“And what do you think of love, Cali?”
She looked away. “I’ve never really been loved, and so I have don’t have an opinion—other than I think it’s overrated. I’m not sure I’d even know it if I saw it, and I’m pretty sure I’m so screwed up I’m incapable of feeling it.”
She faltered at the end of the statement like she was surprised she’d actually said that out loud.
“Surely your mom—”
“We’re not going there.” She squared her shoulders again. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. First blubbering like a baby about riding on a paper-thin boat and now this.” She swiped a finger across her cheek.
I patted her knee. “You’re wrong, you know.”
She glanced at me and smiled. “No really. Those boats were so thin you could read through them.”
I nudged her shoulder with mine. “Not about the boats. About love. I know we haven’t known each other long, but you are rare. You’re worthy of love, and you have a lot of it to give. The fact that the Dokkalfar go down like flies whenever you’re near is proof of that.”
She turned her head and swiped her face again.
“Cali, in the past twenty-four hours you’ve met beings you didn’t know existed, you’ve been bullied into coming with us—on a paper-thin boat, as you’d say. And now you’ve found out you have to bunk with Weylin. That would make anyone emotional.”
She smiled. “True.”
Weylin opened the cabin door, and her lips turned into a hyphen again.
“Have you finished explaining about the birds and the bees or do you need more time?” Weylin said dryly.
Cali kept her eyes on the ground.
Exasperated, I shook my head. “Weylin, really. You’re not helping matters. Try to be nice, would you?”
“I’m always nice, Princess. You know that.” His turquoise eyes mischievously glittered as he faced Cali. “Come see the room. I’ve kept the best corner for you.”
She closed her eyes like she was counting to ten. He grinned at her reaction.
“Oh, come now, Kitten. I don’t like this any better than you do, but we’ll have to make the best of it, won’t we?” He held out his hand.
Cali knocked it away and stood on her own. “Would you quit calling me that ridiculous name?”
Weylin followed her down the hall. “Not a chance, Slick.”
She stopped and glared as he threw her words back in her face.
Weylin held up his hands like he was surrendering. “Hey, you want to give me a new name, your real name? Maybe I’ll consider calling you something else. Until then, Kitten it is.”
Cali mumbled something about him needing to sleep with one eye opened as she closed the door in his face.
“Weylin?” I called down the hall. “Can I talk to you a minute?”
He came back.
“Are you going to be all right? On this journey, I mean.”
“Of course, Princess. Why do you ask?”
I didn’t know how to broach the subject, so I blurted it out. “I know it’s none of my business. But, how are you? What I mean to say is, should we stay close to shore, so you can strengthen?”
Weylin actually blushed. “You needn’t worry about me. I’ve got it taken care of.” He walked down the small hallway and faced his door. With a deep breath, he turned the knob.
“Honey, I’m home.” His voice muffled as the door closed.
Smiling, I waited a few minutes, making sure Cali didn’t storm back out. The still silence of the hallway seemed to mirror the hollow ache around my heart. Since we’d come through the portal, Gavin had been so distant, keeping his emotions from me for longer periods of time.
Rubbing my chest, I made my way down the hall and opened the door.
A large bedframe stood at the far corner of the room, two sides of the bed had been anchored against the walls. Light poured in from a rounded window above a writing table, which stood next to the bed. The other side of the room held a wardrobe and a galley bathroom ending with a small tub.
“Rune had filtered water pumped into a cistern below, but we’ll have to ration our usage.” Gavin was swathed in shadows as he leaned against the wall furthest from the porthole.
He pointed to a pile of folded clothes. “Elaine worked on altering some of the things we found at the lighthouse. She thinks most of the pants will fit, anyway.”
I leaned against the doorframe, painfully aware of the distance between us. Gavin went and stood by the bed, staring out over the sea.
“It’s getting harder, you know.” His quiet admission sliced through the room.
I shut the door and made my way to the bed. “What is?”
“Allowing myself to open up to you.”
Anxiety rippled through me, and I quieted my mind.
Gavin’s eyes stayed glued to the window. “It’s not that I want to be this way. I hate shutting you out. It’s like a little piece of me dies every time I do it.”
