The Vampire And The Highland Empath Read Online Free Page B

remained constant so even though the sea outside had risen, the ledge should be in the same place.
    She tugged Roque toward where she judged the ledge to be.  
    Alex swam with her, taking the majority of Roque’s weight.
    “To your right,” Roque rasped.
    “Ah. You’ve rejoined us, then.” Relief tempered the teasing tone of Alex’s voice.
    “Umn,” Roque grunted. “Where in the blazes are we?”
    Edeen’s palm hit the ledge just where Roque had said it would be. How had he known?
    “I’ll hold him while you climb out, ma’am,” Alex offered.
    ‘Twas more difficult than expected to release Roque to another. What if Alex didn’t have a good enough grip and they lost him to the darkness?
    Which was a ridiculous thought. Alex was his friend. He’d not let him come to harm. He had already proven that.
    She was glad the darkness hid her expression. She did not understand where this fervent protectiveness came from, or so quickly.
    Pulling herself up onto the slippery shelf was harder than she remembered. Her arms shook and the gown kept getting in the way.
    A sudden shove on her bottom propelled her onto her stomach on the ledge. A shocked gasp escaped her, again thankful for the concealing darkness. She did not ask which of the men had assisted her.
    Scrambling the rest of the way out, she quickly turned on her knees to help Alex with Roque.
    Reaching down, she accidentally struck a nose. Roque’s, she thought. Dripping hands latched onto her wrists, guiding her hands down to slide onto soggy shoulders. By touch, she found his chest and slipped her arms beneath his armpits and around his back.
    This close, his breath washed against her neck, warm on her wet skin. The muscles in his arms and back tighten as he pushed down on the ledge.
    “Dammit, mate, go easy on the apple crumbles.” With all the splashing, Alex must be helping from behind.
    Edeen felt, more than heard, Roque’s low chuckle. Alex grunted loud and Roque strained onto the ledge, or more precisely onto Edeen, though he quickly rolled off her with a muttered “sorry”.
    More splashing and grunting and the round part of a broad shoulder landed on her thigh, causing Edeen to hiss out in unexpected pain.
    That shoulder also quickly rolled away.
    “Ma’am. Sorry,” Alex strained. “Many pardons. I’m so sorry.”
    “’Tis all right.” She smothered a chuckle and stretched out her arms, half-sprawling on the slimy rock ledge, searching for the flint and torches Shaw and Col kept just out of the water’s reach.
    “What are you doing?” Roque asked. His voice sounded winded.
    “Looking for the flint.”
    “Don’t bother, Treasure.”
    Treasure? “Do not call me that. I’m no man’s treasure.”
    “In that, you’re sorely mistaken.” A hint of laughter coated his voice.
    There was a soft metallic ripping sound, the rustle of stiff material and a beam of light snicked on.
    Edeen squinted at it. Strange magic.
    Shivers ran through her. She stared at the small cylinder sprouting light that Alex had taken out of the now open bag he had brought from the boat. The bag’s interior was shiny as though coated in oil to keep everything inside dry. And the objects within—an odd assortment of shiny objects similar to the longer sticks the men on top of the cliff had held. Some sort of club.
    Alex poured the light over Roque. “Blimey, Roque, you look like shite.”
    Roque’s lips tugged into a thin grin. Supporting himself with one arm, small tremors rolled through him. His face was pale, cheeks flushed with redness. Blood diluted pink with sea water soaked the side of his shirt.
    Alex rummaged through the bag. “The bullet should have worked itself out by now. What’s going on?” He pulled a small square box from the bag and clicked open a hinged lid.
    “I don’t know.” A slow drop of water hovered at the top of a wet lock of hair before falling onto his cheek. “It feels different.”
    Alex’s hand stilled in the process of