by Amy Boyles
I picked the conversation back up. “All I’m saying is, it’s weird he didn’t tell us.”
“Overreacting,” he said.
I cocked my head toward him. “Grandma thinks he’s the One.”
Roman’s eyebrows shot to peaks. “Excuse me?”
I nodded. “The One. That’s what she said.”
“Isn’t she eighty?”
I laughed. “My thoughts exactly. But anyway, that’s what bothers me. If he didn’t tell us that, what else is he hiding?”
“He’s old. There’s probably a lot he could be hiding.”
“That’s what I think, too.”
Roman sank back into his chair. “How about after this we go to the beach? Soak up a little sun.”
“Sounds perfect.”
We finished our ice cream, which was truly bewitching, and headed on over to the other side of the island, where the beaches were located.
Pristine white sand, soft as—well, as soft as sand could get—met crystalline blue waters. Do not ask me how the physics of the island worked. I had no idea how there was a beach and water, but somehow the place seemed to exist, and that’s all that mattered to me.
We found a couple of cabana chairs and sank into them. Right as I settled down, I noticed a figure emerging from the water. She wore white from head to foot, goggles, a snorkel, flippers and carried a bag of sea stars.
I groaned. “Please tell me that isn’t Grandma.”
She waved. “Dylan, Dylan, I’m so glad to see you.”
Grandma huffed her way over to us. She threw the bag on the ground and said, “I gathered these medicinal stars from the water. Let me tell you, there was an ornery little octopus that almost didn’t let me have them. The thing swelled to the size of the kraken in his anger. Said all these stars were for him.”
She glanced proudly at the bag. “Well, we see who won that encounter.”
I nodded. “You definitely did.”
“Dylan, I’ve got some new magic to teach you.”
I plopped my head back onto the wooden chair. “Right now?”
Grandma nodded. “Of course. Alistair is off finding me a tropical drink. While he’s doing that, you’ve got plenty of time to learn this.”
“Learn what?”
“How to breathe underwater.”
I frowned. “You’ve got a snorkel.”
Grandma yanked the goggles off and fluffed her hair. “That was my backup. The whole time I was under there, I breathed with my magic.”
Roman elbowed me. “Go on. I’ll be here. You can tell me all about the evil octopus.”
I shot him a dark look and hoisted myself from the chair. “Okay. Great. Tell me how to breathe underwater. I’m all ears.”
“Dylan, you can’t just be told. You must experience.”
“Can I experience from my chair?”
“Impossible. The experience must be from the sea.”
I followed her out onto the sand. The grains were warm against my bare feet. Almost scorching. By the time we got to the water, I was ready to cool off my toes.
I followed Grandma until the water was about chest-high. “The first thing you must do is create a bubble of air around your face.”
“How long does this bubble last?”
Grandma blinked at me as if it was the stupidest question she’d ever heard. “Why, it lasts as long as it needs to. It’s magic, Dylan. In magic we obey no laws.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“I don’t like that tone, young lady.”
I shrugged. “Okay, I’ll try to keep my tone to myself.”
“Cup your hands to your face like so and imagine a bubble of air forming. One that you can breathe into and out of and the air never gets used up.”
I did as she said. Magic sparked from my fingers. It swirled round and round until it formed a little pocket over my nose and mouth.
“Now inhale from it,” she directed.
I did. Sweet, fresh air filled my lungs. I exhaled and inhaled again, still tasting new oxygen. “Wow. That’s cool.”
Grandma smiled triumphantly. “Now. I need you to get the last sea star that evil octopus is holding on to.”
Um. What?
“Grandma, I don’t really think I should be tangling with any octopuses, or octopi—whatever the plural of octopus is.”
“Dylan, I need that sea star. It’s important.”
I glanced down into the crystal water. “You said the octopus became as big as a kraken.”
Grandma grabbed my arm and dragged me farther out. “I was exaggerating. Since when do you actually believe anything I say?”
