Page 2 of Silver
Fuck.
I swam faster, aware I might cause them to notice me more, but I couldn’t stop. I would die out here if I didn’t get out soon, either from the cold, drowning, or from a shark so big I could fit into its whole mouth without trouble.
Stop thinking about sharks!
As land appeared, I crawled onto hard rocks, panting for breath. My breath came out in a fog in front of me, proof of just how coldit was. The stars were bright in the sky and the moon huge and beautiful. It was just like our world, just without the shimmering of galaxies next to it.
I couldn’t stand at first, crawling up on the dark and deserted beach, longing to find some people. The lighthouse was farther down the beach and I had no idea if people were in there or not. I decided it would be best if I got away from the cold harsh winds from the ocean, and walked away trying to find a town or something. I had my backpack on with important stuff, like my issued ID and some cash. Although I had no idea how much money it was yet. Maybe it was a good thing I wasn’t allowed to carry a bigger bag, since I would’ve been pulled under from the weight of it and drowned instantly.
I pulled off my cardigan, knowing I needed to remove some of the cold clothes. I felt lighter immediately, still unbelievably cold, but it got easier to walk. I removed my shoes, holding them in my trembling fingers as I made my way off the beach and into a parking area. My shoes fell from my fingers at one point, but by then I’d lost all feeling in my hands to notice, only the sound of wet shoes hitting pavement told me they were now lost to me. I couldn’t even pick them back up, my fingers too numb to hold on to anything.
I kept walking on my bare feet until I reached a town. I remember walking down a street filled with small cute houses, knocking on doors that went unanswered. And then I couldn’t fight anymore. My body gave up and I fell to the ground, silently begging Gran to forgive me.
I’d failed.
I’m so sorry.
Chapter 2
Silver
Present time.
They were having sex.Again.
Now, I didn’t mind people having sex. But whenIwasn’t having any, yeah, that didn’t sit well with me. Xari had been edging Niam for what felt like hours now. They were in their van, while I lay snuggled up with Snowflake in my teardrop trailer.
“Please, Xari,” I heard Niam beg for the thousandth time.
I couldn’t take it anymore. “Just let him fucking come already!” I yelled, not caring if I was acting like a bitch. They had sex everynight and I got that;I really did. But a week of this and I was losing my mind. I wanted my soulmatch, too, not that I dared admit that to them. But I felt like the day I’d finally see him would be the start of my very own fairytale.
Finally, I heard Niam shout Xari’s name. I was actually impressed they’d kept going even though they knew I could hear them now. I shrugged to myself. I might’ve underestimated Niam. He looked so innocent but he seemed anything but around Xari.
Damn, I missed sex.
As soon as I’d gotten to land the day I was dumped here, I found a beach and then walked drenched in sea water into the nearest town, getting put straight into a hospital when some people found me. Hypothermia or something like that they’d said. All I knew was that I’d woken up with nothing to my name other than a medical bill I had no way of paying. They’d thrown out my clothes and since I didn’t carry extra with me in my backpack—which I now regretted—I was without clothes when they tried to discharge me. I had the ID and other stuff the leaders gave us ahead of time, but that was it. The hospital staff had felt sorry for me when I told them I was on a ferry and was pushed into the sea. They brought some clothes for me andwhen just one nurse remained, she locked the door and asked me point blank if I needed work. I was still out of it, but I managed a nod. It wasn’t exactly hard for them to guess I was at rock bottom. Having been so close to dying and only having my few belongings with me, it told them everything they needed to know.
Her next words changed my life for the better. “Come to this address and tell them Snappy Sandra sent you,” she winked and handed me a business card. I swallowed as I stared at the strip club logo. I’d promised my grandma I would do anything to survive. I nodded and gave her a grateful smile. That had been the best decision I’d ever made, except the one where I chose to follow Niam and Xari.
The first thing I’d done was live my life like my grandma had lived hers. I didn’t give a fuck what other people thought of me. And it was addictive being on that stage. Finally being desired. It was a rush. No one had ever looked at me with hunger in their eyes before.
So, yeah, I’d had my fun with as many men as possible. Who knew how long I would remain this beautiful? But now that I knew I had a soulmatch, I wasn’t interested in random men any longer. Which meant I was celibate until he showed up. Was I impatient? Hell yes. But I could be strong.
Xari had said we were likely a week away from Wilston, but after driving for a week, that had proven to be wrong. We were closing in on him, yes. But nowhere near fast enough for our liking. We’d had two mage attacks since we left my home and not knowing if Wilston was safe or not was messing with us. The locket continued to glow around my neck, showing us he was alive. I was glad they trusted me enough to let me wear it. I think Niam did it to make me feel more included and it worked.
I was secretly hoping for Wilston to be my soulmatch. Every night I fantasized about seeing him for the first time, and even though Niam said it hadn’t been love at first sight for him, it was always the case in my fantasies.
Wilston would be the most handsome man I’d ever seen, I was sure of it, and he’d take one look at me and then smile brighter than ever because my beauty affected him so much. Then he would carry me bridal style somewhere and fuck me senseless.
“Sorry!” Niam yelled from the van. I rolled my eyes. He was so polite, apologizing for having loud sex. I chuckled. They were both growing on me, but Niam felt like someone who could be truly important to me in the future. They’d said our souls knew oneanother as friends, and if that were true, then I knew without a doubt that Niam and I had been besties.
Suddenly, Snowflake got up and I knew that meant trouble. I sighed, taking my phone and alerting Xari. A minute later I heard screaming. Snowflake stayed with me while they fought outside. I knew better than to steal a peek, knowing it could be deadly to do so, so I waited and hoped they kicked ass.
“I’m so tired of fighting naked,” Xari sighed.
Niam laughed. “I’m not. Do you have any idea how hot you look fighting them without clothes?”
“Oh, so my baby likes watching me fight naked?” his tone turned sultry and I knew that meant I needed to get out of my trailer before they started round two.
