Page 80 of Wateredge
Lark held Victoria’s hand tighter. She was talking a good game, but she was not strong; she was frail, and Lark would—
The ocean around the pier bubbled and rose. The power of the incoming tide multiplied ten times, and it spilled on the old boards, covering the distance to the beach and then onto the street, slamming into their feet with enough power to shake Magnus.
Seren…
Lark gulped. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Crowhart sisters rushing toward them, Seren outpacing the other three by good yards.
Seren had come, and her ocean had answered.
“Come Water, rise Sea, protect what’s mine…” The whispered incantation reached her like a shoulder to lean on.
Magnus’s head jerked like a puppet’s on an invisible string, and he looked at the running women, focusing on Seren, then back at Lark.
“Cousin Dagmar mentioned that you might have been whoring yourself, Lark Rathcross. I see she was not wrong in her assessment of the situation.”
“I suggest you choose your words more carefully.” Seren’s breath was coming out in short, shallow puffs, testimony to how hard she had run.
“This doesn’t concern you.” Magnus dismissed Seren with a sweep of his roach-like fingers. “Lark—”
“Oh, it sure does concern her. Concerns us too,” Deryn said as she, Rhiannon, and Ceridwen flanked their sister, effectively positioning themselves between Lark and Magnus, who just pursed his lips.
“If you think that a few women will stop me, Lark, or that I have come unprepared, you are mistaken. Sheriff Redding, would you mind coming over here and doing the honors? Did you forget that you left my house without permission, Lark? Did you forget that I am your master and owner? There is a criminal complaint against you for theft. The rings, the engagement and wedding ones, they are worth a fortune, Lark. A fortune you stole.”
Magnus gave her a pitying look as she felt the earth beneath her feet gape like a chasm.
“I haven’t stolen anything, and I never took the rings.” Lark felt the world narrow on the space behind Magnus’s left shoulder where the door to the B&B opened, and the burly sheriff stepped out, his hand on his sidearm, the other clutching a piece of paper.
“Now, Mrs. Rathcross, says here you are the person of interest in Louisiana for stealing family heirlooms belonging to Mr. Rathcross. Of course, this is a family matter first, so if you wish to treat it as one, I am more than amenable—”
“You’re a piece of trash, Redding, and I will have you run off my island before the night is over.” Victoria eyed him with disdain, her voice rising above the brewing storm now consuming the swelling ocean.
“You’re not taking her anywhere, Redding.” Seren’s voice was remarkably calm.
“Captain, you know I’m just doing my job…”
“Nobody is taking Lark anywhere.” Lachlan emerged from behind Ceridwen and Rhiannon, Prudence on his heels. Patches hissed in her arms.
“You think some pervert will stop me? You will all burn! The flood will take all of you!” Magnus lifted his voice, and Lachlan laughed.
“Jesus, dude, for whatever terrifying douchebag you’re supposed to be, you sure resort to clichés. And you want to talk about perverts, you forced marriage on a sixteen-year-old kid, you fucking scumbag.” Lachlan turned back to Prudence and scratched under Patches’s chin. “Even the possum here thinks you aren’t scaring anyone.”
“Listen, Mr. Vesely… It’s all perfectly legal. I looked at the paperwork. Her parents signed everything. A judge countersigned. And I don’t want to do this, but if I have to, I will remove you from the scene.” Sheriff Redding waved his beefy hand, and about ten men sporting Private Security patches flanked him.
Lark felt her legs go numb, and only Seren and Victoria’s hands holding hers kept her upright.
Death sounded better than being taken away from Dragons. Taken away by him.
She knew the Crowharts had magic, but against a dozen guns? They were outnumbered—
“Many things that should not stand are, in fact, legal, but that doesn’t make child abuse any less abhorrent. Are you going to shoot us all? Didn’t you swear to serve and protect this town, Sheriff?” Sam Threadneedle, Rose, and the other women from the Refuge surrounded Seren, encircling the small group, immediately balancing the numbers.
Lark felt the ground shift under her feet, the ocean foam cold on her skin, licking at her shins. Seren’s fingers balled in a fist, barely holding it back.
They came… They came for you…
Lark’s eyes burned with tears that would spill any moment now. Seeing all these people—
“And don’t think we don’t have guns of our own!” Marsha McMons cocked a rifle and took a stand close to Victoria. Greg and the rest of the Market vendors positioned themselves right behind her. All were carrying arms. Lark felt her cheeks grow wet as tears finally fell.
