Page 23 of Saving Nessie
Fionn snorted and slunk away. ‘There’s no such proverb and you know it.’
‘But it’s a good one, yes?’ Iomhar grinned, flashing a wink at Meredith and Lachlan.
The idea didn’t thrill Lachlan, but he couldn’t argue with Iomhar’s reasoning. Maybe Fionn could provide some insight into what had happened to Pàdraig, even if he was going to be grumpy about it.
‘We’d be very grateful for your help,’ Lachlan said respectfully.
‘It’s settled then. Off you go.’ Iomhar ushered Fionn forward with a cheerful shove. Clearly holding back a groan, Fionn stepped out of the water.
As soon as his feet touched dry shingle, Fionn’s appearance changed. Shimmering like a mirage, his skin went from blue to a more human—though just barely—pale porcelain. His blue tattoos remained intact, now made even more dramatic by the contrast. The silver of his hair had dulled slightly and might be mistaken for a platinum blonde in the right light, but was still a striking feature, nonetheless.
Lachlan looked him up and down. ‘You might have some trouble blending in like that.’
‘I’ll say,’ Meredith said faintly, staring at his chiselled abs.
Fionn scowled and crossed his arms, biceps bulging. He was about to retort when Iomhar beat him to it.
‘It will be good practice for him,’ Iomhar declared. ‘We are not so different from humans, really.’
‘I was thinking more the lack of clothes.’ Lachlan replied, averting his eyes. He wondered whether the mermen wore anything under their kilts. His blush then deepened as he wondered how Cam would look in nothingbuta kilt. He made a mental note to suggest it later as an exchange for wearing the biking leathers, which Cam had seemed to really enjoy. He cleared his throat. ‘But we can lend you something.’
Fionn looked like he wanted to slap down the offer, but instead yielded a grudging, ‘Thank you.’ He turned to Iomhar. ‘Don’t fuck with my stuff while I’m gone, old man. This won’t take long.’
Iomhar laughed, a warm and throaty sound. ‘I will await your gracious return, Your Highness. Good luck to you all.’
With no more ceremony, Iomhar turned and walked back into the waves until they closed over his head. Leaving Lachlan and Meredith alone with a solitary sullen merman on the beach.
‘Your Highness?’ Lachlan asked carefully.
Fionn tossed his hair over one shoulder. ‘I am a prince,’ he said loftily, and Lachlan instantly hated the way he said it as though it was a tiresome detail to have to explain to ignorant human peasants.
Lachlan answered with a bright smile. ‘Well, in that case we’re all the more honoured to work with you! By gosh, we’re lucky.’ He saw Meredith arch an eyebrow and knew she’d clocked he was using the extra-chirpy tone he reserved for people who annoyed him. ‘Let’s not waste any time. The car’s this way. I think there might be an old jumper in the boot!’
Fionn looked dumbfounded. Clearly he’d expected a more amazed and fawning reaction. ‘Bu—’
Lachlan left the mostly-naked merman hanging and strode back up the beach towards the dunes. The wind had picked up again since Iomhar left, so he didn’t hear Meredith and Fionn catch up to him until they were struggling up the slope by his side. From the top, the path was relatively even over a sweep of spiky green dune grass. A few hundred metres ahead Lachlan could see the thin ribbon of tarmac that led to the car park, and a herd of cows grazing on the boggy pasture just beyond.
He didnotsee the magic binding circle until he stepped on top of it. Nor did he hear the strangled cry from Fionn as he also entered the trap, nor the horrified gasp from Meredith, who had lagged several steps behind.
What hedidsee was a sudden blinding light, followed by the face of a man he’d secretly hoped to never see again.
Chapter Ten
Cam floated in darkness.
Water swirled around his dormant shape, probing for weaknesses. It tickled his closed nostrils. Crawled against his sealed lips. Gained weight and pressure, as though he was sinking deeper and deeper. In the distance he heard the rushing hiss of flames, drawing nearer.
Not this bullshit again,he thought. After the night he’d had with Lachlan, Cam had dared to hope he might enjoy a single night’s peaceful sleep. But here he was again, trapped in the same churning nightmare, and very bored of it.
He knew what to expect by now, even as the terrible sensation of unwillingly swallowing water caused him to thrash in his sleep, and the heat of an approaching inferno made him cry out.
Right on cue, the burning woman appeared. Her eyes flashed emerald within the flames.
What do you want?Cam tried to shout over the roaring rush of water and fire.Why are you here?
Was it anger or sadness she looked at him with?
It is time to wake up,she whispered.
