CHAPTER SEVEN
Beth wasn’t keen on the small boat Trevor had procured for their voyage to the mouth of the cove the next day. She always felt like a fish out of water—pun intended—when she was riding on top of the waves, rather than when she was navigating the currents on her own. It just felt weird.
Her senses weren’t as sharp in her human shape, above water. She didn’t know yet how they were going to manage to deploy the various pieces of equipment. Trevor hadn’t really shared his plans with her. She wasn’t sure if that meant she was just along for the ride, or if she would have some part to play in gathering the information he was trying to capture on film and video.
Some of the gear looked as if it was designed to be used by a diver, but she hadn’t asked too many questions, and Trevor had seemed preoccupied with just getting the boat into position. They were very near the ward’s magical barrier now. She could sense it, but not as well as when she was beneath the surface.
“This should be close enough,” Trevor said, as if to himself, shutting off the small engine at the rear of the boat and dropping a small anchor over the side.
“Will that be enough to keep us from drifting?” she asked, worried.
“It should be fine. I’ve used this same kind of equipment many times before,” he reassured her, his tone filled with confidence yet easygoing.
“Is everything going to be done from the surface? Or will one of us have to get wet? If so, I volunteer.” She held her hand up eagerly as he chuckled.
“You really don’t like being on the water instead of in it, do you?”
She touched her finger to the tip of her nose, nodding, to indicate he’d hit it right on the nose. Everything about this made her nervous. And, to make matters worse, the creatures were already acting up. Long tentacles reached out of the ocean just beyond the mouth of the cove, as if waving a sinister hello.
She pointed over Trevor’s shoulder, unable to speak for a moment. He turned quickly and cursed, reaching for a camera. He got off a few still shots in rapid succession before the sea monsters disappeared below the surface once more. She’d seen disturbances in at least three distinct areas beyond the ward, and spied tentacles of two separate creatures, if she judged correctly.
“Damn. They’re in a mood today, aren’t they?” he asked, turning back to smile at her. “Here. Take some photos if you see anything else while I set the rest of this up, okay?”
She took the camera from him, nodding. This wasn’t going to be a pleasure cruise. She’d known that from the moment they had set off from the dock. This was a fact-finding mission. It was work for him. For her, it was just fear and nerves competing for precedence while she tried to help him and keep them both from straying over the safe zone of the ward.
The noonday sun was high overhead, but it was playing hide and seek with some puffy white clouds, affording them a bit of shade now and again as Trevor set up his gear. Beth kept an eye out for the creatures, but they stayed under the surface while he worked, only showing a roiling tentacle just breaching the surface now and again, which wasn’t really enough to take a photo of, in her opinion.
“Looks like there are more of them out there today than usual,” she said, watching the water nervously.
“Do you think the boat attracted them?” he asked offhandedly, as if it didn’t really matter to him one way or the other. She knew better. He was taking in all the data, all the time. Spending time with him had made her realize there wasn’t much that got past his keen observation.
“Probably.” She tried to be as nonchalant as him, even though her gut was stirring with a low-pitched dread. She really didn’t like being this close to the creatures without her trident.
“I’m sorry, Beth.” The soft tone of his words startled her gaze up to his. He was looking at her with gentle concern that touched her heart despite the tense situation. “I didn’t realize. This probably brings back bad memories.”
She frowned, trying to follow his reasoning. “Memories?”
“Of your flight into the cove on Drew’s fishing boat,” he said in that caring tone of his that somehow touched an answering sympathetic chord inside her that she hadn’t known existed. But his words made her shake her head and smile, just a bit.
“No, this situation is nothing like that,” she told him. “Well, not much like it at any rate. I just don’t like being so close to so many of those creatures. It reminds me of what came before Drew’s arrival, when we were fighting them. Swimming for our lives, turning to make a stand, swimming again. Doing our best to avoid their thrashing tentacles and worse—their teeth.” She gazed into the distance as she remembered those horrible moments. “And then, Sirena and some of the others took a stand, going toe to toe with those things. I was powerless to do much of anything except strike out when a tentacle swept too near. I managed to injure quite a few of those reaching arms, but it wasn’t enough. We all knew we were going to die there, that day.”
“But then, Drew showed up with his boat and his magic,” Trevor continued her story, prompting her.
“Yes. If not for him, we would have been leviathan chow. I have no doubt about that.” She looked down at the floor of the boat, unable to watch the roiling horizon a moment longer. “Up to that point, I’d been feeling stronger—as if I could stand and fight just about anything in the water. But the leviathan and its smaller friends proved just how delusional I was. I’m as weak as Jonathan always said.” That last bit came out as a pained whisper, and the moment she said the words, she regretted uttering them. She’d said too much. Been too honest.
