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She released the dinghy and popped up a few feet away. “Go ahead.”
Brien took in the situation—there wasn’t enough room for all three of them to push and steer clear of the motor—and told Twilight to get in the dinghy. She nodded and pulled herself on board in a single ninja-like movement, dropping down on the bench next to where Eden was huddled in the blankets, shivering.
Twilight rubbed Eden’s knee. “You’re doing great.”
“T-trying,” she said with a brave smile.
It took several tries before the motor started. “C’mon, c’mon,” I coaxed, my gaze on Eden, who’d slumped against Twilight.
She was fading fast. Twilight had both arms around her, holding her so she wouldn’t slide off the seat. Fear sank hooks into my gut. This was too much stress for a pregnant woman. Eden could go into early labor, stroke out—hell, I didn’t know. But women died from things like that, didn’t they?
In desperation, I smacked the motor and, mercifully, it sputtered to life. Gripping the rudder, I aimed us in the direction of the castle. Even with Cain and Brien assisting, we cut through the waves at a maddeningly slow pace until at last the castle appeared, its four towers silhouetted on the cliff against diamond-bright stars.
That’s when I saw the fins. Three great whites, keeping pace with the dingy. They didn’t usually attack vampires—something about our scent turns them off—but these seemed a little too interested in us.
“You guys see the sharks?” I called.
Brien gave me a thumbs-up. “We’ll keep them away from the dinghy.”
Twilight and I exchanged a look. Normally a vampire could outswim and outfight a shark, even a great white, but Brien and Cain had to be getting tired.
She pulled out a switchblade. “Want me to spell one of you guys?”
“No way,” Brien ground out. “You’re the youngest by a long shot. Stay in the damn dinghy.”
Twilight rolled her eyes but stayed put, staring out at the circling predators, one arm around Eden, the other hand keeping the blade at the ready.
I aimed the dinghy at a cove a little south of the castle. If we’d still been in the motorboat, we could’ve returned through the sea cave. Unfortunately, the 10-hp motor didn’t have the horsepower for the maneuvers required, which was kind of like trying to thread a needle while bouncing on a trampoline.
If I failed, we’d be dashed against the rocks.
The small motor started losing power. I eased off on the throttle, but a few minutes later it stuttered and died, out of fuel.
I cursed and started rowing again.
37
Eden
The trip to Lilith Island passed in surreal flashes.
Flames splashing the night in copper and gold, burnishing the ocean and Talon’s tense face.
The dinghy rising and falling like a roller coaster until the aftershocks finally eased.
Shark fins, pale in the moonlight, inscribing circles around the dinghy.
Me swaying on the bench, exhausted and shivering, head nodding against Twilight’s shoulder—and when had she gotten on board?
And then I was floating free somewhere above the ocean, looking down at Talon and myself and the others. Detached and no longer cold. That was good, right?
It was Talon’s voice, his will that pulled me back. “We’re almost there. Hold on, angel. Can you do that for me?”
I mumbled, “Yes,” my tongue so thick in my mouth I barely understood myself, and came to myself with a jerk.
Across from me, Talon rowed for shore, mouth set. I’d never seen him like that before. His eyes burned into mine, the irises outlined in cobalt like a corona flaring around a dark sun. He looked…wrecked. Terrified. For me.
Awe spread through me, warm and sweet. Filling up every corner of my soul, pushing out the anger, healing the hurt.
