The pilot gestured to them from the small set of stairs that led up to the university’s private jet, and he started forward across the rain-darkened tarmac of the small Mythean airstrip on the south side of Mull.
“You know, for years really isn’t the best way to sell this tin can,” Esha said from behind him as she and her cat followed him to the plane.
“No’ that many years. It’ll get us there. And it’s better than burning up your power by aetherwalking.”
Esha made a noise of assent from behind him. They’d left the Mythean games two hours ago, intent on making their way to Iceland and the soulceress settlement. Because there would be no power to draw from at the settlement, Esha didn’t want to burn hers by aetherwalking. She’d need all she could get when they faced Aurora.
They hauled gear bags that they’d packed in the morning across the tarmac. Thank gods Cadan had camping equipment. It had saved them a trip into town. No doubt the location would be remote as hell.
“This isn’t so bad,” Esha said when they entered the cabin of the plane.
Warren looked around at the cream leather of the eight plush seats. “No’ too bad, at all.”
Esha took a seat in the middle. Warren joined her. She slanted a glance at him, then reached forward and grabbed a magazine from the back of the seat in front of her.
She was going to ignore him? He supposed he couldn’t blame her, but it made guilt spike inside him. It lasted through takeoff and well into the flight, until he couldn’t take it anymore. There was no flight attendant, so they had privacy. And Esha couldn’t run away.
“Hey, I want to apologize for last night. And everything that happened before,” he said.
“Don’t worry about it.” She didn’t look up at him, instead choosing to flip more quickly through the magazine’s pages.
“I do, though. You thought I regretted kissing you. I could tell. But I dinna.”
“Whatever, Warren. It was a one-time thing. Just a roll in the hay, as they say back in America. Seriously, don’t worry about it.”
She didn’t mean it, not from the way she’d looked at him last night, not from the hitch in her voice now.
“You’re afraid of rejection, so you look for it everywhere.”
“Ugh. People need to quit telling me that.”
“Andrasta told you that too, did she no’?”
“How do you know that?”
“I asked her. I wanted to understand you.”
Skepticism flashed across her face. “Asking someone what it’s like to be feared and despised your whole life doesn’t make you understand it. And why the hell do you want to understand me, anyway? So you can get me to do what you want more easily?”
“No, lassie. Because I care for you.”
“No. At best, you want to sleep with me. But care for me? No. Don’t say that, because you don’t.”
“You doona know that.”
“Please. I am what I am. And Mytheans don’t like what I am. But I’m used to it. I don’t hold you to any higher standard than I do them. Maybe once I thought you were different, but I was wrong and it’s fine. I agreed to help you find Aurora and I’m not going back on my word, so don’t worry about that. Let’s just do this job and go on our way.”
She’d erected a mental wall against him. More than that, she expected so little of him. Of any of them. It made his chest hurt.
“I’m no’ saying these things because I want to ensure that you’ll help me. I do care for you. You’re brave and smart. You’ve had adversity in life that few can understand, yet you’ve risen above it and become one of the strongest Mytheans in Scotland. But you’re compassionate. You helped Diana, and you’re helping me. I was stupid no’ to see past what you are.”
Her eyes widened. “Good words. Some guys have a knack for good words.”
Like the boy who’d ditched her when she was young and coming into her power? “I mean them. They’re no’ just words.”
She frowned doubtfully. “My whole life, only Ana has ever been unreservedly nice to me and not turned on me. But you expect me to trust you when you need my help and might say anything to get it?”
“I already told you, I trust you not to go back on your word.”