Daylight, a Timeless Series Novel by Lisa L Wiedmeier Page B

hurricane and rip the water clean. But I didn’t dare. Not after what happened last time.
    My lung s burned, and I pushed myself to the surface. A pair of hands grabbed my shoulders, and I half-screamed.
    “Where is she?!” Maes demanded, his hold so tight it left marks on my skin.
    “I-I don’t know!” I spluttered. “She was here and then she disappeared…”
    “Where’d you last see her?” Koda sw am ahead, scanning the depths.
    “She was right over there,” I pointed, struggling to remain calm. This was my fault again .
    “Cheyenne!” Callon pulled me towards him. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll find her.”
    “I—”
    A scream broke my concentration. A few hundred yards ahead , Andre appeared, and was fighting to stay afloat. Maes grunted and swam towards her, Koda directly behind.
    Andre struggled hard, but her head slowly began sinking below the surface again. Something was dragging her down!
    “Andre!” I screamed, trying to swim towards her.
    “No!” Callon’s arm wrapped around my waist. “Koda and Maes will get her. Just tell me what happened.”
    I ignored Callon, unable to tear my eyes from Andre. She couldn’t die on me, not now.
    Maes dived, then Koda. Moments passed, and the water grew still. Tears began to form in my eyes.
    No, not again! My love wasn’t toxic. I was!
    Finally Maes burst from the water, Andre in his arms. Her head fell limply to the side but she began coughing. Maes and Koda started swimming towards us. Callon released his hold and yanked on my wrist.
    “Swim!”
    We paddled to shore, reaching the sand moments before Maes, Koda, and Andre. A group had formed on the banks. Lilly’s hands were pressed to her mouth. I collapsed as Callon moved away, barking out orders.
    “Nakari, get some towels and blankets,” he ordered. “Lay her here, Maes.”
    Andre’s face was pale and her eyes closed, but she was coughing. Callon rolled her to her side, trying to help clear the water from her lungs.
    What had I done?
    My hands began shaking, and my legs wouldn’t allow me to stand. I crawled closer, peering through the crowd. Callon was speaking to Andre quietly as Maes held her head. Koda touched her hand and squeezed. Dex moved in closer, checking her pulse.
    “ Can’t a girl have a swim when she wants?” Andre muttered between her coughs.
    What had happened? I kept replaying the events in my head , but nothing made sense. What had dragged Andre away?
    Maes’s jade-rimmed eyes met mine. The veins in his neck were growing at an alarming rate.
    “What happened?” Maes growled. Before I could answer, Nakari appeared with Daniel, towels and blankets in hand. Callon and Dex began wrapping Andre up.
    “Daniel,” Callon called out. “Take Andre back. Nakari, take Dex with you.”
    Within moments they disappeared. Ah, Nakari could jump like Daniel . Lilly began running towards the manor. With them gone, all the attention turned towards me.
    Maes looked like he was about to hit someone. “ Start talking, Cheyenne!”
    “I—I don’t know what happened.” My lips trembled.
    Callon pushed Maes aside, his hazel eyes etched with concern.
    “Are you okay? Are you hurt at all?”
    I shook my head.
    “Can you stand?”
    He grabbed my arm and helped me up. Koda moved beside Maes, wary he might do something aggressive.
    “Cheyenne, what happened with Andre?” Koda asked again. His eyes had softened; those same icy blue eyes and blond hair now dangling over his lashes. I looked away.
    “I ’ve told you, I don’t know. One minute she was there and the next…”
    The group remained still, studying me. Did they think I was lying?
    “Why didn’t you do anything, Cheyenne?” Maes snarled.
    My chest tightened. “You don’t think I was trying? I searched the entire lake bed for her!”
    “You didn’t try hard enough!” Maes barked. “All that power at your fingertips and you’re still worthless!” His eyes flashed. “The lost Kvech heir, our lost leader and