Why would he even think that?
“I dinna say that.” He holds his hands up in a placating gesture.
“Not word for word. You just insinuated that I wouldn’t be!” My voice raises and I can feel the burn of anger on my cheeks.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Well, we haven’t solidified things between us. I dinna want to assume.” His calmness infuriates me, but not just the calmness with which he spoke, but the words themselves.
“And when would we have had the time to do that?” I sling my arms out wide. “During the demon invasion? When I was informing the districts of the changes in ruling? Or how about when we were discovering why magic died? Luna held prisoner or Tane being critically injured?”
Sharp, acidic words hurled at him. I’m letting my rage do the talking and I regret it immediately, but it’s too late to take them back now.
Lachlan’s attention turns to the horse at his side, and he grumbles something I can’t hear over the winds that have picked up. He strokes its neck as it brays loudly, stomping its feet against the hull.
Clouds obstruct the dwindling light from the setting sun and the sea becomes choppy. The boat rocks and I widen my stance to ride out the jostling.
“What are you mumbling?” I shout. Annoyance spears through me. Why is it always fucking windy?
“I said you’re right and I’m sorry. It just would be nice to know where we stand,” he yells back. But his attention is still on the horse that desperately needs calming down.
I cross my arms over my chest as the goosebumps spread down my arms from the chill whipping over the tempestuous sea. The temperature plummets.
The horse rears up on its hind legs, letting loose a loud, high-pitched screaming sound.
“Where we?—”
The boat rocks violently, nearly capsizing, and I lose my footing and tumble over the side.
Frigid water rips the breath from me and I gasp, choking on it as it fills my lungs.
“Key!” I can hear Lachlan’s horrified voice right before my head drops below the surface as a wave crashes over me.
My eyes burn and I squeeze them shut, but a flash of white has me trying to force them back open.What the fuck was that?
I kick my legs, pushing my body up. My boots are heavy, the waterlogged leather weighing me down and dragging me towards the bottom.
The glacial water numbs my limbs and I kick with all my might, forcing my muscles to cooperate.
My head just barely breaches the surface. I cough and sputter, forcing the water out of my lungs so I can take a deep breath.
My eyes still sting as I look around for the boat, just out of reach as the current continues pushing it towards land.
Lachlan’s terrified face is visible over the side as he scrambles to get closer to me.
“Grab my hand!” He orders, leaning most of his body over the edge. It pitches onto its side, almost dumping him out, too.
The horse behind him tugs on its ties, trying to break free.
I kick even harder, trying to keep my head above the churning water, and reach out to take his hand. My arm out of the water feels like it’s being stabbed by thousands of needles.
It’s so cold, so painfully freezing I can't think—or move.
A lash of pain down my calf has me screaming.
Something latches on to my lower leg and I kick as hard as I can, but it’s no use. Even through the stabbing iciness, I can feel my skin being ripped open.
Lachlan continues bellowing my name and reaching out towards me. Our fingertips briefly graze each other.
The last thing I see is his face twisted in fear as I’m dragged below the surface again.
