Chapter 123

Mia's Pov

As panic tightened its grip around my heart, I scanned the river from the outcropping, desperately searching for any sign of Lycidas. The water churned below, its surface rippling with the remnants of his struggle, but there was no trace of him to be found. And the spreading red! Oh my goddess!

Just as I prepared to dive in after him, I noticed a shadow creeping up on me from the side.

Without even turning to face him, I instinctively issued a warning to Lycidas, my voice dripping with irritation and frustration.

"Hey, Lycidas," I called out, my tone firm, "don't you dare try to push me into the water."

But before I could react, his laughter filled the air, and I felt his hands on my shoulders, propelling me forward with surprising force. With a startled cry, I tumbled into the water, my turban held tight against my head to prevent it from being swept away by the current.

The shock of the cold water enveloped me as I plunged beneath the surface, my lungs burning with the nee