Finn’s eyes darted between the two of them, and then he reached behind him and grabbed a set of keys, dropping them into Magnus’ hand. “If the store is locked when you get back, just put the keys in the lockbox.”
“Thanks,” Magnus grunted.
Finn nodded. “Be careful out there. There are some reports of a storm for later this afternoon. Maybe keep the radio on the marine weather news.”
“Aye aye,” Magnus acknowledged.
“Thanks, Finn,” Mercedes said sweetly.
Finn nodded and went back to his work. Magnus led the way out the side door of Monster Catch Bait and Tackle and down the pier to where all the rentals were kept. He knew the boat that Finn had lent them because it was the one he took out after the date, when he tried to curse her.
It was the one he often used when he was out and about on the lake.
The water was a bit choppy, but the sky was still blue, though there was a chill in the September air. He glided down and held out his hand for Mercedes. “It’s a bit rough and you don’t seem to be so steady on your feet.”
Mercedes glared at him but took his hand. Her skin was so soft. He wanted to just scoop her up and float her down into the boat, but he knew he probably wouldn’t get away with that.
“Thanks. I’m notthatbad.”
The moment she took a step down into the boat, her foot slipped on a damp spot and she fell forward into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. Her body was pressed up against him, and his reacted to having her so close, to having her in his arms.
She gazed up at him through thick lashes, her ruby lips parted, her breathing quick.
“You were saying?” he teased.
Color flooded her cheeks and she rested her forehead against his shoulder, laughing softly to herself. “Yeah, sorry.”
Reluctantly, he let go of her. “Sit down and maybe put on a life jacket? If it were safe to duct tape you to the seat, I would.”
She rolled her eyes, but a smile hovered on her lips as she grabbed a life jacket and slipped it on. Mercedes took her seat at the bow of the boat. He undid the moorings and started the engine, taking the boat slowly out of the marina and onto the open waters of the lake.
It was a sunny, albeit windy, day. It was hard to believe that they were calling for storms.
“I think Finn is right,” Mercedes shouted over the roar of the wind and the outboard motor. “There’s a storm coming.”
“How can you tell?”
“I can smell it.” She lifted her chin and closed her eyes. “Can’t you? Something about the atmosphere. It’s charged.”
He admired her graceful neck, picturing what it would be like to kiss it. “Nope, can’t say I can smell the atmosphere, but I suppose that would’ve come in handy when the storm rolled in on Lake Ontario and got me in this predicament in the first place.”
She smiled at him sweetly. “Living forever?”
“If you call this living, sure. I don’t even have a pulse.” He winked at her.
She just shook her head, but he could tell that he was making her laugh.
The boat ride to the place where he spilled Yrsa’s blood was about twenty minutes. It was at the far end of the lake. Basically, the border of the area he was restricted to, and he knew this because when he tried to follow Yrsa to finish the job, that’s when bits and pieces of him began to fall off.
Thankfully, when he crossed back into the safe zone, everything regrew and regenerated.
The closer they got to the area, the darker the sky turned and the water became choppier. Mercedes was clutching the metal bench seat, her eyes closed. Strands of her burgundy hair hadcome loose from her tight ponytail and whipped about in the wind.
He pulled close to shore, tied off the boat to the old rickety dock, and then jumped into the water, holding out his arms.
“What?” she asked.
“I’ll carry you. Unless you want to get your sneakers wet. I’d say take the dock, but that thing is ancient and has several rotting boards.”