by Becca Andre
“Oh shit,” Kali muttered.
Briar didn’t get a chance to consider the implications when Eli cried out. He released Grayson and staggered away. As they watched, several red stains bloomed on the front of Eli’s white shirt. He fell to the deck.
“What the hell?” Kali whispered.
Grayson hadn’t moved. He stood watching them with those alien eyes. Then Briar remembered the last time she had seen those eyes. His emerging dorsal spines had shredded the back of his shirt.
Oh dear God. He had released those spines into Eli’s chest.
Chapter 15
Briar pulled her gaze from the blood on Eli’s shirt and turned back to Grayson. She still gripped Lock in her fist. “Be human,” she all but growled as she walked toward him.
He gasped and tipped back his head.
“What the hell did you do?” she demanded.
He straightened, and his eyes met hers. Human eyes. His forehead wrinkled, but she couldn’t decipher the emotion. Part of her was relieved to catch that glimpse of emotion, but the rest of her was too mad to acknowledge it.
She stepped past him, glancing at his back as she did. Large rips marred the center of his shirt, but those sharpened fin-like spines weren’t visible. Yet blood stained his white shirt around the holes. Eli’s blood.
A wheezing gurgle drew her attention back to Eli. He still lay where he’d landed, the growing bloodstains were in a straight line down the right side of his chest.
Perseus dropped to a knee beside him and pulled open his shirt. Briar hadn’t seen Perseus arrive, but judging by his shirtless state, he must have already been in bed. In the low light, Briar could see a vivid scar on the front of his left shoulder. Had he been shot or run through? It had the puckered look of a hole.
“What do you need?” Molly stepped up behind him. She’d pulled on a dressing gown.
“Towels, water, and eventually, a needle and thread,” Perseus answered without looking up from his examination of Eli’s chest.
Briar knelt on Eli’s other side, across from Perseus, and watched as he pressed a hand over the third hole down. “What is it?” she asked.
“His lung is punctured.”
She was about to ask if he had a solution when Grayson squatted beside him. “Let me,” Grayson whispered.
Perseus wordlessly withdrew his hand, allowing Grayson to place his own hand over the wound.
A pause, then Eli tipped back his head and drew a deep breath. Had Grayson fixed the hole in his lung that quickly? She didn’t get to question him before Eli seized Grayson’s wrist.
“Don’t,” Eli spoke between clenched teeth. “I won’t be one of your—”
“I wasn’t,” Grayson cut in. “I was only mending what was broken.”
“I don’t need no mending from you.” Eli shoved his hand away.
Perseus looked up, and meeting Grayson’s eye, nodded.
Grayson pushed himself to his feet and walked away.
Briar debated going after him, but she couldn’t leave until she knew Eli was out of danger. She assumed the lung was repaired, but she didn’t want to ask and get Eli riled up.
Molly returned and Briar relinquished her place at Eli’s side. Perseus and Molly both seemed much more knowledgeable about this sort of thing than she was.
“So, how the hell did Grayson do that?” Kali asked, stopping beside her.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as Eli is all right.”
“He will be,” Kali answered. “The ferra who owned Perseus taught him a lot about doctoring. Unlike some, they liked to keep the Scourge they had alive rather than be forced to make and train more.”
Briar glanced over at her. “How much of what you say is fact and how much is your own conclusions?”
Kali opened her mouth, but Briar raised a hand to stop her.
“Never mind. I think I can answer that.” But she appeared to be right about Perseus’s doctoring knowledge. Eli seemed to be in good hands. “I’d better go find Grayson.”
“He’s about twenty yards back in the trees.” Kali pointed to the heelpath side of the canal and the stand of trees a short distance away.
Briar gave Kali her back.
“You’d best get control of him,” Kali said. “He’ll only get worse.”
Briar didn’t answer. She climbed down into the cargo hold, then leapt to the bank. The brush wasn’t kept cleared away on this side of the canal, so it was slow going. It didn’t help that the intermittent clouds obscured the moon from time to time.
She didn’t bother to have Lock do the compass thing, but it wasn’t because of the low light. She needed to sort out what had just happened.
Eli and Grayson had never gotten along, but she had thought that the source of the animosity was Eli. Although, Grayson had admitted that he liked to keep Eli stirred up. Maybe Eli wasn’t the sole source of the conflict, but she couldn’t imagine Grayson hurting Eli like that—no matter what the provocation.
Yet that wasn’t the only oddity about Grayson’s behavior this evening. For the first time, he had kissed her. Which was bizarre, considering that he had suggested this trip to Cleveland for the purpose of separating himself from her. What had changed?
She puzzled over these things as she walked, not paying particular attention to her surroundings. The thin clouds floated away from the moon once more, and she found herself on the edge of a plain that stretched off into the darkness. Somewhere in the distance, a train whistle blew.
Her heartbeat quickened at the sound. Could Grayson have traveled the distance so quickly and caught that train? What if—
“It would be pointless,” his soft voice said from behind her. “You have only to call me back.”
