Chapter 16 The Other Guy
781words
It had me curious what his Mom held over him that made him accompany me to Bowmore and be nice.
It had to be something life-altering.
Water lapped against the base of the raft, penetrating the chirping-cricket silence as we stared at each other.
A slight tug at the corner of his lips told me he was up to no good, and I decided there I wasn't curious enough to go through with it.
I'd rather eat mud.
"You are now free of your torturous obligations. We can meet up back here at four." I tore my gaze away from him, picking up my small book bag beside my feet and standing up inside the raft.
Kayn dropped his hand to his side and turned away. He managed to take a few steps when his back tensed. "Rake."
"The rake?" I tried to look past him to see what he was talking about. Courtesy of Mom, when I heard the word rake's mention, I immediately thought of the cryptid.
"Kayn. Kayn. Kayn." A deep male voice taunted. "What a surprise. How are your family doing?"
"Thriving, as always," Kayn ground out.
I climbed over the edge of the raft, almost losing my footing, and cursed.
When I managed to straighten up, I noticed Kayn and a blonde guy staring at me. Kayn looked like he was about to get sick. "We should go."
"And who is this lovely little lady?" Eyes the color of cognac turned from me toward Kayn. "Please tell me you're not here with this."
Both my brows rose, and I glanced at Kayn. "You just have a way with people, don't you?"
A moment of tension passed as the two guys stared at each other. Out of nowhere, Kayn swooped toward me, grabbing me by the arm, and turned to look at the blonde guy. "We're done here."
I pulled my arm from his grip, glaring at him. "You can't expect me to go anywhere with you without an explanation. Didn't you, not five seconds ago, had every intention of walking away?"
He reached for me again. "You told me to go and meet you here at four."
I clucked my tongue, stepping back. I knew it was petty, but I couldn't help myself. He brought out the worst in me. "Why the sudden change of mind?"
"We haven't met. I'm Rake." The blonde guy intercepted. "One of Kayn's most favored people this side of the…sea."
Kayn's jaw popped. "Leave her alone, Tinkerbelle."
My eyes bounced between the two of them. Whatever the reason behind their dislike for each other, I could safely say Kayn started it. He was good at picking fights.
"Now that's not nice." Rake's blonde brows arched, before glancing at me. "And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
I smacked off Kayn's hand from my arm, shot him a deliberate smile, and then turned that smile toward Rake. "I'm Carly."
"Carly," the 'r' in my name rolled over his tongue. His head tilted sideways as he smiled. "Is this guy over here giving you trouble?"
"All the time."
"Kayn," Rake sang his name. "What are we going to do with you?"
"I know what I'm going to do to you if you don't leave her alone," Kayn snarled.
"Whoah, always so hostile."
"You're lucky I'm only being hostile."
"Right, but if the lady tells me you're giving her trouble I'm not going to leave it here," Rake pressed a finger to his chin.
The air tension was so thick that if you tried to cut it with a knife, the blade would snap in two.
How did these two know each other? They wouldn't beat each other up here in front of all the locals, would they?
The way Kayn was glaring at Rake it wasn't unlikely.
Rake sighed. "If it wasn't for the rules…"
"Oh you bet on it," Kayn agreed.
"At the state of things, I doubt you even so much as care about them." Rake darted an intentional look my way. "Be careful, Carly, you're in more trouble than you could ever imagine." He did a half-bow. "He can't do any harm around here, but I'd watch my back on that island of yours."
"How do you—" I started, but Rake was already strolling the other direction. I glanced up at Kayn. "How does he know where I live?"
Kayn waved a hand in the direction of the raft. "Kind of obvious."
"And what harm did he mean?" I asked. "Did my mom make one major mistake making me come here with you?"
