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Adrenaline pulsed through Hunter as his half-brother took one step after another through the shallow surf towards him.
“You had no intention of bringing her back to us,” Jarrod spat, stepping from the tumbling foam. He stood before Hunter on the virtually deserted beach, once again frighteningly free of his ocean prison. Jarrod’s rigid torso trembled, and his fists clenched. “Can your people really mean so little to you?”
Was it rage that made him shake? Hunter wondered. Or was his body about to dissolve into mist?
But scrutinising the strain on Jarrod’s face, suddenly Hunter knew it was evidence of pain. Jarrod had crossed his boundary, but clearly at a cost. He recalled the rigid effort he’d witnessed in Jarrod’s stance and demeanour when he’d appeared so unexpectedly at Bliss. Hunter had put it down to anger, but now he realised it was pain. He felt no sympathy; just relief.
He looked beyond Jarrod to where Aaron and Traynor glowered at him from the water. The waterline must still contain them. At least for now. It fuelled his hopes of keeping Skye safe from being forced back into the Nemaro world. So long as he kept Jarrod away from her. A new horrifying thought struck him: was it possible Jarrod could send the humans who swelled his ranks to retrieve Skye?
“You were right, brother,” he acknowledged.
Jarrod’s eyebrows rose. “You admit you lied?”
“No. You were right about the air...and Skye. She doesn’t know me.” The words felt like poison. More so when he caught the gleam of pleasure in Jarrod’s eyes, and the dawning speculation. “Jarrod, you must know I couldn’t ask her to go with me, a total stranger.”
“You didn’t...persuade her? Not even for the sake of your clan?”
“I will never interfere with Skye’s thoughts again, or her freedom to choose.”
“So squeamish. Never send a boy to do a man’s job,” Jarrod sneered, looking up the beach towards the village. “I have no such qualms. Only pleasure awaits Skye if she responds to me as I expect her to. And the clan will be safe once more. Happy ever after, I think it goes.”
“You cannot seriously think that?”
Jarrod turned to face him, eyebrows rising in disdainful inquiry. “What part? A fortunate outcome for all? Or Skye’s undoubted response to me now that no milksop thoughts of you will keep me at bay?” A look of amused anticipation spread across his face. “You don’t begrudge me that which you so carelessly lost?”
“You think you can walk freely into Skye’s life?” Hunter challenged. “Have you forgotten Morgan, her closest friend, your recent ‘companion’? Do you expect her to bid you welcome into their lives? To stand by while you take Skye away from her?” Jarrod’s smile vanished, and he looked away.
Hunter pressed his advantage. “Give me two weeks, and I will return with Skye to Lithus. We are still joined. I know she feels it.” He touched his chest where the absence of Skye bloomed. “I have earned the trust of Morgan and her mother, who stand between you and Skye as surely as I stand here now.” He saw uncertainty in Jarrod’s face and pushed. “Besides, as easily as you may have crossed our boundary, I warrant you would rather wait out this delicate negotiation in a more comfortable setting...”
Jarrod’s frown blackened, but he gave a curt nod.
“Three days,” he hissed, turning away and striding towards the sea. “And then...we shall see...” Jarrod threw himself into the shallow waves, joining his guards who waited like sharks encircling prey, and vanished.
