Free Surrender to the Sea (Lords of the Abyss Book 4) by Michelle M. Pillow Page A

I’m going to drown, and you’re going to help me.”
    Bridget arched a brow. “And I will do this because?”
    “We come from the same place. We’re both modern women. You owe me for not freaking out and scaring your merboys. You’ll do it because you’re a good person, and you know what it’s like to be me.” Laurel didn’t care which argument won.
    Bridget’s look relaxed. “I know it’s difficult waiting, and I can’t say it gets easier, but it becomes more familiar. I still worry when Caderyn goes off on his ocean runs.”
    “Then have Caderyn go,” Laurel insisted.
    “He’s in the countryside with the others, tracking down the Olympians. They feel it’s the quickest way to find answers.”
    “I lost a baby. And I can tell you that losing a child rips out your soul. You have three boys, your babies. If you won’t help me because of me, then help me because of them. If Brutus needs help, then let me find him and help him. Or I can find him and tell him to watch out for Olympians trying to break the dome. We have to do something. Don’t let your children become lost.” Laurel took a deep breath.
    Bridget’s eyes moistened with tears as any good mother’s would at such an argument.
    “Ok, fine. Don’t go against the king by helping me. Just…” Laurel sighed. “Just keep the boys out of the pool area until whatever is going to happen to me, happens. I don’t want to scare them. I’ll transform and then I’ll go. You don’t have to help, only please don’t say anything.”
    Bridget shook her head and made a sound of frustration. “Meet me by the pool. I’ll bring the chains.”
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    S tanding on the edge of the palace pool, staring in, arms weighed down by thick iron chains… Yep, this was some scary shit.
    Laurel began to shake. “I don’t think I can do it.”
    “Open your mouth.” Bridget fussed with an old lock to bind the chains together to keep Laurel from moving. Once she had the lock threaded through the links, she clicked it shut.
    “Does it hurt?” Laurel asked, her voice shaky.
    “It feels like what you’d expect of drowning. Scary. Wet. Deafening. Except for your heart beating in your ears. When I turned, it was by force. Olympians drowned me in a pond by restraining me under and kicking me. But then it was peaceful.” Bridget checked the chains again to make sure they’d hold. “Open your mouth.”
    “I meant transforming. I already know drowning is going to suck.”
    “Transforming?” Bridget stood. “Not really. It tingles. Now open your mouth.”
    “Will I go all werewolf howl at the moon insane and try to eat people?” She wasn’t ready to jump. Not yet.
    “We’re not cannibals. Open your mouth.”
    “Will I feel my bones snap and my skin rip?”
    “We’re not in a horror movie. Open.”
    “Will I have any special powers?”
    “You’ll be able to breathe water.”
    “Will I be able to transform back?”
    “That’s a silly question.”
    “I meant, easily. Is it hard to figure out how to be human again?”
    “You get out of the water and dry off. Laurel, stop stalling and open your mouth.” Bridget lifted her hand.
    “Will it take a long time to hap—” As Laurel spoke, Bridget squirted bitter liquid through her lips. “—pen?” Laurel coughed. Her mouth numbed and her heart began to pound. The chains felt heavier than before, and she swayed.
    “That should speed the dying process along. Best I can do to make this easier.” Bridget placed her hand on Laurel’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll jump in and unchain you when it is over.”
    Laurel tried to protest as she was pushed into the saltwater pool. On instinct, she inhaled a full breath of air and held it seconds before she went under. She’d been so focused on convincing herself this needed to be done to communicate with Brutus that she’d not thought of one fundamental question—what if it didn’t work? What if she didn’t become one of them? That fear came over her in