“Skye...”
She wouldn’t look up, she had to prolong this. If she didn’t look, he couldn’t say it.
“Skye – you came for me. You found me.”
“Yes.”
“Your fear. All you went through – you walked into the sea, to find me.”
He sounded so – so moved. Unable to help it, she raised her head and looked at him. What she read in his eyes didn’t look like goodbye. He pressed his cold lips to her forehead again. “Thank you for saving me,” he whispered against her skin.
“You’re very welcome,” she smiled. He took her hand and gazed at the twist of shell on her finger, and then at her. “You went back and found this? Why?”
“You. Just...the possibility of you.”
He looked at the small gleaming shell again. “This would be a miserable existence for you, Skye. You must realise that now. To make it bearable for you, I would have to mesmerise you. I don’t want that for you Skye. You can’t want it for yourself?”
“I want...you,” Skye whispered, trying to keep the pain out of her voice.
“And I want nothing more than to be with you...but...”
“But...love only ever leads to loss,” her voice was bitter. She stared down at the shell ring. “If only there was some way I could do what you do – put something into a token from my world, one that would let you join me.” She looked up as Hunter started.
His eyes were wide, staring straight ahead, his expression of concentration so intense she thought the agony of low tide had gripped him. Panicked, she put her hands on his chest and tried to push him back, but it was like pushing a wall. He blinked, and then smiled radiantly at her.
38. Fragile
“Maybe love doesn’t have to lead to loss.” Hunter’s voice thrilled with excitement, his eyes shining with a curious determined light. She felt a flutter of tentative hope. He ran his hands lightly down her arms and took her hands once more. Shivers raced over her.
“But it does, especially for us,” she countered. “I can’t come with you, and you can’t follow me. You’ll go away, to keep me safe. So where does that leave us?” Skye felt the hopelessness of their irreconcilable worlds ripping her apart. There was nothing but loss.
But his new, fierce expression grew. “No. No goodbyes. I’m not leaving you.”
“What do you mean, ‘not leaving me’? Will you...I mean – huh?” Skye tried to push down a surge of crazy hope.
“I mean, I’m coming with you,” Hunter’s eyes shone, his chest rising and falling. She could practically see the adrenaline racing through him. She stepped back, horrified.
“No, Hunter. Death isn’t any kind of answer. That’s a million, trillion times worse than you leaving me here and going away. What are you – how can you – I...” terror took her words. She felt like screaming at the smile playing across his face.
“That’s not what I mean, Skye,” he shook his head. “I could never leave this world while you’re in it. They’d have to drag me, kicking and screaming to my doom as long as you’re still breathing.”
“Then, what?”
“When my clan caught me, forced me back here to trap you, I thought I had lost you.” he said huskily. “I found the power to throw them off to get to you. To save you.”
“I know you did something to...bring me back,” Skye murmured. “And then you fell away from me.” She had to swallow before going on. “I couldn’t reach you – I got pulled out of the water. I thought I’d lost you. What happened?”
“I don’t know,” Hunter said slowly. “Do you remember the day I kissed you?” he asked. “Got lost in you, drawing your warmth?” Skye nodded. “Remember I said that I followed where you were disappearing to, and tried to put back what I’d taken? It was like that. I’d done it before, so instinctively I did it again. I...I sought your vanishing soul and poured all that I had, all that I am, after you before you vanished completely.”
His lovely eyes were haunted at the recollection. Skye placed her hands on either side of face. “Thank you for saving me,” she whispered.
“You’re very welcome,” he smiled. “And since then – something is different. Something has shifted. I can feel it. I don’t feel trapped anymore. Skye, it doesn’t feel like this prison can hold me now.” He gestured to where foam swathes washed the sand. She followed his gaze, and fear rose up in her throat again.
She shook her head wildly. “Are you crazy? You can’t – you know you can’t. I’ve seen what crossing your boundary does to you. Think about Tobias, Hunter. You can’t do that. You can’t leave me without you, you can’t...” her voice choked off. But his eyes were steady as they met hers. The light in them, the determination she’d seen before, increased.
“Skye,” his voice was low, intense. “Something has shifted. I know it. I feel it has shifted...to you. Tell me you don’t feel something is different. That you don’t think something has...altered.” His smoky grey eyes challenged her to search within.
She held her breath as she allowed his words to pierce her fear, to settle into her heart and mind. Different? Yes. Something had altered.