“That’s true.”
She pointed out. “I need you to swim out there a little ways. Beside a bed of coral you’ll see a blue starfish. That’s the one I want.” She clapped my back. “Good luck. Don’t let the octopus eat you.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better. Before I go risking my life, you want to tell me exactly why you need the sea star?”
Grandma worried her hands. “To be honest, Dylan, I need the sea star to keep me looking young and beautiful. It’s an ancient treatment.”
I studied the lines and paper-thin skin my grandmother sported. “Young and beautiful?”
“Dylan, not everyone can be my age and look like they’re forty the way I do.”
Okay. “Maybe you need to get out of the sun. Let’s get you in the shade.”
Grandma crossed her arms. “Not until you retrieve the star.”
I sighed. I guess we’d deal with my grandmother’s psychosis later. “All right. Wait here.”
“Where else would I wait?”
The moon? That seemed an answer she was likely to spout off.
I dived under the clear waters. The sea moved like liquid silk around my body. I easily found the coral bed she’d directed me to. Wrapped around the very top lay the blue starfish.
I kept my head low and found my breathing came so easily in the bubble. It was freakin’ cool. I wished Grandma had shown me how to breathe underwater ages ago. Sometimes I felt like she cherry-picked which tidbits of magic she fed me. I wanted them all, but she only wanted to dole out a few pearls at a time.
I faced the sea star. Never in my life had I touched an underwater creature. I didn’t have a bag to put it in or anything. But I knew starfish didn’t bite or sting, so I should be able to pick it up and carry it back to Grandma.
Easy-peasy lemon squeezy.
I brushed my fingers over it and then curled them to pluck the star from the coral.
A tendril shot out and wrapped around my arm. I jerked back but was held fast. Using my other hand, I unwound the tendril right as another one blasted through the water and held my other arm.
I was effectively cuffed. I twisted and yanked but couldn’t move. Panic scrambled up my throat as I realized this was the octopus my grandmother had been talking about. My breath quickened. My chest heaved. I needed to calm down. I would use up all my oxygen.
Wait. Grandma told me I couldn’t use all my oxygen, that it was limitless.
Sweet. But I couldn’t stay underwater for the rest of my life. I had to get away.
I turned my body hard to the right. The thing would have to either give me up or lose a tentacle.
A dark shape emerged from behind the coral.
An octopus about the size of a hamster fluttered up. It glared at me, and in spite of my situation I laughed.
Like, really laughed. It was like trying to take candy from an angry toddler. This little octopus was completely intent on guarding this single starfish—the one thing that Grandma needed for her beauty.
It occurred to me that if I stayed underwater long enough, she might forget she ever sent me down here.
Then I realized that was cruel. Better to at least try to get the starfish.
I sent a trickle of my magic from my fingers out into the octopus. I didn’t want to harm it, but I did want to stop it. My magic snaked up his tentacles, and the creatur
e released me. It buoyed back and bounced with what I hoped was laughter.
I giggled. I’d cast a laughing spell on the creature, and it had worked. Great. Now all I had to do was grab the starfish.
I snatched it up. One quick tentacle flew out and popped my air bubble. I choked on salt water as it flooded my mouth. I coughed and spat as the octopus snared its arms around me. I jerked and twisted. This time real panic scrambled up my throat. I no longer had air, and I was tangled with an octopus intent on killing me.
Thanks, Grandma.
I struggled, but the tiny octopus held fast. I dropped the starfish. It landed back on the coral. But that didn’t matter. The creature wouldn’t let me go.
My lungs burned. My nostrils burned. My heart thundered painfully against my rib cage. I couldn’t get away. I jumped, trying to break the surface, but I couldn’t reach it.
This was it. I would die on my honeymoon trying to snag a stupid starfish for my demented grandmother.
My vision blurred. The world was closing in on me. Every inch of my body burned with pain, and the evil little octopus stared at me with its beady eyes of doom.