“So, stop doing it.” I took his hand and rubbed my fingers across his smooth palm.
Gavin finally looked at me as he sat down. “What if I start to affect you? What if I affect ...” He looked back at the ocean.
“Listen, I’ve felt your emotions and experienced your body since you made it back from the Badlands. Why is this any different?”
Gavin sighed. “The dark energy here is incredibly strong.”
“Then I’ll be stronger.” I put my hand on his arm.
He looked down, staring at the bracelet on my wrist. Covering my entire hand with his, he ran his thumb along the center of his soul stone as if he was searching for answers. Gently taking my hand in his, he pulled away from the small window.
“Lay with me.”
I slipped off my shoes and scooted back on the bed. My thoughts concentrated on how much I loved him, how much I needed him. His eyes warmed, but his emotions still hadn’t filled the hollow ache around my heart. He leaned in and kissed me, his palm making its way up my arm to cup the side of my face. We leaned back against the soft pillows, and he pulled me close, his hand finding its favorite spot below my belly button.
“I need to feel you,” I whispered.
He sadly smiled. The gold flecks melted, swirling in emerald irises as he opened his heart. His emotions eased into me like a gentle lover.
I moaned. “That’s so much better.”
He tucked a piece of stray hair behind my ear. “I love you.”
His fingers dipped under my shirt, moving upward until it was off and tossed on the floor. He took a long appraising look, noting the rounder swell of my breasts under Ester’s camisole.
“Edna said my mom grew four inches in college. Did you know that?” I asked.
Gavin smiled and shook his head.
“Seems I’m growing in different places instead of up. Aren’t you glad we’re late bloomers?” I grinned as his palm traveled past my ribcage.
“Physical beauty reflects the spirit it contains. Your body is precious to me because it houses your soul. No one compares to you. No one ever will.”
Masculine emotions, so mired in longing, twisted through me. I stopped his hand in its track.
“Gavin, what is it?”
He placed his forehead over my heart and took a deep breath. “Please. Don’t think, only feel. This is you and me—together for one more perfect moment.”
As he kissed the bone guarding my heart, a tear trickled down my cheek.
Chapter 19
At Sea
The tang of salt bit through the cold as the boat rocked and swayed.
“I’ll bet Elaine will be glad when we finally clear the sound,” Rena shouted over the wind whipping through the sails.
I looked back. Elaine’s brow furrowed, her hands rose toward large black sails. Elias stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her midsection, keeping her steady.
The ship’s hull easily sliced through the water. Elaine had been guiding the boat’s quick clip for hours,
shifting the wind to keep us on course.
“Have you seen Cali?” I asked.
Rena grinned. “I think she’s helping Kyla in the kitchen. That’s if you consider throwing pots at Weylin’s head helping.”
Large palms warmed my shoulders. Gavin brushed my hair back, and I tilted my head, offering him his favorite spot. Warm lips nuzzled the base of my neck.
His face pulled into a smile as he nipped his way to my ear.
Rena grinned. “I think I’ll go find Tark. Excuse me, my lady.”
Gavin waved as she walked away.
“You seem better,” I murmured, loving the feel of his contentment humming through me.
“Hmmmm ... I am.” His lips traced my jaw, and I tilted my head for a kiss. “I love strengthening with you.”
I grinned, remembering the past few hours in our cabin. Even though it did take longer for Gavin to reconnect with me, I really couldn’t complain.
“So, do you think the Dokkalfar know where we’re going?” I looked out at the dark shore.
Gavin’s emotions jolted, and I regretted bringing it up.
“They’re following along, just over there.” He pointed to a jagged ridge jutting over the water. “But don’t worry. Rune and Finn are taking care of it.” He changed the subject. “Would you like some dinner? I’m a little hungry.”
“You know, I am too.” I kissed his jaw and took his hand.
The kitchen stood toward the back of the main shelter centered in the middle of the ship. A makeshift dining hall had been created by clearing all the electronic equipment from the bridge. Only the big wheel that steered the rudder was left. The rest of the room held tables and benches.
