The inlet appears as if from nowhere, the forest ending only an arm’s length from a wide stream of softly rippling water. I have to loop my arm around a tree to avoid falling in, but I turn towards the crashing behind me to find Rune barreling forwards, a feral grin stretching from one ear to the other.
“Rune!” I’m not proud that the words are a squeal. “Don’t—”
He doesn’t even try to stop, just scoops me up with both arms and lets his momentum carry us in.
We’re airborne for a tense moment, just enough time to suck in a breath before the water crashes over us. It’s warmer than I expected, but deeper too, and I flail, gripping my fingers into his shirt so he doesn’t leave me stranded. He keeps one arm hooked around my waist, pulling us back to air and sunlight. Once we’ve surfaced, I suck in a breath and push away, slapping a splash of water his way for good measure. “Ass,” I hiss, but the smile on my face probably dulls the insult.
“We all have our roles,” he says a moment before a wave of water crests over my face, forcing itself up my nose, and even while sputtering I can’t help but notice the gorgeous, trailing blue fin that slips back under the water as he laughs.He’s shifted—his teeth sharper, the angles of his face a touch sharper. His ears are peculiar too—bright-blue, fin-like. I freeze when he reaches towards me, shocked by the shimmering blue scales on his forearms and even more so by the flesh-ripping claws that are cautious as he wipes his thumb over my temple and cheek.
“I don’t think any part of you isn’t covered in blood,” he murmurs by way of explanation, his eyes locked on mine, his touch lingering long enough for me to wonder if he can hear the way it makes my heart speed in my chest.
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” The words are a reluctant whisper, sticking tight in my throat. Some of the familiar grief sneaks through with them. I’m not sure there’s any point in pretending I want to push him away now but, like when he spoke earlier, the words are rife with meaning that goes unsaid.
SILENCE THAT CLINGS
17
RUNE
Idon’t know what possessed me to reach out—to wipe away the grime sticking to her face. Perhaps it was admiration for the way she’d wielded my blade as if it was sculpted from her very own hand, like it was a part of her. Slicing through creatures, fighting alongside my crew as if she was one of us. She might be a good head shorter than me, and a pain in my ass, but she certainly knows how to fight.
I grip her chin, tilting her head back ever so slightly. My gaze flicks to her mouth, which is slightly parted as I run a thumb over her bottom lip. She’s covered in the green, mucus-like blood from the creatures that’d attacked us earlier, but even under a blanket of muck she still manages to steal the air right from my lungs.
One flick of my tail would have us chest to chest. Our breaths mingling, her tongue on mine. She doesn’t try to pull away, only looks at me like she wants it too. That’s all it takes for my pulse to quicken and other body parts to respond. A tremble slithers across my skin, prickling the scales on my forearms as I inch closer.
The sound of my crew cresting the hill shatters the spell around us into a million tiny pieces that wink out like forbidden stars. I pull back, sinking further into the water, and Odi does the same but in the opposite direction. We’re well and truly apart when Tavi’s bright white hair catches the afternoon sun as she assists Elio down the embankment. With a flick of her braid, she glances my way but quickly returns her attention to her patient, who, even though he insists he’s alright, is clearly in pain.
Guilt—maybe shame—clamps tight around my chest. My crew are dying, bleeding, breaking because of choices I’ve made. Every path I take sends another soul back into the sea. And for what? A sliver of hope that I’ll uncover something about my mother? A piece of her left behind? What her kind might find worth hiding behind lock and key?And maybe, a desperate part of me whispers,the truth of what happened.
The symbol on the map—the one that glittered on her skin—hovers on the edge of my thoughts. Mother had it marked on her chest, just below her throat. It shimmered under the light the same way my siren markings do. I shake my head, pushing the too-desperate thought away. The map is ancient. It may have nothing to do with her, but it’s the first time I’ve seen that marking since leaving Nareth.
For this to work, I need to get wiser. As soon as we have this next key, I won’t risk my crew again. It will just be me who does the retrieving. If Tavi will let me.
With the crew making their way into the stream further up, I shift back into my human form with practised ease. In the rush of chasing Odi—scooping her into my arms anddiving into the blue—I’d let my true self rise, and I’ll never forget the way her eyes roamed over me, tracing the lines of my siren form. Over the webbed ears. Down the scales that banded my arms. Lingering at the claws curled sharp at my fingertips like something dangerous she didn’t quite fear.
She didn’t flinch.
And that might be the part I remember most.
Deep, cooling waters swirl around me, lapping at my skin. Odi has moved closer to the edge of the pool where it’s shallow, and even though I shouldn’t, I can’t help but glance back. She slips her blouse up and over her head. Beads of water roll down her honey skin, kissing her in places I wish I could.
A slender foot breaks the surface as she scrubs at her skin. The moment I catch on, I turn away to grant her privacy. Then I strip off my own clothes—they could use a wash as well. No sense smelling like the armpit of some bulbous amphibian.
Time slips by as I wash, grateful for a moment's peace. Water splashes behind me, and I know Odi is still there. A sigh slips from me at the thought of her so near. The feeling in my chest only swells when she’s close—unwelcome, unstoppable. It frightens me for two reasons. First, because it feels like a betrayal of everything I’ve stood for. Second, because I’ve started searching for her in every room.
After wringing out my clothing and throwing it into a heap on the bank, I drop my head back and let the water seep through my hair, discarding any lingering blood that might be trying to clingto the strands.
I duck under the surface one more time, spinning to face Odelia as I rise. She too has thrown her outer garments onto a low hanging branch, which can only mean one thing.
Fuck . . . vicious seas take me now.
Every second near her is torture of the cruellest kind. I remember every curve of her arm and hip as I lay next to her inside the tent. It’d taken all my willpower not to reach for her and bury my face into the crook of her neck. Now, she’s almost naked mere inches away.
The clamorous chatter from the crew falls away as Odi flicks her gaze up to meet me. Warmth races up my neck and into my cheeks. I’ve been caught. Her brow raises, as does the corner of her mouth. Silently, her eyes challenge me to come closer, but I can’t. I’m too afraid of what I might do.
Water droplets hold fast to her dark lashes. “You had some impressive moves back there.”
I reach up, dragging my hands through my wet hair, flexing my arm muscles. “Whatever do you mean? Aren’t I impressive all the time?”
