“Watch them,” Cliodhna demanded, pointing to the sisters, “and don't let them talk.”
The watery banshees took up their silent watch at the cliff's edge, blocking the only exit, as Cliodhna disappeared with the flick of a tail.
Lyra didn't have a plan.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The sun was rising brightly over the horizon, casting the sea in delicious hues of orange and yellow. For some reason, Theo couldn't stop picturing some of the popsicles he’d eaten as a child. Brightly colored confections in similar shades.
He wondered if Lyra had ever had one. Part of him thought that was a dumb question. She was maighann-mara, not a hermit, but when was the last time you saw a siren eating an ice cream cone?
Theo made himself an errant promise that when they got out of this alive—he and Lyra both—they'd enjoy that and a million other little pleasures together. He was naive, but no fool. Lyra's life had been solitary and isolated. It reflected his own, kept separate from people, family, and the general hair-pulling, delightful chaos that loved ones brought to any occasion.
They would have this. Together, all of it. Or Theo would die trying. He watched the sun rising higher, his eyes dry with a lack of sleep, and buried his fear away in a box inside his chest. He wouldn't, or couldn't, get rid of it entirely, but it had no place in his heart this morning. Theo turned around and found Wyn where he'd left him all night, staring at Niamh, flying above theboat. They had crossed out of Scottish waters, and every league they put behind them put them further into Cliodhna's territory.
Without warning, Niamh stopped. She growled, sounding like thunder, snapping her jaws together. Theo let out a low whistle in amazement as sparks flew from her teeth.
“She could just about eat you in one bite, eh?” Theo clapped his hand on Wyn's shoulder, trying to break the ominous mood. Typically, that was Wyn's job, but seeing as he'd been obsessing over the backside of a dragon for six hours, Theo didn't think he was up for it.
Wyn made a noncommittal noise, but Theo could see the corner of his mouth turn up in the barest hint of a smirk.
“You know how much trouble I'm going to be in if we make it back to Edinburgh in one piece? Hell, even if I make it back in two pieces. Your older brother is going to break my nose.”
“Come on now.” Theo shook Wyn's shoulders. “It's going to be fine! I'm still not entirely sure what your plan was, besides calling a dragon, but you know…” he trailed off, failing to summon more positivity.
“The plan is this.” Niamh's voice called out from the other side of the deck, causing Theo to jump and nearly trip over himself as he turned around.
Niamh was back in her human form, walking towards them on two legs from the bow. Opaque smoke curled around her body, preserving her modesty in place of clothes.
“Now, this is my mission, and I have a?—”
“Your mission?” Niamh raised an eyebrow, dissolving into boisterous laughter as she cut Wyn off. “No, the minute you called me, you put me in charge,” she insisted.
“I do not remember that ever being part of the bargain.” Wyn’s lip curled. Theo knew they were about to get into it again. “In fact,” Wyn continued, “I seem to remember a certain shifter who loves when she gets to give up control?—”
“That's enough out of you!” Niamh growled, her canines extending.
Theo had had enough. Lyra was somewhere under the surface, perhaps somewhere under their very boat, and he'd had enough of their arguing.
“Both of you, stop it.” Theo raised his voice, pointing his finger between Wyn and Niamh. He spoke with a newfound confidence, and Wyn and Niamh had matching awestruck expressions.
“I begged you once,” he turned to Wyn, “and I'll do it again. I'll do it every minute, every hour of the day if I have to, because Lyra is gone. Cliodhna has her somewhere, along with her sister, all because of me.”
Niamh shook her head. “That's not your fault.”
“Not now.” Theo held up a hand, silencing her. He immediately felt bad about it. “Okay, I'm sorry, that was rude. But, yes, that's a nice statement, and I will unpack all of this later with an expensive therapist that Calum will pay for. Happy?”
Wyn and Niamh nodded, their shocked expressions turning to ones of fondness and even a bit of admiration, on Niamh's side.
“Wyn,” Theo's tone of voice left no room for argument, “what did you have in mind when you called Niamh?”
Wyn waited for a breath, waiting to see if Niamh would interrupt, and proceeded at Theo's urging.
“My magic and tactical skills aren't enough to take on Cliodhna. Not a goddess, and especially not a sea goddess. Theo, your tactical skills wouldn't be enough either. Niamh, however, has a fighting chance.”
Theo filed this away for later, not realizing the extent of Niamh’s power, if Wyn thought she was able to take down a goddess.
“Cliodhna is probably already on her way to us,” Wyn continued. “There is no way she isn't aware we're in her territory. I was going to suggest Niamh hide. When Cliodhna approaches, we propose a trade. We'll act like we're going along with Cliodhna, handing over Theo for Lyra and her sister.”