Cali rounded the corner, a makeshift apron tied around her waist. She waved when she saw me.
“Hey there, Nora. Instead of staying hostage in the room, I decided to help. I can cook, which gets me away from the roomie and I don’t feel useless, so it’s a win/win. Of course, I volunteered before I knew everyone here is a flower muncher.”
I smiled. “Sorry. Should’ve warned you. Neither Urisk or Alfar eat anything that bleeds.”
“What about fish? I’ve never seen a fish bleed.”
“Then you’ve never skinned one before have you?” I grinned, feeling Gavin’s revulsion.
Cali looked down the row. “True. I used to buy mine from the market. Seems like a lifetime ago.” She dusted her hands on her apron. “I still find it hard to believe that the Urisk came up with all this food. We have enough canned and dried fruit, veggies, flour, yeast, oats, nuts, and barley to feed a small village for a couple of months.”
I looked around realizing she was right.
“Why don’t we sit with Weylin?” Gavin picked up a tin cup and filled it with vegetable soup and placed it on a plate along with a few pieces of bread.
“Want to join us?” I asked Cali.
She glanced across the room, finding Weylin easily. “Not even a little bit.”
Gavin and I threaded through the tables.
“You think those two will ever get along?” I asked.
Gavin grinned as Weylin’s eyes tracked Cali back to the kitchen. “He’ll either kill her or mate her. Can’t figure out which one yet.”
Shocked, I stopped. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Look at him, Nora. She challenges him at every turn. Must be driving him nuts.”
“You know they’re in the same cabin.”
“No choice on that front. We hadn’t planned on picking up a human, and where else was she going to stay?”
Gavin stopped to talk to Finn, and I walked ahead and sat by Weylin.
“At least she knows how to cook,” he mumbled, looking at my plate.
“I take it things aren’t better between you two. And please tell me you were kidding about keeping the best corner for her. Cali isn’t sleeping on a pile of rags on the floor, is she?”
Weylin bristled. “I offered her the bed, but she refused.”
I looked down, blowing steam from the soup cup. I loved Weylin like a brother, but his idea of finesse was using a cudgel instead of a blade.
“Hey, Princess. Don’t worry. She’s not sleeping on the floor. I’ve got it all planned out.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
“She may start out on the floor, but she’ll end up in the bed. Mark my words.”
I stared at Weylin, not sure he understood what he’d implied. He didn’t notice though. He was too busy watching the curvy little Italian cart in another round of soup.
Gavin was right. Weylin had met his match.
“Finn’s got an idea of how long it’ll take us to get there,” Gavin said as he took a seat next to me.
“And where exactly is there?” I asked.
“We’ll be headed to the edge of the earth, my Light.” Finn came from behind. He rolled out a map. “Your windmaker’ll be puttin’ us ahead of schedule.”
I frowned. “Elaine won’t be able to keep this up the entire trip. She’s exhausted now.”
Finn patted my shoulder. “Not to worry. Once we’d be hittin’ open waters the wind’ll be pickin’ up on its own.”
Relieved, I leaned back in my chair.
“Prince, we’d be sending guards where you’d be suggestin’. They’ll be back before we’d be leavin’ these brackish waters.” Finn saw my confusion and explained. “Tis’ nothin’ fer a Urisk t’ be swimmin’ in fresh water. But sea water’ll be another matter, now wouldn’ it?”
“Do we need to slow down?” I asked, afraid we may leave someone behind.
“Nay. The Urisk’ll be takin’ care o’ their own. Now,” he pointed to an estuary on the map. “This’ll be where we are.” He traced his finger along a penciled path, which cut a deep arc out to sea and then dipped back into the northern shore. “The Nayshell’s ordered that we’d head out to open waters fer a bit t’ keep the Dokkalfar guessin’ where we’d be landin’.”
“Good idea,” I grinned, appreciating Molly’s strategy.
Weylin studied the map. “Taking into account the trajectory, I think we should hit land in what, a few weeks?”
“Aye, I’d be figurin’ the same.”
“Oh, Finn.” Weylin looked up. “I meant to ask. Is there a life preserver still on board?”
