Chapter 5
Jacinda thought about climbing into her car and bailing, but she promised she’d be there. Chatan was far too tempting. He wanted to help. Something she wasn’t used to. Plus, he made her nervous, and not because he meant her harm. No, he made her crave things she never gave much thought to.
She was a mess. The night before scared the hell out of her. With those assholes looking for her, running seemed the smart move. At least until Chatan pointed out they’d find her if she left. And as crazy as it sounded, she believed him. All because of that barrier of spells surrounding the reservation. She felt it the second she crossed over.
So, she grabbed a pair of socks out of her box and shifted them into a bikini, changed her boots to slip on tennis shoes, and stepped outside. By the time she locked up and leaned on the door, Chatan pulled up.
Nervous energy bubbled with the million butterflies who took flight in her stomach. She’d never felt this way before and that terrified her. And yet, she couldn’t resist spending a little more time with him.
Trying to ignore the new feelings, she climbed into the passenger seat and returned his smile. “I’m ready.”
He grinned. “I brought towels, and later, I’ll take you to eat.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that’s unnecessary?”
Chatan chuckled. “It’s part of spending the day with me. I’m showing you places you might be interested in. Unless you can give me a hint about what you’re looking for.”
She laid her head back, trying to decide what she could tell him without sounding like a total nutcase. He may be Other, but she wasn’t like anything else out there, as far as she knew. Her bloodline was so mixed between different casters, she was more like a sponge, without taking powers from other people. What she did was more like reproducing the spell with her own spin.
“Let’s start with you showing me what you want, and I’ll figure out if you can help.”
“Fair enough.”
She watched the scenery go by, taking in her surroundings. He drove down the main street and passed a couple shops, the diner, and some other buildings she didn’t examine. Her interest lay in landmarks.
Chatan turned down a gravel road and made his way to a dirt lot where he parked near the water. “We’re here.”
Hiding a laugh, she pulled her tank top off and slipped out of the shorts. Then she ditched her shoes and climbed out. He was too silent, and she started to rethink her decision to undress in the car.
Too late now.
A chill traveled up from her toes as she stepped into the icy water. She kept going, undeterred. Hopefully she got used to the cold lake before she went numb.
He splashed just enough to know he was catching up. She didn’t look back, sure her pale skin was flaming red under the heat of her blush.
Chatan ran the back of his fingers down her arm, sending a shock of warmth through her. “Sorry, I should have warned you it was cold. But if you can make it to the island, I want to show you something.”
“I can.” She turned toward him, letting her eyes travel over his lean, muscular build. On his shoulder he had a beautifully designed hawk tattoo. His calf had a wolf.
Chatan stepped closer and she looked up, only to lose herself in his intense gaze. Forcing herself into action, she smiled and rushed farther into the lake.
“That’s how it’s going to be?” he teased, splashing into the water.
She dove under and he followed her lead, then swam faster than she could hope to. He was a natural, and she didn’t swim nearly often enough.
Jacinda nearly sucked in a lungful of water when he walked onto the island. The sun glistened off the droplets. His black hair shined. His skin moved over his muscles.
Utter perfection.
She wasn’t far behind and stood in time for a cool breeze to send a chill through her. Without making a fool of herself, she managed to walk to him.
Chatan never took his eyes off her. He seemed to like what he saw, which boosted her confidence and sent the butterflies into a frenzy.
“Don’t swim much, do you?” he asked, his brow arched.
She shook her head. “Nope. I move from town to town. Don’t have too many reasons to swim. What gave it away?”
He tipped his head. “You went through the motions, the way someone taught you. You didn’t let nature guide you.”
Frowning, she shook her head. “Not sure what you mean. But I was never much of a water creature.”
He laughed. “I suppose not. You aren’t one of the shaman with a water animal spirit. He moved off the trail and came back with two towels. “They may be a little stiff. I keep them here, and sometimes it rains, then they dry.”
She took the cloth and graciously wrapped it around herself. “Thank you. Chilly here.”
“Won’t be farther in. Follow me.”
