Chapter 9 #3
Never had Finley asked for assistance operating The Mystic.
Ai’s reaction was undetectable to anyone else, but a dark worry spread over her face.
She gave Finley a look that demanded she explained more in detail later when they were alone.
Of course she would. There was no one else Finley trusted with this information.
“I’ll be right back.”
Ai hurried off and, in a few moments, returned with Rafe at her side. He stood there unruffled as though what happened between them only minutes prior as if he were bored. “You summoned me, Captain?” he asked with a sarcastic tone.
“You have abilities to travel, and I want to see if they would work with The Mystic,” she answered.
He raised his brows as though he could see through her lie. “Having trouble?”
Finley bristled. “Of course not. I only want to see if our powers combined can be of use to us.”
Ai stepped forward with the hint of a smirk on her small mouth. “Most of the crew have water magic like yours. Don’t you think they might be of more use?”
Finley narrowed her gaze at her friend, knowing exactly what Ai was getting at.
She didn’t want to use Rafe, not because he was…
himself… but because she didn’t want to concern the rest of the crew.
If one of them were asked to assist when they never had been before it would cause alarm and she didn’t need any more unease on the ship.
“Rafe will do fine.” She took a partial step to the side and slid her hands over to make room for him. “Come stand by me and put your hands on the helm.”
Behaving like an obedient sailor, Rafe gave a single nod of his head and took his place as she said. His arm brushed hers and he looked down at her. “Usually if people are combining magic they need to be touching.”
Of course they would. Finley rolled her tongue over her teeth. It would be more noticeable she was getting assistance that way. “Fine. Stand behind me and put your hands on mine.”
Rafe obeyed again, and Finley couldn’t help but enjoy the feeling of his body pressed against hers as he placed his hands where directed. He leaned forward so his mouth was next to her cheek. “And now what?”
Out of the corner of her eye Finley could see Ai smiling like a fool.
“We need to bring the ship to the surface and then to shore without being noticed. Do you think you can do it?”
“It’s more complicated when it’s more than the two of us.”
“That’s where my magic will come in. The Mystic won’t obey you without me anyway.”
“We’ll give it a go.”
Finley took in a deep breath and sought deep for her magic, which felt like it was sleeping.
Her tattoo glowed, but it was as faint and sluggish as the power it summoned.
Amelia and Dusan still stood there but had turned to face her looking far too smug for her liking.
From Rafe, she could feel his magic stirring and seeping into her hands.
It wasn’t warm like Ai’s, or fluid and soft like her own.
Rafe’s magic felt cold like a sword that could slice through her and seemed to wrap itself around her in shadows.
Like she’d gone swimming in a lake in early summer before the water had time to warm up after the winter.
Cold but exhilarating. She shivered again.
“Now we bring the ship up.”
Little by little, The Mystic rose through the lake and the light from the surface above shone brighter over its deck and sails.
As it crested, the bubble keeping its inhabitants safe from drowning faded away and they floated across the water as though they had always been there.
Finley took in a deep breath of the fresh air.
It wasn’t the same as being out on the open sea but was still exhilarating and refreshing after days of being in the lake.
She was drowsy and worn but didn’t feel as though she were about to collapse into a dead sleep for days.
If she’d mastered the feat on her own that surely would have been the case.
Rafe let go of her hands and stepped away, the sudden absence of his body against hers a shock. She whipped her head around and opened and closed her mouth a few times. “That’ll do.”
He let out a low chuckle. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you on shore.”
As she watched him stride down the steps to the deck, Finley couldn’t decide if she was happy or mad that her idea to have him help worked out so well.
“Well, isn’t that an interesting development,” Ai mused. She draped an arm over the helm and rested her chin on top.
“I needed his power.”
“Mmmmmhmmmm. And no one else on this ship could have helped.”
“No, they couldn’t,” Finley said shortly. “Now let’s get to Amelia and Dusan before they get into any trouble or make trouble with my crew.”
Ai stood straight and gave a sharp salute. “Aye aye, Captain.” Then she spun on her heel and flounced down the steps after Rafe.
Finley stood there for another moment and closed her eyes to try and steady herself. Even with the help she felt worn out. Maybe on land there would be an opportunity to rest. Until then she had to push through and show Amelia strength. That whatever was happening wasn’t, and she could handle it.