He chews his lip while he listens, his thigh twitching alongside mine as he rocks his crossed feet back and forth. He’s in thinking mode. I’m a mystery to solve—a fascinating one, judging by the intensity of his gaze.
“Tell me again why you hate to swim.”
I tip my head back against the wall. “I don’t know exactly why. It just feels like too much. Too overwhelming. All that water all over me.” I elaborate with gestures that have him smiling.
“But you don’t mind taking a shower,” he points out.
“No,” I laugh. “I like taking showers. It’s not like I don’t like water, it’s just that when I’m swimming, there’s so much of it and it’s pressing on me.”
“And nothing’s ever happened to you? You’ve never nearly drowned or gotten pulled out by a riptide or anything like that?”
“Nope.” I maintain a straight face as I add, “But I’ve wrestled a few sharks.”
He plays along. “Oh, have you? And yet you still have all your limbs.”
“Because I always win. In my room back home, I have three shark heads mounted on the wall. And a drawer full of teeth.”
“Betts Peterson, Shark Wrestler.”
“That’s me.”
After a good laugh, I ask him, “What do you think happened during the ritual? Did I do it wrong?
He shakes his head. “It sounds to me like one of your ancestors was sharing an experience with you. A memory. And the way it happened—where youfelteverything they did, but didn’t see or hear anything—that makes sense for someone with clairsentience.”
I frown. “But without seeing or hearing, I have no idea who it was.” Aaronheardhis grandfather, AverysawAunt Laura. I went for a swim. And I can’t even say where or with whom.
“Maybe if you go back?—”
“Avery said I shouldn’t.”
Leo scoops up my hand. “She said you shouldn’t when you’re alone. But you don’t have to be. Whenever you decide you want to try again, just tell me and I’ll help you. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
I angle my body so I can see him better. And to get the nearness I’m suddenly, and inexplicably, craving. “I don’t know if I’ll ever want to do it again.”
He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. He knows I’m afraid. “I promised you I’d never let anything happen to you.”
“Yeah, but that’s not a promise you can actually keep.”
Defiance flashes in his eyes. “Well, I can damn well try.”
His insistence steals my breath. I believe him, that he wants to protect me. He always has. Even when he’s the one who nudges meinto doing something frightening, he always makes sure he’s there to catch me.
“I have a theory,” he says, giving my hand an extra squeeze. “Can we try something?”
Leo and his experiments. “Uh, sure.” How can I say no to those eyes? “What do you want to try?”
He spins to face me, one knee up and the other in front of him. “You were the only one who wasn’t exhausted after the ritual.”
“Well, yeah, because I didn’t know what I was doing.” As evidenced by the fact that I almost lost my spirit in some other dimension.
“Then you should’ve beenmorewiped out than the rest of us, not less. You were able to go deeper and further than any of us.”
“And that’s supposed to be a good thing?” Because it was scary as hell.
“Betts.” His voice is firm. “What you did takes power. Lots of power.”
Ugh, not all this “you’re so powerful” stuff again. I went too deep because I’m too sensitive. Too vulnerable and thin-skinned. Nothing but a raw nerve.