He waited until she stepped into time with him. They walked down the short trail to a gazebo with some kind of ivy-like plant that had small violet star-shaped flowers she’d never seen before. They shimmered under the sun.
And granted, she wasn’t much of a plant or potion person, but the flowers seemed otherworldly somehow.
Peace washed through Jacinda as she closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet scent. “It’s beautiful.” She opened her eyes to find him standing in front of her, the towel over his shoulders as he watched her reaction.
“You look happy here,” Chatan murmured.
“I didn’t before?”
He looked up at the ceiling a second before smiling. “No, but you seem more at home here than anywhere else I’ve seen you.”
She laughed. “I’m a stranger in a new place. It would be weird if I felt totally comfortable among people I don’t know.”
Nodding, he smiled. “Perhaps. But you’ll feel at home before you know it.” He sank down into a cross-legged position and held his hand out to her.
She took it and joined him. “How many people know about this place?”
“My father and uncle helped build it. Well, my cousin and our friend know of it, but never stepped foot on the island.”
“Why?” she asked.
He wrung the length of his hair out as he glanced away and shrugged. Then he laughed. “They can’t see it.”
“What?” She leaned back, looking around again. “What do you mean they can’t see it?”
“It’s somewhere between one plane and the next. I don’t know how it got here, only that it’s here, and people of my father’s line can reach it, while others can’t see it.”
“The island, or the gazebo?”
“The island. There’s just water for them.”
Completely baffled, she sat there, trying to wrap her head around that tidbit. “Then, why can I be here?”
He rubbed his chin. “Don’t know.”
“And you didn’t think about the fact there was a good chance I wouldn’t find it?”
“No.” Then he frowned. “Hmm, I just knew you could. I don’t know why. Besides, you didn’t argue when I asked if you could swim to the island.”
“Hmm.”
He took her hand, then rubbed it between both of his. “I dreamed I brought you here. It seemed so real I didn’t give it any thought this morning.”
“You realize that sounds completely and totally crazy, right?”
“Are you upset?”
“No, strangely flattered, but utterly confused.” Jacinda caught his hands and squeezed. “Honestly, I’m glad you brought me here.” And she was sure she’d need to come back, probably alone. Otherwise, she might give away too many secrets. But why could she see the island, and go to it, when no one else could, if only his family could? None of it made any damned sense.
“Can I ask you something?” he murmured.
His gaze pulled her in. “Hmm?”
“Do you believe in fate?”
The answer couldn’t be more complicated. Her father had believed her fate was to save her maternal bloodline, but as far as she knew, there were only a few of them left. And they were still being hunted. However, the answers were supposed to be in Wanatoga.
Why her father believed that, she wasn’t sure. She’d deciphered most of the journal, but there were words she still couldn’t find. It was frustrating, to say the least.
“Honestly, Chatan, I don’t have a clue.”
“Why not?”
She let out a laugh. “Because it’s not that simple. My father believed I was meant to do something. As much as I want to believe, my mother doesn’t. I don’t even understand what I’m expected to do. And maybe I’ll never find the answers.”
“But you’re here, looking.”
Her head cocked. “What do you think you know?”
He lifted a single shoulder. “Your father must have had a reason to believe you’d find something here. You aren’t the first person who’s come to look for something, though it’s been years. I think you’ll find what you’re meant to find.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“Determination. Yours, specifically. You’re driven. And I admit, I’m curious as to why. But I won’t pry.”
“What do the others look for?”
“Answers, mostly. I never knew the questions, but I understand they find what they need.”
“What if they don’t know what they need?”
“Sometimes that makes it easier to find.”
There was a buzz, almost audible, that hummed through her, drawing her closer to Chatan. Heat raced up her face. “What do you do here?”
“I come here to recenter, to soul-search.” He looked around the trees. “It’s peaceful, and the world stops for a little while. It’s nice to stop a bit and find my balance. And I was hoping this place would do the same for you.”
She smiled. “I see the potential.” There was something there, calling to her. And she didn’t have a clue how to reach it. She lay back, putting one arm under her head. “Tell me about Wanatoga, about your life, about the people here.”
He smiled and lay out beside her, turning to look into her eyes. “Happily.”