My neck itched and stung, a rash of irritation spreading down to my collarbone, but I could breathe past it. Was that right? Harlow’s tail required water to change. Was this magic the same?

There was only one way to find out. Muscles tensed, I leapt for the pond’s heart.

“Ellis. Wait.”

My head whipped toward the masculine voice, but it was an afterthought. I was airborne. Nothing, not even those fear-bright hazel eyes set in a face I had feared never seeing human again, could alter my trajectory now.

Impact.

My heart stuttered as the water closed over my head.

Muffled silence embraced me. Bubbles tickled my face as I expelled oxygen. The weightless, floating sensation should have brought me to the surface. It might have, had I not seen it, had not the moonlight pierced the abyss to show it to me.

A wisp of fabric. Ruffled hem. Fat moons. Grinning stars.

Lori.

But this was Marie’s grave, not hers.

“Why are you here?” The scream flashed white before my eyes—more oxygen lost—but I kept screaming. “Lori. Wait.”

The material flittered away, and I dove after it as though my life—and sanity—depended on it.

I kicked and clawed. I flung my arms and scissored my legs. The blackness became absolute. Darkness devoured me, cold and hungry. My heart pounded, frantic. My chest compressed. I raked at my throat, scoring flesh with my fingernails.

No gills. The water hadn’t activated them but washed them away.

Either the magic was keyed to Harlow or to humans. I would never get the chance to tell Isaac he was right to worry.

The fist tightening around my throat gave a squeeze, and my vision went hazy.

“Wake up.” Sticky fingers peeled open my eyelids. “Come on. Let’s go.”

I swatted Lori’s hand. “What time is it?”

“Shh.” She pressed a finger to her lips. “Or you’ll wake up Mom and Dad.”

I rubbed my eyes and yawned. “Where are we going?”

“To the beach.” Her eyes sparkled. “The ghost crabs will be out. Don’t you want to see them?”

“Mom said—”

“Mom said, Mom said,” she parroted. “Fine. Be a baby. Stay here with your mommy. Maybe I’ll go ask Theo if he wants to go.”

“Stop calling me that. I’m not a baby.” I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. “I’ll go.”

Sharp pressure constricted my middle, and a few paltry bubbles tickled my eyelids on their way to the surface.

Lori stood, arms outstretched. Ghost crabs scuttled over her feet, and she laughed and flexed her toes, daring them to pinch her. I buried mine to protect them.