Beth hid her face in her hands, crouching over her knees as she sat on the wooden plank that acted as s seat on this end of the small boat. A moment later, she felt the boat sway as Trevor joined her on the wide seat. He sat next to her and draped his arm around her shoulders, sheltering her. He felt so safe and warm. She wanted to cuddle into his side, but she couldn’t. She’d already shown her weakness too much. She had to at least try to salvage some of her pride.
“It’s all right, honey,” he said in an understanding tone, stroking the skin of her upper arm gently. “There’s always a point in a warrior’s life where they meet something bigger and meaner than themselves. You have to be pretty tough if it took a sea monster to bring you to that point.”
His words were a shock to her system. He saw her as a warrior? Was he joking?
She looked over at him, turning her head to the side to assess his expression. She found he was serious. No hint of humor played around his lips or eyes. Instead, she saw respect and understanding there, which stunned her to her core.
“I’m a coward,” she said, unable to hide her true feelings when he was being so kind. “My stepfather bullied me and had me cowed for years until I finally escaped him. I’m not a warrior. I ran from him. I didn’t stand and fight.”
Trevor’s expression didn’t change. “Sometimes, retreat is the better part of valor. Making foolish stands against a superior force isn’t smart, and it’ll get you killed. Think of it this way—you chose retreat so as to better prepare yourself for a future confrontation. What have you been doing since you left home? You asserted your independence. You joined Nansee’s pod, and not only did you find a greater force that could protect you—your pod—but you also became a hunter and sought to learn how to fight to protect the pod, as well.” He paused, but not for long.
“You took, but you also gave,” he went on. “You took the protection, training and camaraderie that you needed, and in return, you gave of yourself to protect the group. I’d say that marks you as a warrior, Beth, even if you don’t think so. I’ve known fighting men who weren’t as successful as you’ve been when the chips were down. Don’t ever think less of yourself for doing what you needed to do to survive, regroup and come back stronger.”
Beth was floored. He saw her that way? He really thought her actions were proactive instead of just fear-inspired running with no clear destination in sight? Was he stupid or something?
No. Wait. She knew for a fact that Trevor wasn’t stupid. In fact, he’d impressed her with his keen mind and powers of observation.
But why would he lie to her?
Maybe he wasn’t lying. Maybe he was telling her the way he saw it. Maybe his point of view was objective, not clouded by the swirling emotions of fear and anguish that had plagued her for so long.
He bumped into her side in a playful way. “You still in there?” he asked, bending his head, trying to seek her gaze, which had fallen to the floor of the boat again.
“I’m here,” she croaked, her voice a bit unsteady as her thoughts whirled. “I just don’t understand how you can see me that way,” she admitted.
“Honey…” He turned her on the seat so that she was facing him, then tilted her chin up so he could meet her gaze. “I honestly think you’re one of the bravest people I know.”
The moment stretched between them, and intimacy forming on that tiny boat in the open air, narrowing her world down to just the space between them. Mere inches separated their lips, and then… He kissed her. A slow, gentle, sweet kiss that quickly morphed into something stronger, hotter, and more devastating than any kiss she’d ever experienced.
Kissing Beth was like a dream come true, and Trevor almost lost his sense of place and timing, but the splash of water against the hull of the boat shook him out of the reverie kissing Beth had caused. He let her go, coming up for air himself, taking stock of where they were. Their little boat was still anchored in safety, behind the ward, but he noted a new presence in the water, watching them with amusement.
“I believe one of your friends has come to visit,” Trevor told Beth, noting the way her eyes were wide and dilated with pleasure. A little thrill ran though him, knowing he’d put that look on her face.
Beth straightened and looked around, a sudden blush staining her cheeks when she spotted the mermaid watching them from a few yards away. Laughter preceded the mer woman as she swam slowly toward them. Her face and shoulders were human looking, but as she grew closer, Trevor could just see that she was scaled below the surface of the water, retaining her tail and ability to swim like a fish. That was some trick those mer had, doing partial shifts so easily.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” the woman said as she drew closer.
“Stop it, Marla,” Beth said, sounding both annoyed and embarrassed.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Bethy?” Marla smiled, and Trevor thought the grin was a tad predatory. He watched Beth’s reaction with interest, noting the way she seemed to bristle. Was she jealous? Now, wouldn’t that be interesting?
“You know perfectly well this is Trevor Williams. Did Nansee ask you to check up on us?” Beth replied, challenge in her every word.
Marla’s head tilted as her smile turned sly. “She might’ve mentioned that you’d be out this way in a boat during my patrol,” she admitted. “Is there anything I can do underwater for you, or is this strictly a surface mission?”