As if recognising her thoughts he nodded. “There’s something between us, so strong it’s almost physical. How did you find me in the water? Tell me that.”
“I...followed you – followed a thread connecting us.”
“Connecting us. Exactly!”
It was true. She had felt him, presence and absence, both at once, so real she had unerringly walked into the sea and found him. “What does it mean?”
“I think it means... I’m hoping it means, that we can be together...in your world.” She could feel his hands trembling in hers, but his face was alight.
“It makes perfect sense that this should happen to me with you,” he said, his voice hushed. “Ever since you came back into my life, you’ve changed everything for me. Why not this?”
Skye felt warmth spreading from the core of her being. But still, she couldn’t bring herself to accept his reasoning. “It doesn’t make sense. How could I make something like this possible and not even know it, when I would have done it in a heartbeat if I knew how?”
“You showed me the answer just now when you said you wished you could give me something to grant safe passage for me into your world.”
She couldn’t keep up with him, desperate as she was for his racing words to mean stay together.
“I poured all I am into you in a desperate attempt to save you. And now...somehow – it has connected us.”
“Are you saying...I’m like...a token?”
He laughed out loud, a joyful ringing laugh. “I don’t know Skye, but – maybe! We’re linked now. I feel I don’t belong there anymore.” He nodded towards the horizon. “I know I don’t want to. I want to be with you. I need to move towards you. It’s you for me now, or nothing. And I don’t believe it will be nothing.”
Skye studied his face, glowing with hope, his eyes fervent, yet also filled with clarity. He knew what he was asking them both to risk. But it was still too hard to accept. And she wasn’t like a necklace that could we worn. The hope that had surged ebbed away.
“Skye, I have to try. I have to test the bars.” The low tide line had nearly reached them, and he showed no sign of strain. “Let’s see if I can prove that my prison can’t hold me anymore.”
Unable to speak around the lump in her throat, she mutely nodded, but held up a trembling hand to hold him back a moment.
Turning to face the empty beach, her breath jerky with sobs she tried to stifle, in a handful of steps, she crossed first, the ruffling foam barely a presence on her enchanted skin. As always, it was effortless. And it cut like a knife.
She turned to face him, the anticipation of loss like lead in her chest. But the wild hope on Hunter’s face, the tremulous joy that shone in his eyes – joy at the possibility of freedom with her, made her breath catch. Despite her terror for him, the intensity of his belief transmitted itself to her and her heart began t
o race.
Keeping his eyes fixed on hers Hunter stepped slowly towards her, without pain. She scrutinised every inch of him, alert for the tiniest sign he was hiding the agony that had doubled him up the last time he had drawn so near to his boundary. His long form was steady, upright, and he stepped closer to the foam border with ease. His silver-grey eyes were liquid as they held her gaze. His chest heaved with emotion as he took yet another step.
It shouldn’t be possible, but it was undeniable. Arcs of lacy foam swept his feet now, barely to his ankles, and yet he stood proudly, on the verge of a new existence. Or of an agonising death Skye would be powerless to prevent. Her breath came in short gasps as Hunter paused at the very edge of his cage. With a smile so full of love for her it pierced her heart, he tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and, spreading his arms wide as if embracing whatever came, stepped across his boundary.
For a moment he stood like a statue against the colour-washed sky, on firm sand, arms outstretched and head flung back. Then he breathed like it was his first breath, long and deep. Straightening his head, he met Skye’s dazed eyes, elation radiating out of him.
She had never let herself even imagine this moment.
“Skye... I think you are my shore now. Where you are, is where I’m safe.”
It was too much to properly take in. But she got the gist of it. “Well, that’s kind of perfect,” she said at last.
“I agree. But how do you mean?”
“I mean where you are, is where I’m safe,” she smiled tremulously. His answering smile made her heart soar. She catapulted herself into his arms, pressing her tear-streaked face to his chest. He stumbled back a step, laughing as he wrapped his arms around her. Skye found herself laughing with him. She could feel him trembling just as she was.
She tilted her face to read his eyes. The coldness of his skin against her told her that not everything had changed. They stared at each other, as she tried to take in what had changed. Hunter, in her world. It was impossible. It was wonderful.
A low wave swept over their feet, frothing around their ankles, then drew back out. Hunter lifted his hand and stared at it as the receding water left them on bare sand once more.
“This is real,” he murmured. He looked at Skye. “Isn’t it? Are we both here? Or is this just another dream?”
