Page 20 of Light and Shadow
Being in a tiny bed with Aaran is how I want to sleep every night for the rest of my life. It’s not realistic, but it’s a good dream.
Nancy’s voice cuts through the perfect moment. “You two should come upstairs. We’re pulling into the cove.”
Aaran sighs. “I wish we could stay like this,mo chroi. You fit in my arms like you were made to be here.”
“You say nice things.” I push myself to sit and put on my sneakers. It shouldn’t ache so much to move away from him. Wanting to take in one more deep breath and fill my senses with his woodsy essence is not a reasonable desire. Yet, it’s there gnawing at me. Rolling my shoulders makes me wince.
“It’s a nasty bruise. I can see it through that shirt. Let me heal it.” He runs his hand along my neck and pushes my long-sleeve sleep shirt down, exposing my shoulder.
His touch burns through me like wildfire in summer. The tingle of his magic gives me goose bumps.
The pain ebbs, and I roll my shoulder again. If I stay like this much longer, I’m going to throw myself at him. “Thanks.” I get up. “That’s much better.”
Without daring to look at him, I step into the galley. Gathering my damp clothes, I wish Aaran was a human man I met at the DMV and went to coffee with. I wish he and I were ordinary people getting to know each other. With a sigh, I fill my duffel. Nothing about us is normal, not how we met or who we are. For sure this journey isn’t average.
Before I think too much, I climb the steep stairs to the bridge. Bright sunlight streams in, and the sea is as still as I’ve ever seen it. “It’s like none of it ever happened.”
“A new day.” Bert stands at the helm and studies the water and land outside the windows as he slows the engines. He maneuvers his boat through a narrow break in what looks like a cliff and calls out to Nancy to throw the anchor.
As he cuts the motor, the anchor catches on the bottom and there’s a slight jerk.
I lose my balance, but Aaran’s arm wraps around my waist, steadying me. Heat flushes my cheeks, and he pulls away. Being near him is all I want and also too distracting. If I’m going to be part of saving his world, it should be for the right reasons. After the battle with the shadow demon, there’s no doubt I’m meant to be here.
The sheer cliff rises beside the boat. I step onto the deck. “How will we reach the top?”
Nancy studies me for a long moment. Perhaps she’s making sure I’ve recovered from my episode after killing the demon. She points to the cliff. “There are steps carved into the wall.”
I follow her finger and see the steep stairs. “How did anyone manage that?”
“Magic.” She shrugs. For her, such things are simple.
For me, I’m in a state of constant amazement.
Bert steps out, followed by Aaran. “It’s a long climb.”
Hugging him, Nancy says, “I’ll come back when I can. You know I have to go.”
The way Bert smiles at her, his dark eyes full of love, makes me yearn for what they have. He cups her cheek. “You don’t think I’m letting you go without me, my Nancy?”
She shakes her head. “It’s dangerous. You could be killed in a war that’s not yours.”
“I told you last night, your war is my war. We go together, or not at all.” There’s grit in Bert’s voice that wasn’t there before.
With a nod, Nancy kisses him hard on the lips. “Together then. What about the boat?”
“I called Bill while you slept and told him we’d be away a while. He’ll come and fetch her.” He gives the boat one more look, grabs a duffel from inside, and heads for the port side closest to the steps.
Dashing a tear from her cheek, Nancy follows. “Did you tell him to look after Moe’s for us as well?”
“I did. I suppose we can call you Nainsi again, love.”
Her laughter floats down the cliff.
I accept Aaran’s steadying hand, and he holds mine, keeping me on the boat. “Thank you, Harper.”
“You already thanked me for killing the demon.” Holding his hand, alone on the boat, if only for a moment, feels intimate.
“I appreciate you saving me, but you know we’ll face far worse where we’re going.” His bright blue eyes shine with warning.
