Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 93948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
A second later, the faint feeling of Bastian’s magic settles against my skin. He exhales shakily. “We’d better get moving. I can hold it for some time still, but the more people who are covered, the greater the strain.”
Evelyn’s eyes go wide as she takes me in. “That’s…I was under the impression that the laws of matter apply even to shifters. Usually they’re larger than their mundane counterparts, because humans are larger than most animals, but even if they grow a bit in half form, they don’t, like”—she motions at me—“quadruple in size.”
“Silly girl.” Dia says it fondly as she approaches me. “The Cŵn Annwn aren’t shifters. They’re gods. Your human rules don’t apply.” She bows a little to me, which makes me shift my feet restlessly. “If you’ll lower yourself a little, I’ll climb onto your back. Thank you for the privilege.”
I have no words to tell her that I’m not a god, merely the distant descendant of one, so I lower myself to my belly. My shoulder still reaches the top of Dia’s head, but Bowen finally manages to shake himself out of his shock and moves to lift the old woman up onto my back. I barely register her weight.
Bastian shoves my clothing and boots into the bag and nudges Evelyn. “You next.”
Bowen hoists Evelyn onto my back, and then Nox, ignoring their muttered curse. He pauses as if he might argue I can’t hold his weight as well, but then gives a curse of his own and climbs up.
Bastian pats my shoulder as he settles near my neck. “No one else will see, Siobhan. I promise.”
I do register the weight of five adults, but it’s nowhere near enough to keep me from rising easily to my feet, giving them a moment to adjust, and then taking off toward the north shore. Through it all, Bastian keeps us hidden with his magic, giving me the freedom to run. Even so, I’m slightly slower than normal; it takes a little over an hour to reach the shore.
“Let us down here,” Nox calls. “I can—Damn it, Siobhan.”
I ignore them and plunge into the water. If recent experience has taught me anything, it’s that Nox will drive themself straight into magical burnout if I give them half a chance. Bowen could probably levitate the boat, but he’s tapped, too. So are Evelyn and Bastian, for that matter. I’m only marginally winded, and a short rest will be all it takes to get me back to full stamina and health. I can make the swim easier than they can.
“Hang on!” Bowen roars as the first wave hits.
My powerful strokes bring us through the wave break in seconds. There are still the currents to contend with, of course, but I’ve been swimming since I could walk; I know how to navigate tricky currents.
I take an angle almost parallel to the shore until the pressure against my body guides us in the direction I actually want to go. My fur is soaked, my legs churning, and I am finally starting to register the drag of my passengers, but I haven’t come this far to stop now. The Audacity bobs gently in the distance, less than a mile out. I can do this. I must do this.
Between one stroke and the next, the currents suddenly shift again, this time to propel me forward. Magic tickles my nose, and if I had a mouth made for words, I would curse Nox for using their magic when they’re already so drained. Since I don’t, I put all my remaining strength into paddling as quickly as possible.
With Nox’s water magic propelling me, we make it to the ship faster than I could have dreamed. Bastian clings to my neck. “Do you want me to drop the glamour now, or wait until you shift back?” His voice is ragged with strain.
Nox rolls off my back and treads water a short distance away. “Take the glamour off me.”
Bastian hesitates, but I can tell the exact moment he obeys, because a surprised shout goes up from the deck overhead. “It’s the captain!”
Someone unrolls a ladder, and Nox waves. “Thank you, darling! I’ll be up shortly.” They twist to face us, their eyes narrowed. “I can’t see any of you, but get moving. We didn’t come this far to drown now.”
I swim closer to the ladder, treading water as Dia, Evelyn, and Bowen scramble up the side of the ship. Then it’s only me, Bastian, and Nox.
Bastian eases off me, but doesn’t move far. “Change back so you can climb.”
Of course. I must be more tired than I realized, because that’s the obvious next step. I draw my magic into myself, tucking it down deep as my body shifts back into its human form. I go under for a brief moment while I rework how to swim with human arms and legs instead of a hound’s. When I surface again, Nox is directly in front of me, their gray eyes wide.