Deep Betrayal Page 0,66

Calder asked.

“Nothing,” I said. “I guess you were wrong.”

“I’m not wrong,” he said. “We’ll go to another site.”

We swam north along the shoreline toward Basswood, and I could feel the tension building in his arms the closer we got.

“Would they keep the same campsite?” I asked.

“Your dad and I have already searched the most obvious places. Still no sign, but we’re habitual by nature, and you have an uncanny way of running into them.” He stopped with a nervous glance at Basswood. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I said, exhaling, letting the canvas expand in my mind until I was looking into clear, bright light. My head was a vacuum and the world was silent. Calder brought me under, and a tinny ringing filled my ears. And then one word: Die.

I must have flinched, because Calder had me into the air with such a burst of speed I choked on the water.

“Die,” I said. “They’re dying.”

He shook his head. “Someone’s dying,” he said. “It’s not them.”

“I don’t know. It sounds like they’re in pain.”

He looked confused by that. “That’s enough,” he said. “I think we’ve got our proof. Your range isn’t very good, but if you can get close enough to hear them, they can hear you. Next time, no blank slate. We’re going to send them a message.”

“When’s next time?”

“You said your friend has a boat?”

“That’s what Jules said.”

“Then we’re taking them on a boat tour tomorrow. And they should bring their suits.”

The next time we came up for air, we were on the southeast shore of Madeline, right before Big Bay Point. Calder studied the shoreline, looking back and forth between several houses buried in the trees.

“There.” He pointed to the largest house with a bank of windows facing the lake. “That one.”

“You’re sure.”

“Absolutely. I can hear, what’s his name? Phillip? He’s got a big mouth.”

I took the bag from Calder, swam to shore, and ripped the plastic bag open with my teeth. Calder swam up and down the shore, waiting for me to get dressed. I left his clothes in a pile on a rock and started up the long, splintered staircase from the rocky beach to the house.

When I got to the twelfth step, I sat down sideways and waited, picking at the shrubbery that threatened to overgrow the railing. Below me, Calder was pulling himself up onto the sand. His transformation played out in my mind; I didn’t have to look. But I couldn’t help myself.

He was in a fetal position. His broad back and shoulders curled around the rest of his body, with just a hint of a silver, feathery fluke showing. The tension in his muscles made the crisscrossing scars stand out red and angry. His body trembled like a timpani drum. He squeezed his arms around his knees, then exploded outward, his body going rigid and straight with a groaning strain and a wild pop.

No sound escaped his lips, but the pain on his face made me close my eyes and turn away.

When I looked back, he was standing, his torso tapering to slim hips and long legs, the muscles in his scarred shoulders jumping. He opened the bag and stepped into his clothes, his legs shaking as he carefully placed his bare feet on the rocky beach. He shook the water out of his hair and turned to face me.

“I forgot shoes,” he said, but I didn’t answer, too stunned by the beauty of his body. My insides twisted into a tight spring that, when released, was sure to send me sailing into the air. I only hoped he’d be there to catch me when it did.

He climbed toward me, looking exhausted. “Stairs are tough right now,” he said. “I need a sec to acclimate. Maybe we could sit for a while?” He sat on the step below me and rested his head in my lap. I pulled him up so our faces were even. It hurt—the stair digging into my back—but I didn’t care.

“Lily?” a voice asked.

Calder looked up as Jules and Rob came down the stairs.

“What are you doing down there?” Jules asked.

“Oh …” I looked at Calder for a little help, but he seemed to be enjoying something—my reaction or theirs, I couldn’t tell.

“Did you knock on the door?” Jules asked. “We didn’t know you were here yet. Were you swimming? You’re all wet.”

Seriously, Calder? A little help here. This would be an excellent time for that thought-projection thingy.

“We couldn’t help but notice the view,” Calder said. “We thought we’d

readonlinefreenovel.com Copyright 2016 - 2024