The Reef

know how she felt now, sitting in that cell waiting for morning, waiting to die. It was anticlimactic really, because her life had ended with Etienne’s. I don’t care if you kill me. I’ll die cursing you.”
    “It’s time you went back to your cabin.” VanDyke lifted tensed fingers. The steward, his cheek neatly bandaged, stepped out of the shadows. “Take her back. Lock her in.”
    “You’ll die slowly,” Tate called as she was led away. “Slowly enough to understand hell.”
    She stumbled into her cabin and collapsed weeping onto the bed. When the tears were dry and her heart empty of them, she moved to a chair to watch the sea and waited to die.

C HAPTER 27
    S HE SLEPT FITFULLY and dreamed.
    The cell stank of sickness and fear. Dawn sneaked stealthily through the barred window, signaling death. The amulet was cold under her stiff fingers.
    When they came for her, she rose regally. She would not disgrace her husband’s memory with cowardly tears and pleas for mercy that would never be granted.
    He was there, of course. The count, the man who had condemned her for loving his own son. Hot greed, lust, an appetite for death gleamed in his eyes. He reached out, dragged the amulet over her head, slipped it over his own.
    And she smiled, knowing she had killed him.
    They bound her to the stake. Below, the crowds gathered to watch the witch burn. Eager eyes, vicious voices. Children were held up to afford them a better view of the event.
    She was offered a chance to renounce, to pray for God’s mercy. But she remained silent. Even as the flames crackled beneath, bringing heat and dazing smoke, she spoke no word. And thought only one.
    Etienne.
    From fire to water, so cool and blue and soothing. She was free again, swimming deep with golden fish. Therewas such joy her eyes teared in sleep and she had drops slipping down her cheeks. Safe and free, with her lover waiting.
    She watched him swim effortlessly through the water toward her, and her heart almost burst with happiness. She laughed, reached out for him, but couldn’t close the distance.
    They broke the surface, feet apart, into air perfume sweet. The moon wheeled overhead, silver as an ingot. Stars were sparkling jewels displayed on velvet.
    He climbed up the ladder of the Mermaid, turned and held out a hand for her.
    The amulet was a spot of dark blood on his chest, as a wound drained from the heart.
    Her fingers reached for his an instant before the world exploded.
    Fire and water, blood and tears. Flames rained out of the sky and plunged into the sea until it boiled with heat.
    Matthew.
    His name circled her mind as she stirred in sleep. Lost in dreams and grief, she didn’t see the figure creeping silently toward her, or the glint of the knife in his hand as the moonlight struck the blade. She didn’t hear the whisper of his breath as he came close, leaning over the chair where she slept.
    The hand clamped over her mouth shocked her awake. Tate struggled instinctively, her eyes going wide as she saw the silver gleam of the knife.
    Even knowing it was futile, she fought, vising her fingers over the wrist before the blade could slash down.
    “Be quiet.” The harsh whisper hissed next to her ear. “Goddamn it, Red, can’t you even let me rescue you without an argument?”
    Her body jerked and froze. Matthew. It was a hope too painful to contemplate. But she could just make out the silhouette, smell the sea that clung to the wet suit and dripped from the dark hair.
    “Quiet,” he repeated when her breath sobbed against his muffling palm. “No questions, no talking. Trust me.”
    She had no words. If this were another dream, shewould live in it. She clung to him as he led her out of the cabin, up the companionway. Shudders racked her like earth tremors, but when he signaled her to climb over the side, she did without question.
    Clinging to the base of the ladder was Buck. Under that ingot moon, his face was white as bone. In silence, he hitched tanks over her shoulders. His hands trembled as hers did as he helped her with her mask. Beside them Matthew hooked on his own gear.
    And they dived.
    They stayed close to the surface to use the moonlight as a guide. A flashlight would mark a trail Matthew knew they couldn’t risk. He’d been afraid she’d be too frightened to handle the dive and the demanding swim, but she matched the pace he set stroke for stroke.
    It was nearly four miles to where they had moved the New Adventure. There were