“Through the grove,” Maia called, and his sisters took off running to the trees.
Damon raced along the edge of the cove, trying to get as close to Cordelia as he could. He’d dive in and swim out to her, but he could drown in the choppy, spinning water before he got to her. What the blazes was he to do?
Miss Perkins hadn’t seen him yet, but he heard what she said.
He’d rather be alone than seek comfort from her or anyone else.
He wished Cordelia would look up, but this entire time her head had been down, blonde curls cascading over her shoulders, and he couldn’t even see her face.
Then, in an instant she straightened and looked up.
She was not afraid, but angry.
“You’ll never win!” she yelled.
Damon was rather taken aback and proud. She hadn’t let her fear rule her.
Then in a blink, limbs and vines lashed out and wrapped about Miss Perkins. First her legs and then vines captured her raised arms and forced them to her side, then she was wrapped tightly from her ankles to her chest, much like a mummy. She was now incapacitated, unable to move and unable to command the sea and skies to her will.
Had his sisters not arrived when they did, Damon wondered if his mother would have had the power to bring an end to the terror, then dismissed the thought. It wasn’t worth contemplating and he also knew that his mother could have done this all on her own. The combined power of his family had brought it about more quickly.
The black clouds above faded away as the wind and the sea calmed.
The most important thing right now was reaching Cordelia and making certain that she was unharmed. He paused only long enough to pull off his boots, toss his suitcoat and jumped into the cove. As he reached the boat, he grabbed the side and lifted himself inside.
Cordelia simply blinked at him.
Was she in shock?
He’d not seen this expression before. Her blue eyes were cold, and her cheeks were flushed.
“Are you unharmed?” he asked as he took her hands in his. She wasn’t even shaking.
“I am,” she answered crisply.
Was she going to blame him for what Miss Perkins had done?
“What do you need? What can I do for you?”
“Get me to shore,” Cordelia answered and looked past his shoulder. “Madam Boswell and your mother need to explain their betrayal.”
What was she talking about? His mother hadn’t betrayed anyone. He didn’t know enough about Madam Boswell, but he did his mother.
“What betrayal?” he asked slowly.
“From when I was ten.”
“When your sister almost drowned.”
“Yes. It all came back to me. Things I’d forgotten. Or I wasmadeto forget, and I demand to know why.”
Damon took the oars and slipped them into the water and began to row them back to the shore.
He thought when he climbed into the boat that she’d be hysterical or at least shaking and crying, but Cordelia was resolute and determined.
While he admired her strength, it rather frightened him as well. She was not behaving as anyone else would following such a harrowing experience.
Once he reached the shore, his cousin pulled the boat onto the sand. Cordelia lifted her skirts just enough to step out and did not wait for assistance.
