Page 25 of The Dark Rises
For the rest of the day, we study the castle, especially the exits. There are a few places marked with a door, but I don’t see their origin. Probably best to stay away from those.
Madoc slips away to confirm Aamon and Lux made it back to the Wilds.
As the sky darkens, I hear Meri say quietly, “We’re coming for you, Rivan. Hold on.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MERI
Adisguised Madoc stands in front of the cottage, waiting for Hyne to join him. They’ll take the shadows back to the port and enter the portal there in case Brixton has spies.
“You look good with blue hair,” I tell him, smoothing it behind his ears as I place the cap on. “There.” Tilting my head, I consider the full picture. “Definitely more approachable.” My fingertips tingle from touching him, and I press them into my thigh.
Madoc stares down at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
It’s completely unnerving. “Try to keep your eyes down or at least away from Brixton. You’ll ruin the whole effect with that fierce predator look on your face.”
A wolfish gleam enters his eyes, and he leans in close to whisper, “Guess I’ll have to find some prey.”
Him breathing hard against the back of my neck, stalking me in the dark, makes me want to run… so he can catch me.What is wrong with me?Maybe all this time we’re spending together is addling my brain.
Swallowing hard at the slew of images, I take a step back.“Be careful. Try not to kill anyone until it’s time.”
His look hardens. “Keep your damn shield up.”
Instead of answering, I return his black look and stroll over to Cormal and Hyne, who are stepping out of the cottage.
“Have you heard from your men?” Cormal asks Hyne.
“They were able to lead the Phoenix a fair distance inland to a lake,” he replies. “They’ve taken to the underwater caves as the Phoenix search for them.”
Cormal hands them both a tracker and an earpiece. “Good. That should give us time. Here. Hide the tracker. Wait to put the earpiece in until you’re sure Brixton won’t see it. Follow the plan.”
When they’re gone, Cormal erases every trace of our presence from the one-room cottage. Dressed in dark clothing, thick jackets, and boots, we head down to the shore and take a seat in the boat, facing each other. Small and wooden, the little boat rocks back and forth, bobbing on the rough waves. Nervously, I grip the sides, praying it doesn’t tip over.
Once we’re sitting, Cormal uses magic to cloak us from anyone’s sight. Wind slices through the water around us, stirring the waves higher, but we sit and wait. My foot taps restlessly against the bottom of the boat.
Drawn to Cormal, I stare at the dark man across from me, still amazed we’re together. Cormal’s eyes are glued to the trackers moving on his phone. Water splashes on his face, but his concentration never wavers.
For years, all I saw was his ruthless, selfish side. It’s still there. He hasn’t turned into a saint but watching him doeverything to save Rivan… it means more to me than if he had told me he loved me.
I lift my gaze from him and find the island across the sea.
We’re coming, Rivan.
Hurry.
I gasp at hearing the reply in my head, and Cormal looks at me sharply.
In a stammer, I explain. “I don’t know if it was Rivan’s voice or another’s, but we need to hurry.”
He looks down at the phone. “They’re on the island.” Waves crash against the shore behind us. For several minutes, he stares at the phone. Dark brows pull together. He holds the phone up higher. “Either the technology isn’t working or something is wrong. The trackers haven’t moved away from the portal.”
Heart racing, I can barely breathe.
Cormal curses.
The cry of a bird startles me, and I look up to see it fly past.