Arms wrapped around me, pulling me up. The octopus shot me what I assumed was a scathing look before finally releasing me. As I was dragged away, I reached out and snagged the sea star.
I broke the surface, coughing and vomiting water. I glanced up and found Roman’s green eyes gazing into mine.
“Darlin’, you’ve got a head for trouble.”
“And you’ve got arms for saving me.”
He chuckled.
“Better hurry,” I said. “There’s a deadly octopus intent on killing me.”
Roman nodded. “Let’s go.”
We made it to shore. I spilled from Roman’s arms and practically threw myself at Grandma. I thrust out the starfish. “That octopus nearly killed me.”
Grandma gave me an embarrassed grin. “I tried to warn you.”
“But you still sent me in,” I fumed. “You sent me to get this thing. Now. What’s so important about it? I know you told me that it gives youth, but there’s got to be a better reason than that.”
Alistair strolled up to Grandma and put his arm around her. “Your grandmother and I are at a certain age where we’re short on time.”
I glanced from them to Roman. “Yes,” I said slowly. “That I can understand.”
“So we don’t want to waste any of it,” Alistair continued. He took Grandma’s hand and gave her a loving smile.
“Life’s short, Dylan. When you find someone you want to spend time with, you go for it,” Grandma said.
I frowned. They were saying the words, but the meaning wasn’t penetrating my brain. “I’m not following.”
“What your grandmother and I are trying to tell you is that we’ve decided to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Grandma beamed. “We’re getting married. Alistair and I are wedding.”
I glanced up at Roman, hoping he had a few words of sense to add. He simply put on a big smile and shook Alistair’s hand. “Congratulations,” my husband said. “When are y’all tying the knot.”
Grandma smiled. “Why, as soon as we get back on the ship.”
I think I fainted.
ELEVEN
When I came to, Grandma was standing over me. “Dylan, are you okay?”
I touched my temple. “I had the strangest dream. I thought you were telling me that you’re going to marry Alistair, a man you met yesterday.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
I closed my eyes and said, “Calgon take me away to another planet where only sane people live.”
Grandma pinched my arm. “Oh, wake up, Dylan. You only live once, and I plan on living to the fullest.”
I sat up and found myself back under the cabana. Roman and Alistair were over at the tiki bar, and Grandma and I were alone.
“Grandma, you just met him. How do you know he’s not a serial killer? Or someone out to get your money.”
Grandma’s trilled laugh rang painfully in my ears. “Alistair has plenty of money. Nothing to worry about there. I understand that you’re concerned, but I’m ready. It’s time.”
“But your family isn’t even here,” I said.
She tweaked my nose as if I was a three-year-old. “You’re here.”
“But Sera...but Reid...”
Grandma rose. “Dylan, I want you to be happy for me. They’ll meet Alistair and come to love him the same way I have. You will, too.”
Roman and Alistair drifted over to us. I glanced at Grandma. “Are y’all going back to the ship now?”
She shook her head. “No, I think we’re going to stroll along the beach. When we return, we’ll have Captain Byrd marry us under a canopy of stars on deck. I’ll be sure to get you so you’re present for the ceremony.”
“Is an Elvis impersonator going to show up?” I murmured.
“Hmm?” she said.
“I just meant it’s sort of quick. It reminds me of a Las Vegas–style ceremony where an Elvis impersonator is the one officiating.”
Grandma smiled. “I’ll see what we can do.”
We said our goodbyes, and I guided Roman back toward the ship. We were silent for several moments until he finally spoke.
“Okay, this is one of those times when I think you should butt in.”
I laughed bitterly. “Now you tell me to get involved. My grandmother is making a hasty decision, and you want me to stop it?” I shook my head. “I’ve already tried. She’s not listening to me. I don’t get it. She only just met him. There’s no doubt Grandma’s impetuous and slightly off her rocker, but to get married to a man she only just met? It’s like Grandma on steroids.”