“I plan to dive a bit as soon as I’ve set up the underwater gear,” Trevor answered in a friendly tone before Beth could run off the other mermaid. “I’m going to take video of the creatures, so unless you want to be immortalized on film, you might want to stay behind the camera and out of the frame.”
“Thanks for the warning. I’m definitely not ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille,” Marla joked with him, and Trevor noted Beth’s attitude with satisfaction. If he wasn’t misreading the signs, she definitely was jealous.
He didn’t want to toy with her emotions, but he was pleased by the positive sign that he was having an impact on her. Beth was so cagey, never really letting him know for certain what she was thinking. He had to do a lot of guesswork with her, and his inner bear’s fur got ruffled at the lack of conclusive evidence that she was as interested in him as he was in her. The show of jealousy calmed the bear, but Trevor wouldn’t let Beth think he had any interest whatsoever in her friend. He wouldn’t give Beth any cause to doubt his seriousness when it came to what he wanted from her.
His sweet Beth, and no other.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Marla, was it? Thanks for stopping by,” Trevor said, friendly enough, but sending the definite message that he wasn’t interested.
He saw the mermaid shrug as she grinned. “I’ll be on my way, then. Good hunting to you both.”
“Thanks,” Trevor replied easily. “And to you.”
Marla dove and swam off without further comment, and Trevor wisely decided to retreat to the equipment while giving Beth time to calm down. He had some neat gizmos that had arrived that morning. Some of it was stuff he’d heard of but never seen, or stuff he’d used a few times while in the service, but was much too costly for him to own himself. It certainly looked like Nansee and John had called in more than a few favors to get such professional equipment here on such short notice. Trevor promised himself he’d make the most of it.
Eventually, Beth calmed and came over to help him unpack some of the gear. Most of the equipment was waterproof, so there had been no advantage to doing the small amount of assembly work on shore. He’d wanted to get out here as fast as possible so as to maximize his time on, and in, the water.
He dove in human form, and she followed him into the water, leaving her clothing in the boat and shifting as soon as she hit the water. He let her trail behind him, his silent shadow, as he used the high-tech gear to get as many shots as possible of the creatures that swam some distance away. Zoom lenses allowed him to get close-ups, though they were made murky by the amount of water between them. Still, these images would reinforce the sketches he had made of the various types of creatures.
He’d have to do a couple more sketches, though. There were more of the smaller monsters visible today than there had been the last time. Trevor was careful to note the differences between them—the variation in tentacle length and position, as well as the quantity of teeth and their locations. The shapes of the monsters varied slightly, as did their visible displays of aggression.
Trevor caught it all on film, as much as possible. He’d supplement with his drawings as soon as he got back on shore. He’d have quite the report to file. As far as anyone knew, these were the first recorded images of the leviathan’s minions that anyone had been able to capture.
They would be kept secret, he knew. The world at large couldn’t be exposed to the reality of evil sea monsters patrolling the coast. At least, that was the goal. They were doing everything they could to end this problem before humanity became aware of exactly what was going on. If that happened, nobody could really predict how modern society would react.
It could easily become open season on anything magical. Humans had come a long way since the days of knights and armor when their offensive capabilities had been limited to bows and arrows, swords and pikes. Today, there were laser-guided weapons, heat-seeking missiles and nukes to contend with. Who knew what the human reaction would be to learning about magical creatures living among them?
He worked underwater for an hour at least, coming up for air as needed, Beth a watchful guard and companion at his side. Eventually, it was time to return to the surface, and he chivalrously motioned for Beth to precede him into the boat, giving her time to shift and dress before following her. He busied himself taking a few more photos of the surface when a couple of tentacles showed in the air just across the barrier, but essentially, he’d gotten what he’d come for. It was time to go back. Weighing anchor, he turned the boat back toward shore.
He didn’t really want their time together to end. They’d worked well, side by side, and he had enjoyed her company more than he thought possible, even while he worked. Her insights into the creatures and suggestions for capturing the best images had been helpful, and he already planned to give credit where credit was due, when he made his report that evening. One thing was certain, the images he had captured today were going to make a splash—no pun intended. Even Trevor was surprised by the size, quantity, and differing attributes of the creatures he had filmed. There were a lot more of them than he had thought, and in horrifying varieties.
As they approached the shoreline, Trevor knew he had to speak. He had tentative plans for later, which all depended on Beth’s response to a question he hadn’t yet asked. Now or never, Trevor.
“What are you doing for dinner?” He did his best to sound coolly casual.
Beth looked surprised. Pleased, he thought, but surprised.
“I hadn’t made any plans,” she told him in a tone he could just barely hear above the sound of the outboard motor.
“Would you like to join me for a picnic on the beach tonight? Sort of my way of thanking you for your help today,” he explained.
