Ancient Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Huntress #1)(50)

But how could I destroy the scroll without Aidan realizing I’d done it on purpose? That would open me up to a lot of uncomfortable questions.

That was the one thing I hadn’t figured out yet, and it scared the crap out of me.

“I’m going to head outside.” I needed a minute to myself. “Can I just wave at you from the bow if I feel us getting closer?”

“Aye, that’ll be fine,” Captain Alden said. “Just be sure to stand at the very front where I can see you.”

“All right.” I hightailed it out of the pilothouse and down the stairs, taking them two at a time. I shook my arms, hoping to banish my nerves.

I crossed the rolling deck to the bow and found a spot beneath an overhang where I was pretty sure no one could see me. The captain was right above me. If I felt us nearing the island, I’d run a few feet to where he could see me and alert him. The biting wind cut through my jacket as I stared out at the water. The smell of the sea was strong, but not enough to block out Aidan’s evergreen scent when he leaned against the wall next to me.

“Hey,” he said.

“What’s up?” I asked.

He handed me the paper package he’d been carrying earlier.

“What’s this?”

“For you.”

A gift? I tore open the paper and found a plain white box. When I opened it, two gleaming obsidian daggers rested inside.

My throat tightened. “What are these?”

“A replacement for your old pair. They’re enchanted to return to you.”

“How’d you get them? They’re really rare.”

“I’m also really wealthy.”

“Yeah.” I didn’t know what else to say besides, “Thanks.”

“I figured I owed you. You’re helping me find the scroll. You shouldn’t lose your favorite daggers as well.”

“How’d you even find time?”

“I admit I didn’t go out and get them myself. I—”

“Made a call.”

“Yeah.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, almost as if he felt awkward. About his wealth?

“Have you always been like this? You know—private planes, people to do your bidding, that sort of thing?”

“No.” He leaned against the wall next to me. “The Origin name may be famous, but that doesn’t mean wealthy. I grew up poor. My dad died when I was young. He was the Origin before me. My mom raised me on her salary from two waitressing jobs. She did the best she could.”

“Where is she now?”

“Died when I was eighteen. I was a mercenary for a few years. Then I got sick of having a boss. So I started Origin Enterprises.”

“And what, just turned it into a multimillion-dollar organization?”

“It took a few years.”

“Well, you clearly don’t suck at it.”

“You don’t suck at what you do either.” He shifted to stand in front of me. He blocked the wind as he loomed over me. Damn, he looked good. His voice was husky as he said, “We make a good team.”

“Um…we’re not a team.” I didn’t want to say it, but he was leaning down toward me and I panicked. His dark eyes devoured me, and his scent made my mouth water.

“We could be,” he murmured.

My gaze was riveted to his lips. This was such a bad idea, but I wanted it. In a few hours, I’d walk away from him forever. What could one kiss hurt?

When he lowered his mouth to mine, I stood up on my toes and met him halfway. His lips were firm and warm. Heavenly. Kissing Aidan drowned out everything else. All I could smell and feel was him—his big arm wrapped around my waist, the heat and strength of his chest.

My head buzzed as his lips moved expertly on mine. I let him press me back against the wall and reached up to sink my free hand into his hair. It was so soft, a delicious contrast to his hard muscles. Desire heated my skin and coiled within me. I could let this go on forever.

He made a soft groan. The noise made me shiver, and I pressed closer to him, wanting to touch as much of him as I could.

My dragon sense tugged at me, stronger than ever. We were nearing the island. I didn’t want to, but I pulled away from Aidan and slipped under his arm. My skin was still hot where he’d touched me and my lips tingled, but I tried to ignore it as I ran to the bow and waved my arms at the pilothouse.

Captain Alden caught sight of me immediately and nodded. The boat began to turn. I returned to Aidan.

“Time to go,” I said.

“We’ll finish this later.” His dark gaze was determined, his jaw set.

There wouldn’t be a later, but I couldn’t say that. Instead, I hurried to the pilothouse.

“You still don’t see anything?” I asked as I stepped in.

Everyone leaned towards the windows, peering out. I could feel Aidan close behind, but I tried to ignore what his nearness did to me.

“Nothing,” Captain Alden said. “And it feels bloody strange here. Like we ought to turn around. You sure it’s out there, lassie?”

“I know it is.” The invisible string around my waist pulled hard. Unmistakable. But I was also getting that sense that we should turn around or divert our course. Anything to keep from going forward.

A spell, no doubt. Intended to hide the island from mariners by making them steer around. The fog made it feel like we were a ghost ship sailing through the mist.