CHAPTER TWENTY
My bracelet buzzed.
I shot up in bed, finding it was still dark outside. With blurry, tired eyes, I read the screen. My shoulders sagged, knowing what was coming.
I muttered, “Hey, Butch.”
I yawned wide and patted my husband’s back when he started to stir. I kept rubbing in gentle circles until he settled down, his eyes opening a sliver to watch me.
“I know. I know. I told you I wouldn’t do this, but I need your help today,” Butch grumbled. “Will you come in?”
“You suck.”
“I know. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need it.”
“Dammit, fine.” I peered closer at my bracelet, reading the time. “I can make it there in about thirty minutes.”
Alaric groaned his dismay.
I patted his back again.
“Thank you, kid. See you soon.”
“Bye.” I tapped on my bracelet, ending the call. My eyes turned to the grumpy bear lying next to me. “I’m sorry. I need to help him. Why don’t you go to work today too and sort through paperwork or something?”
“Because I want my wife home. With me.”
My lips twitched. “You’re adorable in the morning.”
“Stay home. We’ll do something fun today. Nothing that has to do with crazy seers.”
I chuckled as I leaned down and kissed his heated cheek. “We’ll save that for another day. If you’re not going to work, just go back to sleep.”
He sighed and closed his eyes. “Take my train. I’ll only cause a ruckus at work if I return early.”
I slid out of bed, murmuring, “I love your grizzly ass.”
Dark brown eyes popped back open. “You do?”
“I do. And I’ll see you later tonight. You can kiss me all over then for saying that, too.”
He chuckled softly. “I knew I loved you the first morning you woke up in my home. I followed you and watched your every action. The way you touched everything with innocent reverence and admired with curious eyes. I knew you were the one for me, and I started falling at that moment. I haven’t fallen every day since.”
I snapped my gaping mouth shut. “Good grief. I am not that poetic and creative. I really can’t beat that, so you’re just going to have to take my word that I love you too, with no pretty rainbows attached.”
He snorted hard. “My delicate beauty.”
I winked. “Yes, I am. And I’ll smell like fish when I get home. You’ll just have to deal with that too.”
* * *
I held onto my yellow hat as the sea took the boat up, and then washed it back down. Rain fell from the gray clouds above, washing the day in gloom.
I hollered at my boss over the freezing wind, “Fuck, it’s bad out today!”
“Hell yes, it is.” He wiped salt water off his face, calling, “Are you ready for me to bring the net up?”
I rolled my gloved hand into the air. “Bring it up!”
The crane wound into action, the gears popping loudly, little ice chips falling off the metal gears.
I shivered and squinted, watching over the side of the boat. The line pulled from the sea, pulling the net with it. The bounty was massive today, the entire net full of fish.
I whopped and peered over my shoulder. “It’s a good one!”
Butch grinned, his cheeks pinching. “Hell yes!”
I leaned back as the net crested the railing. It raised high into the air. I held up a hand against the spray of water raining down on top of me. I motioned for him to take it center.
Butch switched the gears.
The net went left, though, as the boat rose on another high wave. Butch was a professional through and through. He quickly switched the controls and took over manually.
When he had it centered, he shouted, “You ready?”
“Almost.” I grabbed my oversized broom, standing clear of the landing zone. “Open it up.”
The net opened and fish fell from the sky.
Boom.
I stared in horror as a magical black ball carried my boss overboard. I stumbled through the fish and fell against the other side of the boat.
Squinting through the rain, I screamed, “Butch!”
“He’s dead.” Joshua Striker cocked a hip next to the railing. He stared out at the ocean. “The magic killed him on impact.”
Rage beat through my veins, shaking my entire frame. But I stepped away from him, my eyes still on the rough water. I shouted, “You’re lying?”
“I’m not. Drowning is one of the worst ways to go. I didn’t think you’d like it if I didn’t kill him before he hit the water.”
I stepped back again, putting distance between us, furious tears rushing down my cheeks. “How the hell did you get on this boat?”
“I stowed away. Though I must admit, the quarters were a bit cramped. But since I don’t know how to use your crane over there, I had to wait until Mr. Reynolds usefulness was up before I revealed myself.”
