Crosscurrent by Catherine Jones Payne

Author:Catherine Jones Payne [Payne, Catherine Jones]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781946693075
Publisher: Fathom Ink Press
Published: 2018-03-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

My whole body quivered. Everything I’d hoped for and dreaded about the trip to Marbella had come true.

He just stared at me at first, and then he floated up from the hammock. “It’s really you,” he murmured. “I didn’t believe it at first.”

“I tried to keep it quiet.” I looked down at the floor. “I didn’t think it was fair to swim back into your life. Especially not so soon after . . . everything.”

He closed his eyes and tightened his jaw. “Why did you come at all?”

My mind raced for an explanation, but I couldn’t lie. Not to him. “Someone—the anti-monarchists, I guess—tried to kill my whole family. We weren’t sure if they were targeting my mother or me. Mother asked me to join Ambassador Lavinia’s delegation as an assistant, just in case. It was safer for me to leave the city for a few weeks. Safer for everyone.”

He opened his eyes and started toward me. “Is your family alright?” He stopped less than an arm’s length away.

I nodded. “Thank the tides, yes. Pippa saved us all. Benjamin’s living with Aunt Junia until everything dies down.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re not safe here, either.”

I thought of the urchin that I’d found in my bag. “I know.” Then I cocked my head. “Wait . . . how do you know?”

“Tor’s here, too.”

“Oh. I know.”

He flinched backward. “You do?”

“He joined our delegation after we left the city. I know that a member of my team wants me dead. I don’t know who. But . . . I don’t think it’s him.”

“Of course it’s him.”

I reached out and curled my fingers through his. He didn’t pull away.

“We were attacked on the journey by a webbed-foot dragon,” I whispered. “Way bigger than the one that killed Kiki’s mother. It caught me, Alexander.”

“It what?”

My cadence picked up speed. “It bit me. Pulled me down into the depths by my fin. Tor risked his life to save me when everyone else was willing to let me die.”

Alexander’s voice shook. “I’m so glad you’re alright, Jade.”

I almost laughed. “Me too.”

“So why is Tor here?” He turned our hands over so his palm rested on top of mine and caressed my wrist with his thumb.

A manta ray flipped in my stomach. I tried to bring my focus back to the conversation we were having, but I’d already forgotten what he’d said. I squeaked, “I’ve missed you.”

He reached his other hand out to touch my cheek. “I’ve missed you, too. I didn’t realize how much until you swept into the room.” He laughed, but it sounded mirthless and forced.

My heart ached. “I’m so sorry you found out I was here.”

“I’m not.” He held my gaze. “It’s good to see you again.”

My gills flared.

His hands sank away from me. “Promise me you’ll stay safe.”

“I’ll try.”

He backed away as if to leave and then stopped. “You never answered my question. Why is Tor here?”

I ran my hand through my hair. “I wish I knew. He joined us on the second

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.