She didn’t jump. Though she hadn’t heard a thing, she had somehow known he was there. A product of their growing connection? And then there was the way he had just responded to her thoughts.
“Can you read my mind?” she asked without turning. “Or am I sending you something?”
“Neither. I knew you came looking for me and that the train whistle captured your attention.”
She faced him. He gazed out across the plain. If she could see him better, would she see longing in his eyes?
His gaze fell to her. “You shouldn’t be out here alone. Have you forgotten about Farran?”
“What about you?”
“He doesn’t want to hurt me, but he knows that you hold my leash.”
That was the second time he’d phrased it like that.
“You believe I control you?”
“Certainly, you understand what just happened.”
She crossed her arms, though it was more a defensive gesture than anger. “I understand that you hurt Eli.”
“I couldn’t breathe, and I’m still mortal enough that it poses a threat. I started to black out, then the next thing I’m aware of is you.”
“You don’t remember releasing your spikes into Eli’s chest?”
“I remember.” He lifted his eyes to the horizon once more. “But it’s a sterile memory. There is no accompanying emotion.”
She hugged herself tighter. She knew his devolvement would ultimately render him an emotionless… thing. Was it happening already?
“I didn’t want to hurt him,” Grayson continued. “Not like that. But when I couldn’t breathe, my drive to survive brought out what isn’t human in me—until you called me back.”
“Is that what a real ferra would have done?”
“No one has ever possessed my construct—Solon freed me before that could be done—so I can’t say that the way you control me is any different from a true ferra. I only know that you possess that ability, too.”
“Liam lied, didn’t he? My parents must have been of your race.�
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“Yes, he lied.”
The blunt statement made her want to defend Liam, to offer some excuse for his actions, but she didn’t. It was hard to believe Liam would betray her like that.
“You think I’m ferra?” she asked instead.
Grayson hesitated. “Everything suggests that you are, but from what I know, you are unique for your kind.”
“I’m a soul singer. You said they’re rare.”
“Nearly as rare as a dragon.”
“Huh.” He had implied that centuries could pass between the births of dragons. Were soul singers the same? Then what were the odds of him and her existing at the same time, and what’s more, finding each other by chance in this big world. She did not believe in fate, and yet…
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
She looked up to find him watching. “You don’t know?”
He sighed. “I can’t read your mind, but I can guess. You’re thinking that you don’t have to give me to Esme. You think that you can control me.”
That hadn’t been what she was thinking, but the idea intrigued her. “You’re the one who told me that I can control you, but I still want to go see Esme.” The idea came into better focus as she spoke. “I’ll ask her to teach me.”
Grayson frowned.
“You don’t think she would?” Briar asked.
“She might. It’s hard to say with Esme.”
“Then why don’t you like this idea?” she asked. He hadn’t said as much, but she could read his reluctance in the way he stood. Maybe she was coming to know him as well he seemed to know her.
He abruptly turned away. “Let me walk you back to the boat. With your permission, I’d like to sleep on land tonight.”
“Oh,” she said, seeing the connection. “You don’t want me to keep you because the boat makes you uncomfortable.”
“I would not fit into your world.”
That silenced her, and she fell in beside him as they walked back. The only sound was the crunch of the underbrush as they move through it. Once again, she felt like he was pushing her away. There was something he wasn’t telling her—just like Liam. She wanted to confront him, to yell at him and force him to tell her all of it, but something kept her silent. Maybe she didn’t want to hear it from his lips that he wanted to be free of her.
They had reached the boat when a distant rumble of thunder drew her attention.
“Sounds like another storm,” she said. “If it gets bad, return to the boat?”
“It may pass us by.”
“Please?”
He sighed. “All right.”
She eyed the boat, noting the lanterns aglow in both the bow and aft cabins. No one was getting to bed early tonight.
She looked over, intending to tell Grayson good night, but found the place beside her empty. She was beginning to wonder who had been hurt worse by this evening’s events, Eli or Grayson. At least Eli would heal.
The storm hit just before dawn. The rain fell in sheets, and the wind buffeted the boat, tossing it on the swelling canal.
Briar brought Kali and Perseus into her cabin. Grayson hadn’t returned to the boat. When Briar asked Lock if he was all right, she got the impression of an old barn. Had Grayson found his own shelter? She fretted and stewed as the storm continued, but could do nothing about it.
Molly started breakfast, and Briar helped out, using the work to distract herself, though every flash of lightning and crash of thunder had her looking toward the cabin door, hoping Grayson would walk in.
The storm finally slacked off to a steady rain, and everyone was able to gather beneath the re-erected tarp that covered the aft cargo hold.
Eli joined them, as well, but it was clear by his movements and appetite that he was in a lot of pain.
Briar tried to command him back to his bunk, but he flatly refused, insisting she needed a steersman.
