“Then let’s get going. We have a long day ahead of us and no time to waste.”
I stalked ahead, but Bastian grabbed my hand and reeled me to him. I crashed into his body as his arms wound tight around my back and he pressed his lips to mine. His mouth coaxed mine open, and he kissed me hard.
I pushed him away, breaking the kiss. “Stop acting like this is a goodbye.”
A shadowed look passed over his face. “Gabrielle?—”
“Let’s get going.”
With that, I whirled around and marched through the vines and out into the jungle.
Chapter Fifty-Five
The jungle teemed with shadows, the moon still out, slivers of its light peeking through the canopy above. Bastian carried the torch next to me, and we walked side by side in silence.
“Do you feel anything?” I asked.
“Not since the last time you asked,” he said. “Which was two minutes ago.”
I picked at my nails. “I’m sorry. I’m just anxious. I want everyone on that ship safe and bound for Apolis.”
“I know, love. I want that too.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my head.
“You two are so adorable,” Goji said from behind us.
I jumped and put a hand to my chest. “You scared me.”
“What are you doing here, Goji? Go to the marsh and wait for us.”
She fluttered ahead. “And here I thought you might want my help. I’m hurt, Bastian.”
“I want you to be safe,” he said from next to me, raising the torch.
The firelight illuminated his strong jaw, covered with a thick, dark beard. I wished we’d had more time to plan, more timeto prepare the boys, to teach them how to sew instead of the haphazard lesson we’d had to give last night. I wished I could’ve made love to Bastian in our tent instead of spending all night tossing and turning, worrying about what was to come. No. Bastian and I would have plenty more nights together.
I refused to believe otherwise. My gaze flicked to Goji’s fluttering wings. We needed all the help we could get.
“We accept your offer.”
Bastian’s jaw ticked. “Am I ever going to get a say in anything?”
“Not likely.” I stalked ahead toward Goji. “What do you know?”
“I know a lot, it turns out. Like where the pirate’s shadow is.”
My mouth dropped open. “Why didn’t you tell us that before?”
She smiled, mischief lining her features. “I like the element of surprise. Besides, I didn’t want the pirate lord to do something stupid like go after it without us.”
My stomach turned itself into knots. “And why is that?”
“Because his shadow is in an abandoned ship that wrecked ashore and is filled with other shadows who like to lurk there. Many of them part of Bastian’s crew, I suspect.”
Her eyes danced like this was a game.
“Well, that doesn’t sound so bad.” I glanced up at Bastian, whose gaze stayed on Goji.
“What’s the catch, Goji?”
