Soulceress (The Mythean Arcana Series Book 2) by Linsey Hall Page B

long-armed beast. It reached out with unnatural arms and threw their boat against the cave wall. Fiberglass crunched and the boat crashed back into the water, listing dangerously to the side. He held his feet, but Esha was thrown to the floor once again. He started toward her, only to stumble when the boat was thrown into the other wall. Fiberglass crunched again.
    Shite. They would sink. Their boat was no match for the unnatural magic that haunted this place.
    With a glance at Esha to determine that she was alright, he yelled, “We’re getting out of here!”
    “No!” Esha screamed and threw a bolt of flame at the water beast. It shrieked and steam rose off its surface. Esha cast a bigger flash of fire at it. It evaporated, vapor sizzling and filling the cave with a steam that burned his lungs.
    To hell with this. With the waves crashing and the steam filling the cave, this place was nearly as dangerous as it had been. He yanked the lever to reverse the engine, but before he could back out, a huge wave picked up the small vessel and threw it at the cave wall. Fear for Esha nearly sent his heart through his chest. He charged at her. Just as the boat was about to crash into the great stone wall, he dragged her to the deck and curved his body around hers to protect her.
    He braced himself, praying to the god he no longer worshiped to protect them. But instead of the thundering crash he expected, the boat sailed gracefully down upon the wave.
    “Get off me.” Esha pushed at him. She was soaked and still choking on seawater, but she stumbled to her feet.
    What the hell? Frowning, he released her and stood. He spun in a three-sixty, taking in the giant cavern they’d entered. The boat floated in a small pond in the center, phosphorescence in the water illuminating the walls made of octagonal pillars. If he squinted back the way they’d come, he could just make out a shadow of light from the entrance to Fingal’s Cave. The steam was gone, along with the water beast. A quick survey of the boat revealed that the rails and part of the sides were nearly crushed, but it was still seaworthy. Barely.
    “What the hell was that?” he asked.
    “Protective magic.” She scraped her wet hair off her face, then leaned over and coughed, no doubt trying to get the seawater out of her lungs. After a few heaving breaths, she stood. “It activated when we neared the entrance. I didn’t think I’d manage to stop it.”
    “You were quick, though.” They’d have been dead if she hadn’t been. “Good work.”
    “No. Good luck. I didn’t know what would defeat it. But it sure as hell confirmed we’re in the right place.”
    “Aye. But doona scare me like that again. I thought you were going to crash into the stone wall.”
    “I can take care of myself.” She spun to take in the cave, a look of awe and apprehension on her face. The cat was leaning out of the boat, batting at the phosphorescence and no longer concerned about threats.
    “Is this the howf ?”
    “No, it’s the entrance. It was once part of Fingal’s Cave, but it was enchanted to keep it hidden. It gives us the time and secrecy we need to find the howf .”
    “Why the hell did you no’ tell me we’d be crashing through an imaginary wall on a giant wave you’d be conjuring?”
    “I figured you’d be able to see through the illusion, since you’re a Mythean. I guess you’re not the right kind of Mythean.”
    He frowned. But it was true. There was nothing right about him. He caught her looking at him and shook the thoughts away. Carefully, he steered the boat toward the shore that looked the best for landing. When they ran up onto the pebble beach, the Chairman was the first to hop out, followed by Esha. While she explored the huge cavern, Warren tied the boat off to one of the rock pillars.
    “Start looking for anything out of the ordinary,” Esha called, her voice echoing off the soaring stone walls.  
    Warren glanced around at the phosphorescent pool