Theo and Lyra were back on the trail within the hour, everything swiftly tucked away in Theo's pack and Lyra back in the water, swimming alongside Theo as they went.
The next few days were blessedly uneventful. Emmett had replied to Theo’s messages with a vague response, assuring him they were working on a solution but offering no further insightinto what that meant. Lyra didn't engage Theo any further, keeping physical distance between them, and Theo didn't dare try to instigate anything.
He couldn't help but feel chided by Lyra's hot and cold nature, but he reminded himself that she owed him nothing, and one night together, as much as he might wish for more, absolutely did not entitle him to anything.
Lyra's mind was racing as they traveled in silence, the oppressive nature of their non-communication only giving her brain more time to race. Her thoughts ran wild with guilt, growing heavier by every minute she spent in Theo's presence. She wanted him, and what horrified her most was that she had already had him and still wanted him. This was a new phenomenon to her and, by her own standards, terribly gauche.
Hadn’t her sister gotten captured by Cliodhna because she was messing around in matters of the heart? Lyra lived by the belief that carnal pleasures need not be more than that—carnal.
She was suffering through those agonizing first weeks of a crush, with the added guilt of knowing she originally volunteered to help Theo and had plans to betray him.
By the time they were set to reach the Scottish coast, Lyra was going out of her mind with guilt, and it manifested in a shorter temper than ever before. Theo was increasingly paranoid that he was bringing out the worst in Lyra, and overall, their spirits had sunk considerably.
Theo walked along the forest path until the dirt trail turned into sand and the trees around him started to disappear. The river turned to a stream, then barely a trickle, before picking up again into a rush of water pouring out into the sea.
By noon, they'd reached the coastline, and some of the tension in Lyra’s face faded. Her eyes landed on the sea, and her shoulders relaxed, her countenance brightening as she inhaled the salty seawater. Lyra stood on two legs, stepping out of thetributary and joining Theo in the sand before looking out at the horizon.
“Any thoughts on getting to the Blue Men of the Minch?” Theo looked at Lyra, his gaze full of as much admiration as she had for the sea.
“Not yet,” Lyra admitted, chewing on her lip as she scanned the waves. Their plan had held for a few days longer—there hadn't been any trouble since the kelpie—but they'd start moving even further away from safety when they were on the open sea. Lyra was not the biggest predator in the ocean.
Theo didn't push. He dropped his pack and settled onto a piece of driftwood, pulling some snacks from his bag and grabbing his phone to update Emmett on their location. Lyra left Theo alone and started walking up and down the coastline, clearly trying to come up with a plan.
Theo could feel the fear of his own ineptitude creeping up his spine again, a cold, icy feeling he was never good at ignoring. His eyes were fixed on Lyra at the shoreline until a small, dark shape caught his attention.
It bobbed up and down on the waves, getting closer every minute. The sun began to obscure Theo’s vision, and he squinted, trying to get a better view of the approaching object.
“Lyra!” he called out, getting her attention, and pointing towards the visitor.
Lyra didn't seem to know what it was, either. Theo got up and stood next to her in the sand as they stared out at the water.
“Do you know what it is?” Theo asked, getting up on his tiptoes, which did absolutely nothing to improve his vision but did look rather adorable. At least to Lyra, it did.
Her eyesight was better suited to looking long distances over water, the sun reflecting off the waves not hindering her as much as it did Theo.
“It's a person in a rowboat. That's all I can tell.”
They waited in silence as the person got closer and closer, picking up speed in a way that shocked them both. Theo found himself taking several steps backward as the boat rapidly approached the shore, showing no concern for the shallow water or the lack of a proper pier.
“They're going to run aground if they don't slow down!” Theo watched in awe. He could pick out the sharp ears and long hair of the stranger, so whoever they were, they were either fae or elf. That did not necessarily ease any of Theo's concerns.
“They're using magic,” Lyra pointed out, eyeing the approaching boat with skepticism that bordered on hostility. “Keep your mouth shut and let me do the talking,” Lyra instructed. As soon as the words left her mouth, the boat came to a halt.
It was a small rowboat, barely enough for four adults to fit in, and it floated easily on a few inches of water on the beach.
“Hello, strangers!” a friendly voice called out as an elf stood up from where they'd been manning the oars. Oars, which, based on the magic being utilized, were mainly for show. “I heard you needed a bit of help, eh?”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Idon't remember asking for any help.” Lyra's voice was cutting and sharp, her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she stared at the beautiful stranger.
Theo didn't want to admit he liked seeing Lyra be hostile towards the elf. He was good-looking. Theo wouldn’t have blamed Lyra for staring him down for entirely other reasons.
The elf was easily six and a half feet tall, with broader shoulders and a trim waist. His hair was the color of spilled ink, onyx and thick, trailing down his back in a series of elaborate braids.
“I suppose this is the best kind of help then,” the stranger smiled wider, not put off by Lyra's attitude in the slightest. “It's help you didn't even know was coming!” He seemed rather proud of himself for this fact, which made Theo grin.
“Technically,” Theo looked at Lyra, trying to keep his voice down. “I did ask Emmett for help.”
