It’s #BookQW and ‘please’ my heroine would like less drama in her life!
More from Chapter 11:
While she fastened the cart with a sailor’s knot, Spike approached. “It’s a fine machine.”
“Thanks. Name’s Ty. And yours?”
“Marlin,” he answered, now all bravado.
She straightened, and Ty’s gaze briefly met hers, a smile twitching his lips. “Marlin. Good to meet you. All set, Coral?” He slid forward on the black cushioned seat.
Right. She just had to get on the thing, and they’d be out of here. Balancing with her hand on the seat—careful not to touch Ty’s rear—she swung her leg over the scooter as if climbing into the hull of a dinghy and settled down.
Ty started the engine.
The rounded fender had no handles, so she reached for the rear rack. The scooter rolled, and she swung sideways—the wrong way. She grabbed for Ty’s waist. He stopped the Vespa, so she let go. It was too forward to touch a boy she had just met.
And a silver warlock. Her guts knotted. What had she done, accepting a lift just to steer Ty away from Spike? And now Spike was watching, grinning ear-to-ear in delight at her predicament.
Spells. Thank the Orb Ty hadn’t flashed her. Lots of wizards couldn’t or wouldn’t control their energy and would let loose with a surge of energy over another’s skin. If Ty hadn’t controlled his, could his silver energy have gotten to hers despite the quash?
No. Breaching a quash would take more than a touch. The only way to secure herself was to hold on to Ty’s body, like when she and her sisters had ridden a horse together. She’d chance it for the minute it’d take to ride out of Spike’s sight. Gingerly, she clasped Ty’s sides, her face heating.
A roar rushed through her. Coral’s hands jerked, and she released him. Seconds passed before she realized Ty had only revved the engine, but the effect on her nerves was identical to being magically flashed by a wizard.
Spike leaned toward them. His lips moved, but she couldn’t hear over the scooter.
Ty cut the engine.
“She beat you, also?” Spike asked.
She opened her mouth, then snapped it closed. She did duel in other ports, but Spike shouldn’t assume that she and Ty knew each other from that. Spike hadn’t spoken the forbidden word, yet her sinking stomach said if not today, then another time. Please, no. She didn’t want anyone to bait her into challenging this silver wizard.
His thick hair swaying, Ty swung around to look at her, then Spike. “Hmm?”
Spike darted looks between them—he knew his mistake now. Watching him recover would be interesting. His gaze fixed on Ty. “What’s she got over you that you’re ferrying her around?” he asked, anger edging his tone.
“Not a thing,” Ty said evenly. At Spike’s doubting grunt, he asked, “It doesn’t occur to you someone might want to ferry around a pretty girl for the fun of it?”
“Coral?” Spike burst out laughing. “You have a lot to learn, newbie.”
***
Lost Whisperer of the Seas is available now! Buy it here!
If you haven’t read the rest of the series, don’t worry. This novel can be read as a standalone. The characters and location are new to the series.
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