Page 75 of His Noble Ruin

Graham spoke, his voice soft. “An Enforcer?”

I pushed Graham behind me, standing between him and Cael. I couldn’t keep my eyes off Cael’s hand.

“Move,” Cael growled.

I knew I should. I knew the plan. This was everything I’d fought for. But the fear of what Cael might do to Graham once I moved out of his way consumed me.

Cael lifted his arm toward Graham.

I swung my bag hard at Cael, the books inside colliding with his head. The impact reverberated through the cave. He smashed into the rocky ground and went still.

I leaned over him, shocked at what I’d just done.

“Did you justkilla Law Enforcer?” Graham asked.

“No!” I shouted. “I . . . don’t think so.” I reached down and touched two fingers to his neck. A pulse beat beneath them. Next to his hand lay a pair of metal handcuffs. Not a pistol.

“He’s alive,” I said.

Graham breathed in relief. “What now? Is this your boat?”

“Yes,” I said.

I was supposed to let Cael take Graham in this boat, then wait here for my father so we could go home together, but with Cael stretched out unconscious on the ground, that was obviously not happening.

I opened his jacket and removed the pistol tucked into his belt. It would be best if Cael didn’t have a weapon when he woke up. The waves lapped at the rocks beneath him, rising around his prone body. The tide was coming in and he could drown if we left him there.

“Help me move him to higher ground,” I said.

We picked him up, me at his head and Graham at his feet, then shuffled upward, carrying Cael around the boat to the back of the cave. We set him down on a large flat rock, eliciting a groan from his throat.

My head clamored with the noise of indecision. When Cael came to, he’d be angry enough to do just about anything. I couldn’t wait here and see what happened. Even if he’d only been trying to handcuff Graham and not shoot him, I didn’t trust him.

And I wasn’t ready to let Graham go.

I looked back at the boat. It leaned to the side, beached in only a few inches of water on the cave floor. It wouldn’t be easy to get out and I wasn’t sure I could sail all the way to Tramore on my own. I’d never sailed without my father.

I turned to Graham.

He looked back at me with a question—and trust—on his face.

I had to change the plan. It wouldn’t stop the inevitable betrayal, but it would delay it. I’d stay with Graham. I’d stay in control. I had to take what I could get.

I lifted my chin, making up my mind. “Help me.” I stood and removed the anchor from the ground and hefted it onto the deck, along with my bag.

We pushed on the sailboat with all our strength. It nudged forward slightly, but the next wave set it back to where it started. We pushed again, but the incoming tide was forceful and relentless.

“Come on!” I shoved the boat angrily. It moved, but once again, the waves pushed it right back. I looked back at Cael. He couldn’t stay unconscious for much longer. He’d likely find a way to come after us, but I hoped to at least have a good head start. And if we didn’t start sailing now, we wouldn’t have a chance of getting away from the Enforcers who had to be searching the island for us.

“Maybe we could pull it instead,” said Graham.

I nodded, then climbed onto the tilted deck and found a rope. I attached one end around my waist and waded to the prow, tying the other around a cleat. Then I waded to the edge of the cave, the water at my chest, and looped the rope around a boulder outside the opening, using it like a pulley. Letting it take most of the pressure, I planted my feet in the sandy seafloor and gripped the rocks to pull myself forward. I made a few inches of progress, but the waves fought hard against me.

With a sudden yank, I lunged forward, my entire body falling under the powerful waves. They crashed over me, pinning me beneath them for a panicked moment. I kicked up hard, taking a desperate breath when my head broke the surface.

The boat now bobbed on the water.

Graham stood behind me with the rope in his hands.

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