Her eyes lit from within, giving him hope. “Okay,” she said, again in that quiet tone he had to strain to hear.
He brought them into the dock just then, busy with the work of shutting down the motor and securing the equipment. Beth worked with him, helping where she could, especially in off-loading the delicate camera bags and boxes onto the dock.
As they made their way to shore after tying up the boat, he took the bulk of the bags, but she insisted on helping. Only then did he bring the matter of dinner back up for conversation. He had big plans, and he didn’t want to scare her off by sounding too eager.
“Do you want to meet just before sundown? Is that too late to eat?” he asked, very willing to accommodate her if she didn’t like that idea. Tonight was all about putting her more at ease with him.
“That sounds good. I have a few things I have to do in town this afternoon, but I can meet you around sunset. Where?”
“How about we meet at the boathouse and go from there. It’s only a short walk to the spot I have in mind.” Things were falling perfectly into place, but he dared not take anything for granted.
She agreed, and they parted when they reached the street. Beth handed him the two small bags she’d carried to that point, and he added them to his own load. He had a lot of work to accomplish before he could set his dinner plans into motion. Eager to get started, Trevor headed for his hotel room.
He had two separate missions this afternoon. First, he had to put the images he’d captured into some kind of order and send them to his superiors. At the same time, he had to set a few balls in motion for his second target—dinner on the beach with Beth. If all went well, he’d finish with his report just in time. He’d be cutting it close, but he’d always been pretty good with planning and logistics. He’d make it work.
Beth wasn’t sure what to make of Trevor’s invitation, but she wasn’t going to say no to spending more time with him. She’d tried to stay away, but he intrigued her on such a base level that she couldn’t really find it in her to steer clear, despite her misgivings.
He was handsome in a way that stole her breath. Considerate. Kind. She knew he was a military man and a warrior, but somehow, his imposing stature and martial skills didn’t seem threatening. On any other man, she’d be running in fear, but from Trevor? Never. Or…not anymore, at least.
She wanted to spend time with him. Something about her dared her to step outside her hard-won comfort zone and take a chance. Dinner wasn’t normally considered a dangerous activity, but she’d never really been on a date. Jonathan hadn’t allowed her to experience the same things her contemporaries did. He hadn’t let her grow up in anything close to a normal way.
She’d had tutors. She hadn’t been allowed to attend a regular school. She’d been denied the social interaction of kids her own age ever since going to live at Jonathan’s compound. She’d been allowed to shift and swim under strictly controlled circumstances, with Jonathan and his goons swimming all around her and her mother, keeping them in line and away from anything resembling freedom.
He’d said it was to keep them safe, but Beth had realized it was a prison. Even if her mother had refused to see it.
But she was free from Jonathan’s influence here. With the pod, she had learned to live a life independent of threats and fear…for the most part. The only threats were those of the open ocean, and the only fear came from within. Beth had been doing her best to learn how to deal with those more normal things, day by day, until the leviathan and its friends had shown up in their ocean.
All hell breaking loose was an apt description. Now, they were all huddled into the cove, under protection of the bears and the permanent wards put in place by the Alpha bear’s strega mate. Beth shuddered to think what would have happened without this safe haven.
And now, Trevor was challenging her fragile grasp on her emotions. He’d scared her at first, but she was slowly coming to crave his presence. She had been attracted to him from the beginning, despite herself.
She’d been so set on being negative and seeing only what had been lost that she’d spent a lot of her time in Grizzly Cove pushing people away. She’d been miserable, in fact, until that moment Trevor had walked up to her while she was sitting on that rock, feeling sorry for herself.
It was as if he’d changed everything with just his smile. The sun had come out, and she’d begun to realize just what a sour puss she’d become. The fact that they were essentially stuck in Grizzly Cove until the leviathan was dealt with was bad, but it could’ve been so much worse.
At least in Grizzly Cove, there was no Jonathan. No threat of danger to her mother if she didn’t behave. No fear of beatings that never left a visible mark so she had no evidence to show of the pain and anguish she’d endured at the hands of her so-called stepfather.
No, there were bears here. Big, strong, protective bears, who had taken her and the entire pod under their wing, so to speak. The bears made the rules, and she knew in her heart that they wouldn’t let anything bad happen in their town without doing something about it.
And there was the pod. They knew all about Jonathan and Beth’s mother. They wouldn’t let anything happen to Beth in the water, or on the land, if they could help it either.
Beth had strong allies now. She wasn’t a scared girl, trying to stand against a shark and his friends on her own. She had grown so much in the years since she’d escaped Jonathan, and she would never go back to being the frightened girl who had nearly disappeared under the force of Jonathan’s will.
Never.