I pointed at the ocean. “I want his body to bury.”
“He’s a fisherman. The sea is his grave.”
I wiped away my tears, but new ones fell. My fists shook at my sides, and I hissed, “What do you want from me?”
“First? I’d merely like to chat with you. The few times I was in your mind, I found your thoughts refreshing and humorous. I would like a little more of that in my life.”
I steadied my legs as the boat rose again on a wave, noticing how he teetered—not used to the sea. “I’d rather not talk with you. You just killed my dearest friend.”
His head cocked. “Do you ever wonder about the meaning of life, Faith?”
“No, I just live my life.”
“I have been thinking about it. For many, many years now. I’ve come to a conclusion there is no meaning to life on earth. It merely exists, and then it doesn’t.”
“That’s nice. How about you jump overboard?”
He shook his head. “Like I said, drowning is a bad death.”
“You don’t swim?”
His lips curled up at the edges. “You are so cunning. I enjoy that wit.”
“I hear a lot of I’s in there. So I’ll give you one of my own. I don’t give a shit about anything you have to say to me. I want you to jump overboard where no man would be able to stay alive. I want you to go fuck yourself.”
Joshua laughed, the rain dripping down his cheeks. “You are so entertaining.”
To the fucking insane, I was right now.
He waved a hand at me. “Tell me how it’s been with the aberration, Alaric.”
“That’s none of your damn business.”
“How about I put it this way? You talk to me, and I don’t kill all those sweet innocent females at the New City Orphanage?”
My nostrils flared. He wasn’t lying.
Cass said he would do anything to get what he wanted, the darkness soul deep.
“What do you want to talk about?” I asked over the rain. “I don’t have all day, Joshua.”
“I merely want to talk about something entertaining. I think it would be so…everything to be mated to an aberration.” His brows rose. “Anything at all.”
I swallowed down the bile in my throat. “Why do you call them aberrations?”
“Because they are. That’s very simple. They are not like any other shifters alive.”
I snorted. “Why did you kill Godric King?”
“Because Poppy wasn’t meant for him.”
“Why would you care?” My eyes narrowed.
The fucker was giving me all the information I asked for. How much of it truth, I didn’t know, but I was listening…and watching him.
“I have my reasons.” He shrugged his right shoulder, rocking again on his feet, another wave hitting. “It will be.”
“What do you really want from us?”
“It would be so boring to tell you right now.”
I rolled my eyes and held my hat on my head, the wind picking up in strength. “Are you going to kill me today?”
“Absolutely not. You won’t die by my hand today, but the sea might kill you.” He shook his handsome head, a giddy light entering his eyes. “Tell me about Theron. Was he so upset when his son died?”
My nostrils flared. “I think you should shut up.”
“And I think you don’t realize the puppet master is pulling all of our strings.”
“What does that mean? Who’s the puppet master?”
Jesus, if there was a different bad guy waiting behind the curtain, my friends would be pissed off…
Joshua lifted a hand, and a black ball of magic appeared above his palm. He stared down into his own magic, mesmerized. “It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?”
“I prefer Cass’s.”
He laughed loud and snuffed the magic out. “I want to ask you another question. Who do you think is more superior? Shifters, mates, or humans?”
“Humans,” I answered simply.
“And why is that?” he asked curiously.
“They ruled the world once. They’ll rule it again.”
He slapped his hand down on the railing, a buzzing sound erupted from his lips. “Wrong! Try again.”
“I’d rather not.”
“I insist.”
“I really insist I don’t.”
His lips twitched. “I’ll tell you.”
“No, thank you.”
“It’s the human women who make the humans more superior. Without them, no one exists. They are the common denominator between all three—shifters, mates, and humans.”
“What is the point to all of that?”
He winked. “Wait and see.”
“How about you go to hell? I’d like that.”
“How about we move onto what else I want from you since you have fulfilled my need for entertainment today? I’m moving on to my needs. Pay attention.”
The boat shot up hard on the wave, then crashed back down. I grabbed onto the railing to steady myself, he stumbled back against the crane, only just stopping himself from going over the side. I snickered, muttering, “Now, that was entertaining.”