“I can steer,” Briar said, allowing her exasperation to color her words. “I am captain of this boat, and there isn’t a job I can’t do, or haven’t done many times.
“I’m not one to lie around when there’s work to be done.”
Briar wanted to scream her frustration at the overcast sky. Why did she seem to surround herself with such stubborn, bull-headed—
“Mr. Waller,” Molly cut in, “I must say I’m disappointed in you. The captain is only looking out for what is best for you and the crew. Your injuries are not so minor that you should be up and about, let alone working.”
“Aye, that’s true,” Jimmy spoke up.
“Also,” Molly continued before Eli could protest, “I understand that there are some tricky stair-step locks in Akron and a difficult aqueduct just south of Cleveland. We’ll need you hale for those.”
Briar glanced over at Molly, impressed. Of course, Molly had years of training dealing with a temperamental man.
“Mrs. Molly is right,” Zach spoke up. The crew hadn’t grown comfortable with using her given name, but they were getting closer. “When I was a boy, my family used to run the northern route—before Pa decided he’d rather haul flour and grain instead of stone. There are some very treacherous stretches ahead of us that need a talented steersman.”
Briar bit her lip. Zach could have used his voice on Eli, but instead, he shared a little of his past. A past she knew was bittersweet for him to talk about.
“Seems to be unanimous, big guy,” Jimmy said. “Looks like you’re taking it easy today.”
“Please return to your bunk, Mr. Waller,” Molly said. “I’ll bring you a cup of willow bark tea.”
Eli pushed himself to his feet, grimacing as he did so. “I’ll go rest—if that’s what everyone wants. I don’t want to let anyone down.” He glanced at Briar before he turned and walked slowly and gingerly toward his cabin.
Briar watched him go.
“I still can’t believe Grayson hurt him like that,” Jimmy said.
Briar turned to find everyone’s attention on her. “I spoke to Grayson. He told me that when Eli cut off his air, his other side took over. It wasn’t his intent to hurt him in such a way.”
“Intent or not, he’s still a ferromancer,” Kali spoke up.
“Thanks for the clarification.” Briar gave her a frown. “I’m going to go speak to Eli.” She didn’t wait for a response before leaving them.
Eli had entered the bunkhouse by the time she got there. She knocked on the open door, but waited for him to answer before walking inside. His bed, the lower bunk on the right, had been specially built for him. It was longer and wider than most. He was already lying down, but when he saw her, he tried to sit up.
“No.” She hurried to him, and laying a hand on his shoulder, pushed him back down. “Stay still.”
“Miss Briar.”
“Hush.” She sat down on the side of his bed.
“You shouldn’t be alone in here with me.”
“Why ever not? If I can’t trust you—”
“It ain’t proper.”
“Since when does that matter to me? But if it makes you feel better, Molly will be here shortly with the tea.”
Eli didn’t comment. Instead, he looked up at the bottom of the bunk above him.
“What got into you, Eli?”
“I wasn’t going to stand by while he took liberties with you.”
“All he did was kiss me—and it wasn’t the first time.”
“What?” He turned his face toward her, an angry scowl on his features. “He kissed you before?”
“No. I kissed him.”
Eli blinked.
Briar tried to ignore the heat in her cheeks. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m an adult now. I can make my own decisions. Grayson has never taken a liberty with me, nor did
he last night. I wanted him to kiss me.” She realized that now.
Eli looked away again, blushing a little himself. “You like him then?”
“Maybe?”
“Maybe?” he repeated. “How—”
“Look, this is all new to me. I was never even interested in kissing anyone until he came along.” Her cheeks were on fire, and she toyed with the seam of her trousers, watching her fingers rather than looking at him. “Maybe it means something and maybe it doesn’t. It could even be the magic.”
“The magic?”
“I don’t think I’m human—or not entirely.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“I can do things I shouldn’t be able to do. And before you accuse him of putting these ideas in my head, it wasn’t just him. I’ve picked up things from Liam, Kali, Perseus, Solon, and even Farran. Kali shot me with a ferra weapon that can kill anyone except the strongest ferromancers and the ferra. It didn’t faze me.”
“Dear God,” Eli whispered.
“I have no idea what to make of any of this. I’m so confused right now. I could really use a friend.” She looked up.
For a moment, he looked uncertain, then he held out a hand to her. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been there for you through all of this.”
She placed her hand in his much larger one. “My world has been turned upside down, and I don’t know what to do.”
“I should never have let you kidnap that man.”
“You’re the one who captured him,” she reminded Eli. “Besides, when have you ever been able to stop me from doing something?”
“Can he stop you?”
“Grayson? I can’t say as he’s ever tried. Earlier this evening, we snuck back into Massillon and disabled Darby’s rudder.”
“Miss Briar.”
“Darby’s been showing around my wanted poster.” She decided not to mention confronting him. “I suspect he’s working for Andrew.”
“If he knows where we are, then why haven’t we been arrested? That’s what Andrew wants, right?”