Surprised, Finn smiled. “Aye. I’d be believin’ we’ve a few in storage. Are ya afraid of a little salt water, Guardian?”
Weylin shook his head. “Of course not. The Prince and I used to race in waters similar to these. It’s the human. Cali. She doesn’t know how to swim, and I’d rather her not be on deck without a way to survive if she gets tossed overboard.”
Protection rolled off Weylin as he looked at the serving line. The table grew quiet. Gavin glanced at Cali and then back to Finn. “Good idea. Finn, bring Weylin a few jackets. Cali will be required to wear them whenever she’s on deck.”
Finn scoffed. “I’d be bettin’ me feathers she’ll be refusin.”
“Oh, she’ll wear it, or she won’t go outside.” Weylin kept his eyes on Cali, and I grew concerned.
Weylin’s natural instinct was to protect, but he usually at least pretended to get others input before deciding the best way to proceed. Since we boarded the ship, however, it seemed he’d forgotten how to ask.
Gavin stared at Weylin, speaking with him silently. They both kept glancing at Cali. Weylin shook his head, and Gavin sighed.
“Nora, I’d like you to spend time with Cali. See what you can find out about her past and what her real name is. Weylin will guard you both.”
Weylin seemed satisfied with that answer. He stood. “I’ll need those life preservers,” he said to Finn as pushed in his chair. Without a glance toward the serving line, he walked away.
Finn rolled up the map. “I’ll be tellin’ Kyla t’ be gettin’ her fur in gear. She’ll be deliverin’ the jackets to the warrior within the hour.” He made his way out of the hall.
“Wha
t was that about?” I asked. “And why is Weylin acting so weird?”
Gavin shook his head. “Not mine to share. But I will say that Cali is important for a few reasons. The Urisk think so too.”
“So that’s why Weylin’s being so protective.”
Gavin smiled. “I’ve told Weylin I’d see you and Cali safely to the cabins. It looks like she’s ready to go.”
I looked at the serving line. Cali had untied the swath of linen from around her waist and hung it on the galley door. Gavin and I made our way over.
“You calling it a night?” I asked, waiting for her at the end of the line.
Cali’s eyes held a grim weariness to them. She had gotten little sleep the night before, and I suspected she usually slept during the day. That meant she’d been up for at least twenty-four hours straight.
“Depends if the roomie’s in the cabin.” She rolled her head from side to side, exhaustion finally taking hold.
I linked our arms together. “Gavin and I are headed that way. We’ll walk with you.”
She stopped. “Seriously. Is he there or not? Because if he is, I’ll work a little while longer.”
Gavin’s eyes blanked. “He’s on duty. And you’re ready to collapse where you stand. Go. Rest, and please be assured that you’re safe.”
Cali stared at him. “You know, you people speak like you belong in the eighteen hundreds, right? What’s up with that?”
Gavin smiled as he opened the door. “As long as you understand the meaning, the syntax is inconsequential.”
“See? That’s what I’m talking about. Who says the words syntax and inconsequential? Why not say ‘as long as you know what I mean, we’re good?’”
I grinned. “Listen, Cali. Tomorrow, I’d like for you to join Rena and me. We usually paint or sculpt in the morning, and then have a nice cup of tea.”
Cali frowned. “Yeah, and I usually look at the sun and thank God that I made it through another night. Not sure we have much in common to chat about over tea.”
I grew quiet.
“Listen, Princess.” Cali stopped. “I appreciate the invite and all, but let’s not get carried away. You really don’t have to keep up the ‘let’s be friends’ thing. I’m here because, even though you asked nicely, we both know your hubby would have brought me on board tied at the wrist and ankles with a bag over my head. I have no idea why though. I’m mean, I’m sure I’m an extra thorn-in-the-side, pain-in-the-butt, pick-your-favorite-saying-and-insert-it-here. And while I appreciate the food, the shelter, and honestly someone to talk to, I still have no clue why you’d bother. I’m just some girl that got in the way, and we both know it. So please stop with the Kum Ba Ya crap. I’m not buying it.”
The Heart of the Ancients Page 21