“She proved what everyone else already knows.” He gently lifted my chin to meet his stern gaze and his voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re worth it.”
“She said that she believed in me,” I breathed, and then shook my head in defeat. “I watched her die, Finn. Just like that brave fish. Neither one of them thought twice about saving me…”
“A fish?” He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Now this, I have to hear.”
I spent the next twenty minutes convincing Finn that I had, in fact, spent several hours surrounded by poisonous spiders, describing my wall-breaking ability, and detailing the fish who had sacrificed his own life for mine. It wasn’t as difficult to convince him of what Nadia and Keto’s true intentions had been. My thoughts drifted back to the old man.
“Do you think he’s related to me?” I asked as another possibility dawned on me. “Could he be…my dad?”
“I think there’s a very good chance he’s related to you,” he pondered. “But considering his age, I would guess a grandfather or great uncle? I’d also like to pick his brain about the Isle of Slaves, and the reason he was there.”
“We should probably make sure he’s feeling better before we interrogate him.” I giggled, but inside I wanted nothing more than to find out who he was.
“I have a feeling he’s stronger than you think; he lasted a long time on that island,” he informed me.
“Speaking of stronger than I thought,” I raised an eyebrow at him. “You didn’t tell me that the ability of sonic boom was in your bag of tricks.”
“My bag of tricks is an endless pit of awesomeness,” he winked at me. I rolled my eyes, but his gaze brought the butterflies back with a vengeance.
“I think I’ve almost got you figured out,” I teased him.
“I doubt that,” he countered.
I crossed my arms. “Right now you’re contemplating whether or not I really do have you figured out, because the thought of that scares you to death. And you’re craving beef jerky.”
“Uncanny,” he smirked. “But I wasn’t craving beef jerky until you mentioned it. So now I’m craving beef jerky.”
“See? You’re an open book,” I smiled.
“My turn,” he considered me for a long moment and then leaned in close. “At this very moment you want me to kiss you.”
“You’re way off,” I lied.
“Am I?” he sneered, moving even closer with a confident grin.
“Waaay off,” I lied again with the conviction of a slug.
“So you don’t want me to do this?” he asked coyly, as he kissed his way down my jaw line.
“Not one bit.”
“Or this?” he muttered, as he brought my mouth to his with excruciating slowness. The softness of his lips was only a prelude to the taste of his tongue, as our kiss deepened and every cell in my body came alive with happiness. He leaned back with a smug smile on his face, leaving me wanting much, much more.
“Told you so,” he bragged happily and thread his fingers through mine.
“Tell me again,” I breathed as I grabbed his other hand and yanked him under the covers with me. A knock at the door made us both freeze, eyes wide and staring at the other. I was hoping that a random squirrel had just thrown some acorns at the window. Because that happens all the time.
“Anastasia?” a very southern woman’s voice asked jovially. She swung open the door just as we were attempting to give off the impression of innocence. It didn’t work. She grinned knowingly, “It would appear that you are feeling better.”
“We were just…” Finn and I fought to justify at the same time, which elicited a laugh from the stunning woman standing in the doorway. Adequately mortified, I silently hoped this was not our new Maven.
“Your faces scream guilty, but I’ve never been one to get in the way of a future goddess and her paramour.” She winked at us and I groaned inwardly. Had someone posted my prophecy on Facebook or something? Finn slid out from the covers, but remained sitting on the bed as she glided into the room. “I’m Zara, fellow Tyde and Lorelei’s newest Maven. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Anastasia,” she drawled. So much for hope.
“Call me Stasia,” I advised; as dignified as one could after getting caught making out with her boyfriend. She met my embarrassed gaze just as a bout of déjà vu slammed into me. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with a familiarity that left me reeling. I knew with a certainty that I’d never met her before, so I couldn’t quite place the feeling. I brushed it off as she smiled warmly at me.
“Alright, Stasia.” She made herself comfortable in the rocking chair near the window and crossed her legs with more grace than a ballerina. “We need to discuss how we’re going to turn you into the most powerful sea goddess this world has ever known.”
Chapter 26
Wearing the fresh pair of jeans and warm sweater that had been set out for me, I exited the bedroom and found myself in a single great room that contained a modest living room and kitchen. I inhaled the soothing smell of apple cider that reminded me of a Cracker Barrel restaurant. After peering into a bathroom off to the right of the great room, it dawned on me that I’d just seen the entire cottage. The wooden floor beneath my feet offset the white décor beautifully. Two large, white oversized couches dwarfed the living room, leaving only enough room for several pieces of vintage furniture. A weathered wooden coffee table matched the large cupboard standing against the back wall, filled with an extensive bone china collection.
As my curious eyes trailed over the wrought iron cabinetry hardware in the kitchen, I noticed the repetition of starfish throughout the great room. They were everywhere. Adorning the wall, splayed across the coffee table, embroidered onto decorative pillows, and displayed across the mantle of the quaint stone fireplace.
The cozy mood of the house spoke to my soul and made me feel secluded from the world’s (and my) problems. I did find it odd that the Maven of a House would have requested such a humble living arrangement, however. Where had she slept while I was occupying her fluffy, heavenly, softer-than-a-cloud bed? The couch? The (gasp!) floor?
“So do you…live here, too?” I inquired, my voice shadowed by shame. If our Maven had to sleep on her floor because of me I would buy her a new house. Or at least a cot to sleep on. I wandered the rest of the way into the living room and then plopped down on the sofa beside Finn.
“Oh, bless your heart! My four dogs would eat this place for lunch,” Zara chuckled and handed me a cup of steaming cider. “This is just my guest house. The main house is up the path on the left.” Although I had only just met her, I was drawn to her instantly. She couldn’t have been more than thirty years old, but she had the southern elegance of Scarlett O’Hara and the unapologetic cynicism of Betty White. Smoldering amber-colored hair had been pulled back from her shoulders, and then tied with a blue and white polka dotted scarf. Her youthful figure was thin but curvy, and her impossibly long legs were hidden by white skinny jeans. Her blue silk blouse accentuated striking blue eyes that twinkled with wisdom, but were clouded by something ominous and foreboding that gave me pause. The subtle permanent arch of her right eyebrow gave off the impression that she lived in a constant state of amusement.
“I love the starfish decor,” I complimented her decorating cordially. In case she turned out to be bat-shit crazy like our other Maven, I wanted to make sure I was on her good side.
“That’s good.” She raised an eyebrow and continued with a sly grin, after taking a seat on the other sofa, “ ’Cause you’re going to be staying here for a while.”