Page 103 of Wicching Hour

He rubbed his huge mitt of a hand over my knee. “I’m fine and I’ll be ready when it’s time to go.”

“When I go in the water, you can use my coat. You must be freezing.” The poor guy didn’t even have a whole shirt.

His eyebrows rose. “Are you seriously under the impression your clothing will fit me?”

“I meant you could use it as a blanket.” I gestured to his chest. “Just sort of lay it on yourself so your burn is out of the salty wind.”

He leaned forward and kissed me. “Thanks for the thought, but if you’re in the water, it means I’m getting off the boat.”

“Good point.” I started to take the coat off now, but he stopped me with a shake of his head.

“All right, Faith,” Bracken said, “I believe it’s time for a storm.”

Faith stood up and moved to the front of the boat. Mom watched her go, brows furrowed. She didn’t know we had an elemental in the family.

Holding her father’s hand, finding that anchor, Faith closed her eyes, lifted her other hand, palm out, and made a slow pushing movement. We were hit by a few drops, but the rain clouds quickly moved on and hovered over the rocky, forested land, set between two large homes with manicured lawns that ran to the water’s edge.

“Frank?” I called. “Can you give us some cover in case anyone is looking?”

He nodded, his fingers twitching at his side. “Sorry. I meant to do this sooner. I can’t make us invisible, so this is more of a chameleon spell. We’ll blend with the ocean.”

“That’s perfect,” I told him.

Mom turned to Elizabeth, whispering, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Elizabeth sighed. “There are lots of reasons, too long to get into right now. Suffice to say, I saw how they treated Arwyn. They knew she was gifted and resented her for it, terrorized her for it. You knew too, but you didn’t stop it. If you wouldn’t protect your own child, how could I trust you to protect mine?”

Mom reared back as though she’d been slapped. “I—of course I protected Arwyn.”

Elizabeth just raised her eyebrows. “You don’t honestly believe that, do you?”

I couldn’t look at my mom and see that hurt, bewildered expression on her face. Instead, I scanned the shore and noticed something moving in the dark. I stood unsteadily on the rocking deck and went to the front of the boat, trying to get a feel for what was out there. More than likely it was a deer, confused by the sudden rain, but just in case, I got down and crawled out to the bow, wanting to be as far away from the emotions behind me as possible.

I let my guard down a bit and focused on where I had last seen movement.

Curiosity. Hunger. He sees us and knows we’re the ones causing this storm but is unclear as to why.

I was pretty sure I recognized what he was. I lifted a hand in greeting and thought I saw movement in return.

“At ease, Faith. That’s not her.” I got up and walked back. “He’s a supernatural. I think a vampire, but I’m not positive.”

Faith’s eyes went wide, her gaze darting back to the shore.

Robert turned the boat around and headed back across the bay. Elizabeth pulled a juice box out of her bag and handed it to Faith, who had sat down beside her. While I was at the bow, Mom had moved so she was no longer sitting near Elizabeth. At some point, they’d need to have a longer discussion, but now wasn’t the time.

“You’re going to have to do that again in a few minutes and probably for longer,” Elizabeth said, kissing her daughter’s temple. “Great job.”

“Thanks.” Faith glanced around, seemingly embarrassed by the mothering. “Did you bring us candy bars too?”

“I could use one of those as well,” Frank said, maintaining the chameleon spell.

“You can take a break too,” I told him. “She can’t see this far out. Maybe just hide our running lights from view. Robert, tell us when you start to see detail on the shore. Frank can hide the boat again.”

Frank slumped in his seat and took the candy bar from his mom. “Please tell me you brought us more than one each.”

She handed him a juice and said, “I have more.” She looked in her bag. “I also have protein bars.”

Nodding, he reached for one of those as well.

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