Edge of Time by Susan M. MacDonald

Riley’s voice was so low he almost couldn’t hear her.
    â€œIt’s not a game,” Alec said slowly. “It can’t be. You saw what I did.”
    â€œHuh. I have no proof you did anything. Only Darius said you did, and I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him.”
    â€œHow’d we get here then? Air Canada? How’d time go backwards?” Alec licked the seasoning off his fingers and dropped the half-eaten bag onto the table. He leaned back, looking directly at Riley. “Where’d my brother go? Who were those people who tried to kill me? If you’ve got another explanation, I’d love to hear it.”
    â€œI don’t. Yet.” Riley scowled. “But the minute I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
    â€œIf you don’t like it with us, then go. I’m not gonna stop you.”
    The engine of the boat roared to life, then dropped to a thrumming that rose up through the floor and vibrated into their feet. Riley got paler.
    â€œLook, please, you’ve got to help me,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be a part of this. I want to go home.”
    â€œYeah, I doubt the going home part,” Alec said. The memories of her suddenly rose up inside him. He’d
been
her, just for a second. In a dream. Or was it real? He couldn’t remember.
    Riley stood up, her small hands gripped his upper arms, and a look of frank pleading and vulnerability spread over her face. She gave him a little shake. “Help me get off this boat.”
    Alec shook himself away from her. She smelled too good this close. He glanced over at Darius, who was listening attentively as Bjorn pointed something out in the marina. Any minute they’d be casting off. An annoyed Darius was an unknown quantity, but on the other hand, it was pretty hard to look into Riley’s navy blue eyes and refuse her. Maybe, if he helped her, she’d like him better. And if she liked him …
    â€œCome on,” he said quietly. He walked over to the doorway and leaned out. The
Inga
was straining away from the dock, seawater and refuse roiling with the thrust of the propellers. No one was walking on the jetty. In fact, the place seemed surprisingly deserted for such a beautiful, summer day. “You jump off and run. I’ll slow him down.”
    She was shaking, Alec noticed. He gave her a little shove. “Go on.”
    Riley took a deep breath. Screwing her face up as if she were about to climb Mount Everest, she propelled herself forward. Two quick steps and she was over the side of the
Inga
and sprinting down the jetty. For someone so tiny, she was admirably fast.
    â€œHey!” Darius shouted.
    Alec blocked the doorway but Darius brushed him easily aside and knocked him over. He leapt over the gunwale and disappeared down the gangway before Alec landed in a heap.
    Alec rubbed a hand across his forehead, surprised at the force of Darius’ reaction. Behind him, Bjorn stood silently beside the captain’s chair, a blank look on his face.
    â€œDon’t worry, I’m fine,” Alec muttered as he pulled himself to his feet. He glanced up at the sound of a strangled squawk. A moment later, Darius appeared with Riley unceremoniously slung over his shoulder. He crossed the several metres to the boat with impatient strides, brushed past Alec without a word and dumped Riley onto the sofa.
    â€œSit,” he ground out.
    Riley opened her mouth to speak, but Darius shouted “Silence!” before she could utter a sound. She grabbed at her throat and retched. Bjorn seemed to come back to life. Both he and Darius left the cabin and walked around to the bow of the boat. A moment later, they were heading aft.
    The rope holding the
Inga
to the wharf arced through the sky to land in a heap on the jetty. Darius dashed back inside the cabin and deftly took the wheel. Bjorn held the rope in his hand and leapt off the
Inga
, landing easily on the wharf.