and her beasts on Corfu. He could call the lightning and use it as skillfully as the others used gun or bow or sword. She had witnessed what he could do, and believed his power greater than any witch she’d known. Even greater than the sea witch or sorcerer.
But he would spend much time on the healing arts as well. Though she understood some felt fear or illness at the sight of wounds and blood, Annika saw a need. And felt pride when Bran told her she had a skill for healing.
She had no wish to be a warrior, though she accepted the war. Her weapons were her speed and agility—in and out of the water. And the bracelets that shot power or blocked it.
When Sasha joined them, Annika made an excuse to leave them. Because they were in love, and time between lovers was precious. She wandered the house, familiarizing herself with its chambers—rooms, she corrected.
Following Riley’s voice, she stepped into one flooded with light, where Riley paced and talked very fast on the phone in a mix of English and Italian.
“Che cazzo, Fabio! What kind of deal is that? Two weeks minimum, and likely four or six weeks. Stronzate. Don’t try to hose me. I could go to a stranger and get a better rate. Okay, that’s what I’ll do. Oh, and I’ll be contacting your mother while I’m here. She and I really need to have a nice chat because I find my memory about that night in Naples is coming back. Same to you, amico.”
She listened, listened, her smile going sharp and satisfied. “Quanto? Better, some better, but . . . I really miss talking to your mother. Oh, that’s for two weeks? Now you’re talking. That works, you keep the deposit either way. What’s that?”
Riley threw back her head and laughed. “Baby, you wish I was squeezing your balls. Four-week minimum’s a deal. We’ll pick it up tomorrow. She’d better be seaworthy, Fabio, or remember how I pulled your ass out of the fire in Naples? I’ll be shoving it right back in. Ciao.”
She swiped off the call, swaggered over to Annika. “High-five.”
When Annika looked toward the ceiling, Riley laughed again. “No, no, slap my hand. It’s a high five. It’s a fucking A. We’ve got a boat, and I wrangled the cost down.” She rolled her shoulders. “I did squeeze the little asshole’s balls.”
“What kind of balls?”
Riley pointed at her crotch. “Those kind.”
“Oh, yes. I know those kind. But how did you squeeze his balls when . . . It’s an expression.”
“You’re catching on. The diving equipment was easy. Fabio’s cousin Anna Maria’s in charge of that, and she’s giving us rock-bottom rate. I’d have taken Fabio’s next-to-the-last rate if he hadn’t tried to squeeze my balls first. Anyway.” She shoved the phone in her pocket, dusted her palms together. “Done. And I’ve got the sister of a friend’s boyfriend who’ll lend us his van for gas and beer if we need it.
“So, where’s everyone else?”
“Sasha and Bran are up the stairs making magicks. I think Sawyer and Doyle are still in the grove for the training part.”
“All right then. You need to put on pants.”
“Pants.”
“Yeah, those ones that hit about here?” Riley tapped the flat of her hand just above her knee. “The ones with all the pockets. And the tank you can tuck into them. I want to work on some of my moves, and you’ve got the best. And we’ll work on your hand-to-hand. But you can’t go doing flips in that dress, especially since there’s nothing under it.”
“I like dresses better than pants.”
“Maybe so, but when you go commando and do handsprings and flips, you’re flashing.”
“Flashing?”
“The girl parts, Anni. The parts we tend—right or wrong—to think of as private. Maybe we’ll get you some bike shorts. You could wear them under a dress.”
“Bike shorts.”
“We’ll look into it. But for now, go ahead and change. I’ll see if Bran can spare Sasha. She needs the work.”
“She does better.”
“Yeah, she does,” Riley agreed as they started upstairs. “You’re a good coach.”
“Thank you. I like to help.”
Pleased, even if she had to wear pants, Annika went to her room to change, and wound her hair into a long, thick braid.
She left her windows open, and though she would go outside, took a moment to lean out, drink in the air, the fragrance, her view of the sea.
On the narrow road below, she saw people walking up the steep, steep hill in boots and