“Then we need to get to the islands before she makes it beneath the waves.”
“I think I saw her that night in the pub,” Riordan said, frowning. “She was with Niall and Casey. She didn’t act like a god.”
“They’re good at hiding, but I can always sniff them out,” Wade said. Riordan helped Wade and Saoirse to their feet, and Wade swayed on the deck for a few seconds as he tried to find his balance. He didn’t mind it when Riordan wrapped an arm around his waist to steady him. “Do we know where Casey is being held?”
Harper popped up behind Lady Caith, peering at him over the fae’s shoulder. “No, but my entire god pack is ready to search the islands.”
“I will know better where Niall’s magic is in the land out there amidst the waves once we are closer. If magic keeps Casey prisoner, my fae and I will do all in our power to free him,” Lady Caith said.
“Then let’s get out there before we all become fish food,” Wade said.
The clock was ticking, and while the sea was the selkies’ territory, it was also Caoránach’s. He’d fight her if he had to, but the water wasn’t his domain, and Wade knew he’d be at a severe disadvantage, especially in the storm. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t take to the air if he had to.
No way was he letting her or Niall have Boston.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The small yachtpowered through the frothy waves, rocking from the furious seas and the howling wind. The Boston Harbor was empty of all personal boats except for the group belonging to the Maguire clan. Not even the mundane human members of the clan were staying on shore. Most of those captaining the boats weren’t selkies, but they knew how to navigate the waves above just as surely as their lovers could the waters below.
Passengers on the boats were fae from Lady Caith’s court, the entirety of the Boston god pack, and Wade, who was seated next to Riordan right inside the cockpit on theNeptune. He wore Riordan’s leather jacket like a kilt, and Riordan had to shove down the smugness he felt at the sight of Wade carrying his sealskin around. He’d take it back when he had to go in the water, but for now, Riordan was satisfied.
Harper staggered into the cabin from a stint out by the railing, soaked through to her skin, hair plastered to her skull. She wasn’t sporting any of the wounds Wade had described, but she looked thinner than Riordan remembered from their last meeting about territory borders. She’d been through hell but clearly wasn’t letting it stop her from tracking down herhusband. Ella hadn’t left her alpha’s side and followed Harper into the cockpit.
“We’re approaching one of the islands. Lady Caith seems to think it’s where Casey might be,” Harper said.
“Which island?” Riordan asked.
“Great Brewster Island.”
That put them about nine miles out from Boston proper, closer to the open ocean than the continent. “There’s no docks available on that island, and the water is too choppy to risk getting close to the shore with the boats we’re on. We can launch your pack and Lady Caith’s people in lifeboats, but the passage will be dicey. My clan will be in the water though. If anyone goes overboard, we’ll fish them out and get you to shore.”
“We’ll take the risk. I’m not leaving without Casey.”
Riordan didn’t doubt that and wouldn’t have even thought to try to persuade her. “We’ll get him back.”
“I’ll get on the radio and notify the other boats,” Donal said, shoving himself away from the wall he had braced himself against during the trip through the harbor.
It wasn’t even a minute later when one of his clan members flung themselves from the water and somersaulted into human form onto the deck. The rocking of the boat meant they went sliding over the decking and tumbling down the stairs into the cockpit before any of the selkies on the benches outside could grab them.
“Riordan!” Maisie said as Saoirse helped right her, dark brown sealskin draped over her shoulders. “She’s in the water!”
He lurched up from the seat, not needing to ask whatsheMaisie was talking about. “Where?”
“Heard her calling in the sea. She sounds angry.”
Riordan looked over at where Lady Caith and Harper stood, bracing themselves against the walls. “We need to get you all in the lifeboats.”
Easier said than done. Each boat or yacht only had one, maybe two inflatable lifeboats, and the number of passengers far outstripped the number of life vests. Most of the selkies dived overboard, leaving their clothes behind and shifting underwater. Riordan turned to find Wade, locking eyes with him across the deck. “You’re going to the island.”
Wade set his jaw in a stubborn way that Riordan told himself he couldn’t find adorable. “No, I’m not.”
“You can’t fight underwater, and the yacht can’t take your shifted weight.”
Wade scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. “I can get up in the air.”
“I’d feel better if I knew you were on land.” Riordan braced himself against another hard toss of waves, reaching out to keep Wade upright when he stumbled. “Please.”
“Fine. But you better not end up in Davey Jones’ locker.”
