Chapter 8 #2
The moment she took a step down into the boat, her foot slipped on a damp spot and she fell forward into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Her body was pressed up against him, and his reacted to having her so close, to having her in his arms.
She gazed up at him through thick lashes, her ruby lips parted, her breathing quick.
“You were saying?” he teased.
Color flooded her cheeks and she rested her forehead against his shoulder, laughing softly to herself. “Yeah, sorry.”
Reluctantly, he let go of her. “Sit down and maybe put on a life jacket? If it were safe to duct tape you to the seat, I would.”
She rolled her eyes, but a smile hovered on her lips as she grabbed a life jacket and slipped it on. Mercedes took her seat at the bow of the boat. He undid the moorings and started the engine, taking the boat slowly out of the marina and onto the open waters of the lake.
It was a sunny, albeit windy, day. It was hard to believe that they were calling for storms.
“I think Finn is right,” Mercedes shouted over the roar of the wind and the outboard motor. “There’s a storm coming.”
“How can you tell?”
“I can smell it.” She lifted her chin and closed her eyes. “Can’t you? Something about the atmosphere. It’s charged.”
He admired her graceful neck, picturing what it would be like to kiss it. “Nope, can’t say I can smell the atmosphere, but I suppose that would’ve come in handy when the storm rolled in on Lake Ontario and got me in this predicament in the first place.”
She smiled at him sweetly. “Living forever?”
“If you call this living, sure. I don’t even have a pulse.” He winked at her.
She just shook her head, but he could tell that he was making her laugh.
The boat ride to the place where he spilled Yrsa’s blood was about twenty minutes.
It was at the far end of the lake. Basically, the border of the area he was restricted to, and he knew this because when he tried to follow Yrsa to finish the job, that’s when bits and pieces of him began to fall off.
Thankfully, when he crossed back into the safe zone, everything regrew and regenerated.
The closer they got to the area, the darker the sky turned and the water became choppier. Mercedes was clutching the metal bench seat, her eyes closed. Strands of her burgundy hair had come loose from her tight ponytail and whipped about in the wind.
He pulled close to shore, tied off the boat to the old rickety dock, and then jumped into the water, holding out his arms.
“What?” she asked.
“I’ll carry you. Unless you want to get your sneakers wet. I’d say take the dock, but that thing is ancient and has several rotting boards.”
Mercedes nodded and stood. He scooped her up into his arms, his hand cupping her ass. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She was so close to him. He could get used to this.
Protecting her.
Holding her.
He carried her from the boat to the shore and reluctantly set her down. He couldn’t justify carrying her to the place. Except maybe to spare her getting sand in her shoes.
“Where do we go?” she asked.
“Just beyond those trees there’s a clearing. Come on.” He took the lead, following the familiar path from the water to the tree line. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. He hated coming here. It felt like the curse was amplified when he came here, and there was something else this time.
As he glanced over his shoulder to check on Mercedes, he could see something was changing in her, and he wondered if he’d made a mistake. The blood that was spilled here flowed through her veins.
Blood magic was powerful. Especially in a maternal line.
Thunder rumbled in the distance. He hoped the rain held off, but at least there was an old cabin they could retreat to if they got caught in a downpour.
As they came to the clearing, he could see the moment so vividly, playing out before him.
His broadsword, which ended up being shattered after he struck Yrsa. He could hear her screams echoing.
“It’s right there, isn’t it?” Mercedes asked, pointing to the center of the clearing.
“Yes,” he replied stiffly, hating this place.
She moved past him and headed straight for that spot. The wind was howling through the pine trees. Leaves were being blown from branches all around them. He followed her at a distance.
As if she knew, she went to the dead center and knelt.
Something inside him wanted to warn her that it wasn’t safe, but he couldn’t form the words. All he could do was watch as she placed her hands on the earth. There was a surge and crackle of electricity, and before he could stop her, there was a loud boom, a cloud of dirt, and chunks of grass.
“Mercedes!” Magnus shouted, rushing over, clumps of dirt hitting him. When it all cleared, she was lying on her back, dirt on her face and her hands, unconscious.
He dropped to his knees and ran his fingers over her. She was breathing. She sputtered out some dirt and opened her eyes, which were glowing slightly.
“Well, you’re not the reason,” she stated. “It’s all me, or rather, Yrsa.”
He let out a sigh of relief. “Are you okay?”
“Nope.” And then her eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted again.