She didn’t think she was capable of managing all that power. “If you want to master your power, you need to ground yourself over the earth. Or use the sea around you. Use the rocks and the soil to absorb the extra charges of magic when it becomes too intense. You let it flow in and out of yourself in an even, steady stream.”
She locked her eyes on me and leaned in closer. Tiny droplets of seawater clung to the tips of her long black eyelashes. “And why would you want me to have all that power?”
Good question. “To find the Merrow faster, should this method prove too slow.”
Returning her power to her was like watching a dead candle wick spring to life with flame.
The sea wind whipped over my body, a rising gale.
Aenor looked out over the dark water. “I can hear the sound of the Merrow growing a little stronger, but he’s still far away.”
“How long do you estimate it will take to get there?”
She looked up at the skies. “Considering we’re about to get hit with a storm, it could be a while.” She frowned at the sail. “This ship could easily capsize.”
She had some sort of plan up her sleeve. She thought she might get away from me to work a spell, probably.
“The Isle of Crows is nearby,” I said. “I can hear it from here. You can take the ship in to the shoreline while we wait out the storm.”
“What's there?”
“A witch’s house. And all the crows, obviously, as the name implies.” It would do, I supposed. I was used to luxury, but I could be adaptable. I happened to know the witch, and I trusted her well enough.
A gust of wind swelled the sail, and the boat slammed down over a wave.
“Are you doing this?” I leaned back against the boat, steadying myself.
She looked at me with wide eyes. “Doing what?”
With her staged innocent act, I had no doubt she was calling up the storm. She was up to something. I’d be keeping a very close eye on her.
But why did she think she could lie to me? Didn’t she understand by now that I could make her do what I wanted, tell me what I wanted?
I stared at her, letting my magic boom around her. Her body went rigid as she realized the enchantment spell had invaded her mind again, a poison in her pretty head. She clutched her fists tight, nails piercing her palms, and her jaw tightened.
She stared up at me with such a look of intense hatred that it almost felt like a slap in the face.
“Did you call up this storm, Aenor?” I asked, my voice as icy as the rain.
She grunted with the effort, body straining. She was taking an unexpectedly long time to answer me, and the boat crashed down again on the waves. She lurched in her seat, her skirt riding up her thighs.
Was she starting to learn how to resist my enchantment? The rain fell even harder now, as if her fury alone fueled the storm.
Frustration tightened my chest. I had only a few days left, and I didn’t need any more delays.
The boat rose again, cresting a wave. When it smashed down again, Aenor jolted even more. With me in control of her mind, she was no longer able to ride the storm as smoothly.
“Let this be a lesson to you, Aenor. Do not defy me. I control you now.” She yanked her skirt down, looking me in the eyes.
The gesture, her hands on her thighs, sent heat racing in my blood.
I shifted sharply where I sat. Why did I find her so alluring? I hadn’t thought about sex in centuries, or felt much of anything.
Focus, Salem.
I was in control here. I pinned her with my gaze, and she was helpless before me. A dark smile curled my lips. “Let’s try this again. Did you call up the storm?”
At last, the word tumbled out of her mouth. “Yes.”
“Why?”
Those nails, jutting into her skin. “I want to be alone. I want to do a spell, to see what the future holds now. I want to see what happens when you get what you want. I want to see what chaos you’ll unleash, if the world will burn.”
I leaned back, sighing. “How interesting. I’d ask to see this little spell of yours, except I don’t care if the world burns. Do you really plan to take me to the Merrow? Or will you try to mislead me?”
“I’m taking you to the Merrow.” The answer came out fast and clear, not a moment’s hesitation. “I will take you to him, no matter what.”
“Good.”
“Are you trying to burn the world?” she asked. “Is that your goal?”
I glanced at her hands, now dripping a few droplets of blood. “For the gods’ sake, stop doing that with your fingernails.”
Pure wrath shone in her eyes.
My chest felt hollow, like someone was carving it out. This invasion of her mind hurt her, and for whatever reason, I didn’t like hurting her.
Somehow, she’d infected my mind, just like I’d invaded hers.
I released the enchantment on her. I knew the most important thing. She was definitely taking me where I needed to go.
Then she lunged forward, eyes blazing with fury. “Never do that to me again,” she snarled.
Something about the ferocity in her voice, or the blood on her skin, told me I’d agree to her demand.
Her fierce gaze burned into me. “I know what you have planned. Everyone thinks I’ve gone mad, but I know what you want.”
My lip twitched with amusement. “I seriously doubt that, my pet.” Only the goddess Anat knew what I truly wanted.
As I watched Aenor, staring out over the stormy sea, it struck me that she seemed painfully lonely. When she’d gotten her magic back, she’d called a human friend. Humans died so quickly—a hummingbird’s heartbeat and they were gone. Was that whom she attached herself to, only to watch them grow old and die?
What a miserable existence.
If I wasn’t careful, I’d start feeling sorry for my captive.
16
Aenor
I guided us toward an island, trying to bury my simmering anger.
Anger would only distract me. If I was going to resist Salem’s enchantment, I needed diamond-sharp focus. My resistance had started to work, just a little. Each time he tried to compel me, I was able to resist a little more—the song in my mind drowning out the sound of his magic.
Seawater splashed over my face as we sailed, and I licked my lips. Even in the storm, I could feel the sea was too warm.
Just like in Acre.
Lightning speared the sky above us, and I glanced at Salem. He looked strangely at ease in the heaving boat, the storm winds barely touching him.
My mind started to churn like the ocean around us. Regardless of what the Winter Witch said, I had before me actual proof of a looming threat. The world was heating around us. Was it the Fomorians? I didn’t know. I just knew I’d protect the seas until my last dying breath.
As we slammed onto the island’s shore, I could hardly see a thing on it—just rowan trees clawing the sky. The sound of crows cawing wildly around us. When the boat slid onto the shore, I stepped out into the shallow water.
A wave crashed against the shore, the seawater up to my waist now. Ocean spray dappled my skin like a warm balm.
Salem prowled onto the shore, eyes gleaming in the darkness. “Do you have any predictions when this lovely storm you called up might end?”