Roman cocked his head. “Think she took some before she left Silver Springs?”
I smirked. “No telling. The thing is, though, how are we going to stop it?”
He shrugged. “No idea.”
I paused, clutched my heart in mock cardiac arrest mode. “What? Is the great Roman Bane saying we should throw ourselves into a situation we’re not supposed to?”
Roman nudged my arm. “Try not to die of shock. We only just got married, and I’m not into necrophilia.”
“That’s not what I was expecting you to say.”
He shrugged. “Apparently this honeymoon is full of the unexpected.”
I snaked a hand around his bicep. “You can say that again.”
We reached our cabin. “Should I call Sera and Reid?”
Roman pulled off his T-shirt, revealing rock-hard muscles, chiseled abs and shoulders that could hold the weight of Michelangelo’s David.
He slanted his head toward me. “Think they may be able to talk some sense into her?”
I frowned. “You’re right. Maybe I should call Milly instead.”
Roman toed off his shoes. “That sounds like a better plan.”
“How much will that call cost?”
Roman shrugged. “It’s all magic. Shouldn’t cost too much.” He crossed to me and kissed my forehead. “I’ll take a shower while you chat.”
I pulled up the witch screen to make the call and dialed her number. Milly’s sharp nose and beady eyes popped up a few seconds later.
“Milly, I’m so glad to see you.”
“Did you run into a tornado or become a victim of a natural disaster?” she said.
I rolled my eyes. “Can’t I simply be happy to see my paternal grandmother?”
“Not on your life, toots.”
“Okay, well, we’ve got a situation with Grandma.”
Milly snorted. “Let me guess, she stowed away?”
I spit out the bit of hangnail I was chewing. “She told you her plan?”
Milly spat.
“That’s gross.”
“I didn’t ask permission,” she snarled. “But yes, your grandmother told me her plans.”
“Well, turns out that’s the least of our problems, because she’s met a man and intends on marrying him toni
ght.”
Milly’s eyes widened to saucers. “What in the devil? What’re you talking about?”
I cleared my throat. “Grandma is getting married.”
“To who?”
“I believe ‘to whom’ is correct.”
“Fart on your correctness. What’s this about Hazel?”
“Exactly what I said. I mean, the woman’s impetuous but nothing like this.”
Milly chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “You’ve got to spy on him.”
I nearly fell off the bed. “What?”
Milly shrugged. “What else are you going to do? Have you already tried talking sense into Hazel?”
I nodded. “Of course. That was the first thing I did.”
Milly thumbed her nose. “Then the next thing to do would be to dig up dirt on her beloved. Search his room. See if there’s anything important in there.”
“I don’t know...”
Milly rose and pulled the waistband of her skirt up to her boobs. “Listen, toots, you’re the one coming to me with the problem. I’m offering a solution. You’re also the one person always ready to jump in headfirst. You can either spy on him or have your grandmother committed, and I don’t think that’s possible on an airship.”
I nibbled my bottom lip. “I’m pretty sure you’re right.”
“How long until the wedding?”
“Tonight.”
“Then you’d better get cracking, toots. Time’s running out.”
We snapped off the video chat, and I sank onto the bed. Roman emerged from the shower a few minutes later. I stared at the wisps of steam tumbling along the ceiling.
“What’d Milly say?”
I pressed the heels of my palms into my eyes. “She said we need to dig up dirt on Alistair. She suggested we spy on him.”
Roman threaded his fingers through his hair. “We?”
I winked at him. “For better or worse, right? You don’t want this wedding, either.”
Roman scrubbed a hand down his cheek. “All right. Let’s go. But I’m keeping watch and that’s it. You’re the one going in the room.”
I frowned. “How’re we going to get in?”
He planted a kiss on my forehead. “Leave that to me.”
“Does Detective Downey always give out locations of people’s rooms?” I said to Roman a few minutes later.
