Turning Tides by Mia Marshall

investigation, and the two will not meet.” I put on my serious face, so they’d know I wasn’t messing around.
    Miriam snorted. “If you say so, Brook.” My serious face still needed some work.
    My friends knew little about elemental enclaves beyond what Sera and I had told them, and it was difficult for them to fully grasp the insular mentality that had developed among people who’d lived isolated for centuries. They knew the island was filled with elementals who either detested shifters or believed they didn’t exist, but knowing something and experiencing it are two very different things.
    I refused to give in to Miriam’s teasing. “You’ll need to drop anchor at least half a mile off shore, on the western side. It’s less crowded, since everyone is staying far away from the accused murderer. Though if you have a cloak of invisibility, now would be a good time to mention it.”
    Miriam shook her head. “Aw, c’mon, Brook. It can’t be that bad. You’re saying we need to be prisoners on this boat until you figure out the next step?”
    Simon looked longingly at the land receding in the distance.
    “Pretty much.”
    She harrumphed. “Please. How bad can it be? They wanna start something, I can take a bunch of skinny water fuckers. No offense.”
    “Miriam, you don’t really understand. You’ve only met elementals outside the enclaves, and they weren’t old ones. As far as you know, a quarter-blooded elemental is strong as hell, but for us, it’s a baby. Right now, the council is in residence, too. You’re going to an island full of some of the most powerful magical beings in the world, and they hate you. Not dislike or are annoyed by or have grumpy thoughts about. Hate. They pretend you don’t exist. You show up and provide living proof of their lies? I have no idea what they’ll do, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say it will be unpleasant. Sera and I are struggling with enough right now. If they think we’re palling around with shifters, we’ll be fighting even more of an uphill battle.”
    They all looked disgusted, as they ought to. I felt dirty even making the request, as if they were a secret I was determined to hide.
    “And these are your people?” Miriam squinted at me, and I worried she was viewing me in a new light.
    “You know. Family.” It sounded like such a weak excuse, and yet I knew we’d all offered it at one point or another in our lives. A single word that explained so much.
    “Fine,” she said, in a voice that sounded like she meant the exact opposite. “I must actually like you and Sera to agree to this.”
    “Right back at you, Miriam.”
    “Are we done being sappy now?”
    “Yeah, we’re good.”
    Simon waited until we were done. “The magic does not stretch half a mile. If Mac needs regular access to your magic, you’ll need to be closer to prevent him growing ill again.”
    “No.” It was a flat denial, and not open to discussion.
    I still tried, of course. “He’s right, Mac. You get, what, three hours if you’re not within my magic’s range? I can’t swim out every couple of hours to recharge you, not right now. Maybe you could park the houseboat by the cottage where I found it, and just keep the blinds drawn.”
    Mac was shaking his head before I finished speaking. “It’s too risky. Anyone could board the boat. I won’t be the reason more suspicion falls on you and Sera. We were separated a day and a half before you met us in Seattle, and I can do it again. Besides, when you appear, I’ll instantly feel better. Just visit me once a day, and I’ll be okay. I can handle a bit of sickness.”
    “But…” He stared at me, jaw set in an expression I already knew too well. “Fine. But if he gets worse than before, you call me right away. Got it?” I glared at both Simon and Miriam, who kindly did not laugh at my poor attempt at authority.
    They both nodded, and there seemed nothing else to say. Miriam moved back to the steering wheel, and