A Turn of Tides (A Shade of Vampire #13)(31)

“Don’t let this distract us, Riona,” he whispered.

“We don’t have long.” I held my breath, ready to let out a curse as he began pulling her back away from the boundary.

They’d almost disappeared from view when the woman stopped in her tracks.

“Wait, darling,” she said breathlessly through his kisses.

“Those rocks look more comfortable.” She pointed toward where Abby, Erik and I were standing.

Catching the warlock’s hand, the witch stepped out of the boundary with him and crossed the sand toward us.

“We need to move,” I hissed.

Although the sun hadn’t yet set, we had no choice but to make way for them.

I wasn’t sure where Erik and Abby had scrambled off to—from the sounds of it, they’d climbed up the cliff—but I leapt from the rocks and dropped into the waters below.

Hopefully I wouldn’t have to endure the sun for long, but the sea would at least help to soothe some of the burning in the meantime.

I swam round the rocky enclosure and made my way back toward the beach, scanning it for any sign of Patricia.

Come on, Patricia.

Where are you? I tried to ignore the moans that were beginning to drift down from the rocks above me, but it was hard when I was still so close.

Bracing myself for the full heat of the sun, I climbed out of the water in hopes of getting a better understanding of where Patricia was and what was holding her up.

She’d said she’d emerge once she felt she’d gotten control of the situation, whatever that meant.

I cast my eyes toward the two now-bare bodies writhing on the rocks.

I grimaced.

I wasn’t sure how we were going to pull this off.

We only needed one of them, but from the looks of it, separating those two would be like separating Siamese twins.

I almost jumped as something brushed up against my arm.

I whirled around, but saw nobody.

Then Patricia spoke.

“Kiev, is that you?” “Yes.

How did you—?” I looked down at my hands to check they were still invisible, wondering for a moment if the spell had worn off.

“Your footprints in the sand,” she murmured.

“What’s happening?” “I’m going to try to distract the warlock, send him over toward the other side of the rocks, and then come back for the witch.

The moment you see the warlock leave, stand as close as you can to her without being noticed.

Instruct Abby and Erik to do the same.” Before I could respond, she let go of me and I no longer felt her proximity.

I started to climb closer toward the rocks again, trying to hide how heavy my breathing was becoming due to the pain the sun was inflicting on me.

Perched on the rocks as close as I dared, I was expecting Patricia to cause another explosion of some sort any second now.

But my focus was suddenly distracted by footsteps hammering over wet sand behind me.

I looked back and was stunned to see another warlock running along the beach toward us.

He was tall, wore fine clothes—an embroidered leather waistcoat and dark silk pants—and his hair was slicked back.

His face was contorted with fury.

His chest heaved as he raced toward the rocks.

Swerving dangerously close to the amorous couple, I tucked myself in a narrow corner to avoid this man bumping into me as he approached.

Leaping up the rocks, he stood, casting a towering shadow over Phinneas and Riona.

They were so absorbed in each other, they didn’t even notice his presence until his hand clamped around Riona’s throat and he tore her away.

Well, this has just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

I wasn’t sure where Patricia was now, but clearly we had to wait for this scene to unfold before we could do anything.

“Zylen,” she gasped, clutching the man’s hands around her neck.

Lowering his head to her, he spat on her face.

“Whore,” he growled.

“How long did you think you would get away with this?” He slammed her head against the side of the wall.

“A visit to your sister’s? Is that what this is?” Phinneas leapt up and a curse blasted from his palms, separating Zylen from Riona.

He glowered at Zylen.

“Don’t you dare touch her.” Zylen jumped to his feet and hurled a curse back at Phinneas, hitting him square in the chest.

Phinneas shot backward, falling down into the ocean below.

Zylen leapt into the ocean after him and the two warlocks began battling in the waves.

“No!” Riona screamed, scrambling to her feet and clutching her dress against her.

“Don’t hurt him.” As Riona motioned to hurl a curse at Zylen, a beam of light shot from his palm and hit her stomach.

Her legs folded beneath her and she fell on the ground, her whole body rigid.

Her screams assured me that she was not dead, just paralyzed.

The battle in the waves became more and more furious by the second as the waves carried the two men further away from the rocks.

Riona’s body then began to levitate—or so it seemed until Patricia hissed, “Now.

Kiev! Abby! Erik! Come over here!” I walked over to Riona and reached out into thin air until I was touching what felt like Patricia’s shoulder.

I glanced up toward the direction I’d heard Erik and Abby scramble away toward.