normal length. The bindings on my arms and legs loosened, and I slipped free of them. Feet numb and tingling, I limped to Thierry. “What’s Plan B?”

“The same as Plan A.” Thierry wiped black fluid from around her eyes. “We get her out of there. I can handle the rest.” She twisted her limp ponytail into a tight bun. “We don’t have much time. As soon as the kraken shakes off the marshals pinning its arm, it’s going to dive. If it goes down, we won’t get Harlow back. No one in their right mind would follow that thing into the sink, and that includes you, even if I have to sit on you to stop you from trying.”

Me? Follow the creature into its home turf? Into the water? My spine turned to jelly at the thought, which would make it hella difficult to swim, because the mind-numbing truth was, I might. I had fought too hard to save Harlow to give up on her now.

Shaw craned his neck. “Rodriguez, get over here.”

“On it, boss.” He was the sword-wielding fae. His scowl bounced between Thierry and Shaw. “If I drop my sword, I want solemn vows you’ll help me retrieve her when this is over.”

Shaw nodded. “Done.”

“Sucker,” Thierry sang under her breath.

He popped her on the ass, and she growled. That move had sexual harassment lawsuit written all over it.

While they engaged in a battle of silent wills, Rodriguez waded knee-deep into the sink. With reverence, he sheathed his blade in a scabbard running parallel to his spine then swam toward Flipper. Reaching behind himself, he drew his sword, and it blazed with flames the sink failed to extinguish. Even treading water, it didn’t take him long to hack through the muscular tissue holding her aloft. Hauling Flipper back to shore winded him more than the short battle. Safe on dry land, he dropped to his knees and spread Flipper on her back. He shot me a thumbs-up, which I took to mean she was still breathing.

“Guess it’s my turn.” Thierry set off at a jog toward the final tentacle. “Climb off it, guys.” She made a hurry up gesture. “Stand back or you’ll get fried too.”