He sniffed, staring down his nose at me. “I have two requests of you so listen up. First, I want you to give a message to Cassander, the silver fox who took my place.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What is it?”
“Tell him to leave my brother be. He’s not in pain. He’s not anything. Just leave the rock alone.”
“You don’t give a shit about your twin.”
“You’re right. I don’t. But if he moves that lava rock, then he’s going to awaken a beast that shouldn’t be woken.”
I blinked. “Does Theron know—”
“Of course, he does. But he also indulges his son too much. He loves him and shit.” His nose crinkled in disgust.
Another wave hit the side of the boat, salt water spraying into our faces. He wiped the water away. I left mine alone.
I stared, not understanding. “But why don’t you want that rock moved?”
“I don’t really care one way or another, but the vision has been playing so much in my head, I want it gone. I thought mentioning it to you would work for me.”
“Ah.” My lips thinned. “Now, that makes sense.”
“Will you tell him?”
“Maybe.”
Of course, I was going to tell. I’d tell everyone.
“That brings us to my second request.” His gaze ran over my features gradually. “This one you will probably enjoy.”
My eyes narrowed at his face. “What?”
He opened his mouth. His lips moved.
But I couldn’t hear him over the wind.
I shouted, “I can’t hear you!”
He lips snarled, and then bellowed, “The girl from Dormi’s. After Alaric rescues you, you need to go to the pizza shop. She is in danger. If you don’t go, she will die. Take her to Mr. Mason’s home to live.”
I stared.
The insane seer was everything I’d thought he’d be.
And not anything at all.
Joshua streaked forward, grabbed me around the waist, and shouted, “Use your silver bracelet!”
Then I was flying over the railing, tossed into the churning, freezing waters I normally hunted in.
I swallowed a mouthful of water.
My legs kicked and my hands pushed.
I broke the surface, coughing and sputtering.
A wave took me back down, my yellow jacket pulling me deeper into its tow. I thrashed under the water, yanking and tugging at the sleeves, darkness all around. With one arm out, I kicked and used my free arm to search for air.
My head pushed out of the water. I sucked oxygen.
Grabbed at the jacket and yanked it off.
Another wave took me under.
I pressed frantically on my silver bracelet.
A distress code of certain taps.
New City Hall would notify my husband.
I kicked and shoved, but before I hit the air, another current rolled my body, taking me wherever it damn well pleased. I kicked and struggled to the surface.
I panted and tipped my head back, swaying in the trashing water, but not dragged down yet.
My silver bracelet buzzed.
With freezing, shaking hands, I tapped it.
“Faith? Are you all right?” Alaric bellowed.
The sea took me down again. I didn’t fight the current this time, allowing it to drag me. When it settled, I shoved to the surface, choking on water.
I held my bracelet above the water, treading the water hard, and screamed, “I need help! I went overboard.”
A bear’s roar was all I heard.
Then another wave took me under.
The darkness of the sea swallowed me whole, twisting and yanking my body in different directions. I had to fight it this time, thrashing my legs as hard as I could. My extended right hand reached out of the water.
My head soon followed. My entire frame trembled.
I raised my bracelet above the water. I shrieked in terror, a massive wave about to break was headed right for me. I begged with a cry, “Please help me!”
“I’m coming, Faith!” Alaric roared. “I’m coming.”
The wave crashed on top of me, swallowing me down, the power of the crush bowing my back. I rolled and rolled and rolled. My hands reached and reached, my legs kicked for air. But there was no air. I held my breath. I held it.
The water calmed around me. But I was out of time.
I knew not which way was up or down.
My chest shook. I held it back, pinching my lips.
I kicked furiously, my hands shoved.
And my mouth flew open, sucking for air.
Saltwater flew into my mouth.
Down deep into my lungs. I blinked in the darkness.
My muscles tensed with fire in my blood.
Thoughts exploded inside my mind. Terror and loathing clenched my throat. The chill of the water caressed my skin. Seaweed encased my ankles, holding me prisoner.
I breathed water again. A hiccup in the sea.
My eyes fluttered shut, and my body twitched.
Once more, a shudder of good-bye.
Death crawled into my veins.
The sea took me away…
Away again…
And again…
Again…
Again… So much more again…
Immortality wasn’t always perfect.