Page 32 of Nyall

At first Caroline didn’t understand what he was doing until he forced the breath from his lungs into hers. That gave her starved lungs enough air to ease the smothering sensation, and explained why he’d surfaced. The commander kept his mouth on hers as he continued hacking at the kelp, probably to keep her from breathing in water. He yanked the sticky net away from her wet suit until he was able to drag her out of the trap. In his eyes she saw panic, as if he knew they were running out of time. Once he’d freed her from the trap, time snapped back into motion, and the sticky seaweed net sank to the bottom of the bay.

It's too late. Caroline’s head spun, and her vision began to darken.

Another pair of hands grabbed her, which made her release the last breath in her lungs. She clamped her mouth shut and fought the need to inhale. Bubbles swirled around her as Nyall and Jamaran dragged her up to the surface. Water churned around them as she coughed uncontrollably before she could breathe. Nyall looked furious, but Jamaran kept scanning the sea around them.

Dark clouds spread out over the bay, lightning veining their dark gray billowing masses.

“What was that, a fishing trap?” she asked once she could speak.

The commander shook his head. “’Tis too large, and we never place them in the reefs here. ’Twas meant for trawling, but refashioned.”

“Aye, and ’twas baited to catch more than fish.” Nyall lifted his fist from the water, from which the rope of pink pearls dangled. As Jamaran muttered in French, the captain looked all over Caroline’s face. “Did you see any Selseus watching, or swimming toward you?”

“I thought I saw someone hiding in the reef just before you two came.” She described the figure, and how his skinsuit resembled Merrick’s. “It wasn’t the king, though. He looked way too short.”

“Bered,” Nyall told Jamaran, and a huge bolt of lightning rammed down into the mountains behind Dun Ard.

“Wait,” Caroline said as the commander turned away from them, and gripped his arm. “I didn’t see his face. It could have been anyone.”

“Only Bered would attempt such.” He glanced at Nyall for a long moment, and then nodded. “Come now, my lady.”

By the time they reached the wave-swept sand of the little islet Caroline could breathe normally, but her legs wobbled badly and she still seemed dizzy as hell. She sat down at once and put her head between her knees, hoping she wouldn’t throw up. Nothing could be less attractive than puking in front of the two guys she wanted.

Like I could have them both.

“I shall carry her up,” Nyall said.

“I don’t need to be carried,” she told him, grabbing his hand as she tried to stand, failed, and groaned. “Just give me a damn minute, okay? That’s the second time this month I almost drowned.”

The captain crouched down in front of her. “You stopped time again.”

“I thought it might buy me a few more minutes, but it had no effect on my lungs. I can definitely die during a time stop.” She rubbed her eyes, which had grown hot and stung. “Why would this Bered guy want to kill me? The only Selseus I’ve met are Merrick and Jamaran.”

“His intent, ’twasnae so he might end you,” the commander said, his voice tight. “Doubtless he meant capture you. Many sea caves near those beds hold enough air for a landwalker breathe.”

Caroline wondered if she should take up a trade that didn’t involve her swimming in the ocean. “If he wanted a woman that badly, why didn’t he try to transform me?”

“I reckon he wished use you as leverage,” Nyall said. “You’ve more value as a bargaining tool than a mate.”

“Right. Unless you want to see how good I am with a knife, don’t ever introduce me to Bered.” Finally, her legs had grown steady enough for her to rise. “I see a cottage through there.”

“We should return to the stronghold, where the clan may protect you,” Nyall said.

“You two can protect me,” Caroline told him. “Come on.”

The storm that had suddenly come over the island from the bay made Meg wonder if she should hurry back to the farm. When she first came to work for the Mackays they had offered to board her in their own house. She had gently refused, as with five sons and three daughters, two of their spouses, and a small horde of their young bairns, they simply had no room to spare for her. She also preferred the little chamber she’d arranged for herself in the empty granary beside the cow barns, which would serve her well until winter. By then she hoped to be wed, possibly to one of the Mackay’s unmarried sons, and settle into a small cottage with her husband to get on with her life.

Once I forget him, ’twill be simple.

After she finished her daily work Meg often walked the shore as she watched the night tides. She liked the sensation of the cooler breeze on her face, and tolerated the smell of salt and the endless lapping of the waves. She never expected to see the Finfolk king; even before she had come to work on the farm he’d promised to stay away from her. Merrick would keep that vow, too. He knew as well as she how dangerous they were together.

The loneliness still gnawed at her with small fangs.

Lady Valerie had sent her a few message scrolls, all of which contained happy news until the last, when she revealed another woman from the future had arrived on the island. Unlike the laird’s wife and Lark, Caroline Parish did not care for living at the stronghold or having anything to do with the clan. Her hostility bewildered the laird’s wife, who truly believed everyone should be kind and befriend each other.

Meg understood the newcomer’s ire, for she’d often hated everything and everyone on Caladh. I wager I’d like Mistress Parish.

The ground vibrated slightly, and then Meg heard the hurried slogging of uncertain footsteps. That could only mean her tag-tail had caught up with her.