“Real,” she said softly, twining her fingers through his. “We’re both here. Real.”
“You transformed my existence, and now you’ve transformed me, Skye.” He took her face between his hands and crushed his cold lips to hers, restraint forgotten. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her insides dissolving, and for a moment everything vanished, lost in the sensation of his lips against hers. She gasped for breath when, too soon, he released her, unlocking her arms from around his neck with a soft laugh.
“I won’t start by breaking my promise to never let anything hurt you – including me.” He looked out over the Bay, stark with the last flare of sunset. As the sun sank below the horizon the sea swelled with dark presence. He looked pensive. “So… What now?” his low voice was vulnerable. He looked suddenly lost without his familiar borders.
Skye could barely imagine how he must feel. The incredible shift from his endless imprisonment was completely unfathomable, and their path ahead was unknown. But together rang through her like a bell, resonating in every part of her.
“Hey,” she said softly, tugging his hand. When he looked at her, she took his other hand, linking their fingers. “You kept me safe in your world. I’ll keep you safe in mine. Deal?”
A smile crept over his face. He pressed his forehead to hers for a moment. “Deal,” he murmured. “So, really – what now?”
“Well... You’re in my world now. Dry versus wet, right? So first, we need to get you some dry clothes. And there’re some people I really want you to meet. And then... Then...we’ll figure out the rest together.”
“Together. I like the sound of that,” he smiled, his eyes crinkling.
“Me too,” Skye whispered. The brilliant happiness filling her felt like air enclosed in a gleaming bubble, fragile. But she would take it. “Walk me back?”
Hunter took a deep breath. “Love to.”
About the Author
Francesca Riley is a New Zealander, living and working in Auckland, on New Zealand’s North Island. The stunning beaches of this beautiful country inspired those of Bannimor.
Find Me is her first young adult novel. She was recipient of an NZSA Mentorship, working on an early manuscript of this story in 2014. Previously published is Treasure from the Sea, a picture book for the Ready to Read series.
When she isn’t writing, she is painting or reading. Her favourite books are old-fashioned murder mysteries, or YA magical realism novels where bravery and passion exist alongside magic in the world we think we know.
The best books are discovered by recommendations, one enthusiastic reader sharing their discovery with others. If you enjoyed Find Me, book one of Immersed, a favourable review, even if just a line or two, would do great things in helping this author’s work be discovered by others.
If you would like to hear about the release of Follow Me, book two of Immersed, or find out more about the Immersed journey, please visit francescarileywriter.com
You can follow Francesca on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram
Dedication
For my mother Jean, whose love fills me up and makes me strong
and
For my amazing sister Jan, who is always there for me
Acknowledgements
In memory of my dad Bill McLaren. I think he would be proud. And heartfelt thanks to my beautiful, loving mum Jean McLaren who has been my biggest fan since ever, and who loved hearing about Skye and Hunter and their story on our drives to Ocean Beach.
The love and support of family and friends cannot be overstated in its importance to me, especially that shown me by the Williams’ and the McLarens in tough times and good. My sister Janine (Jan) Williams, who has willed this story and my success on from the start. Lisette de Jong for sharing the journey. My husband Colin for sharing me with this book’s creation, and for beginning to see what I saw. Robyn Sheard for sharing her cosy retreat and her kindness. I love you all, and I carry your hopes with me as I move forward.
Thanks to my editor and friend Lisette de Jong, whose unerring eye, sense of literary quality and finesse, as well as her generosity and patience, made my writing better. And all done with the lightest touch!
Daphne de Jong, whose experienced feedback, and her kindness and support throughout, not least lending me her home and laptop for writing retreats, meant much to me personally as well as professionally.
The NZSA for their bestowal of a mentorship with Diana Menefy as part of the NZSA Mentor program in 2014. Di’s guidance on the early manuscript was significant in my beginning to understand good writing, the editing process and the power of clean prose. I will always be grateful.
My nieces Becca, Emem and Susie Williams for being willing test readers. Becca, Susie and Jan for my lovely author photo. Special thanks to Susie for the use of her image in my “is that Skye?” posts, and for being my book’s first fan, her love of this story was a huge encouragement and motivation.
Maureen Crisp and Rhia de Jong for providing helpful insights and suggestions for the manuscript. Thomas Lodge for his generous guidance in the ways of the e-book. For every hand extended in help or encouragement, I am grateful.
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