That’s what my sister called me.
But no sound came out.
He tilted his head, eyes narrow with concern, and I felt him lift the book at my side. Watched as he tugged it out of the burlap, opening it to the first page.
My heart sank at how waterlogged the pages were. The sea had washed Selena’s pretty words away. Only the greeting remained.To Alana.
The man tucked it under his bench seat, pressing an open hand against my temple, grounding me against his chest.
I listened to his heart thump quietly as he rowed back to his island. He smelled like cozy fire. Like tropical winds through coconut palms, like sandalwood and bergamot and the beach at moonrise.
Nearing the harbor, he slipped between two moored ships to the main dock. Islanders shaded their hands over their eyes, pointing down to us, hurrying to discover what had happened. I braced for Theia’s curse. For them to stare at me in puzzled horror, accuse me with their eyes and mouths of being a monster, a demon, a trickster. Theia had said she’d shield me from it long enough for me tocordae. She must have been telling the truth—none of them seemed to show anything but worry.
The man tossed a rope ashore and wrapped his arms under my shoulders and knees, standing smoothly in the wobbling canoe. One of them caught the other end, and the nearest men began pulling us in.
The Leihaniian looked down at me.
I glanced up at him.
Under the heavy sun, his eyes sparkled. Volcanic and black, like liquid glass.
56
Selena
Istopped Pheolix’s heart for only a second.
Just long enough to feel it flutter under my hand. A short skip, a palpitation lasting only the briefest moment. Then pulled away, terrified I’d hurt him.
Pheolix stepped back, a hand at his heart as though he’d been punched. But his wide steel-gray eyes didn’t leave mine. And mine didn’t leave his.
“Heart stopper,” he whispered.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I’m sorry I hesitated in the servants’ quarters. I’m sorry I was confused. I’m sorry I left everything unsaid. I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I’m sorry I let you think I washim. I’m sorry—”
Pheolix closed the step between us, arm wrapping the back of my head, and crushed his mouth to mine.
My hands flew to his neck, his jaw, his hair. My fingers twisted into his collar, kneading at his shoulders. Everything I could gather. Everything I could touch. It was all here, and I gripped it with all the strength my fingers could manage, pulling him closer.
He nudged my legs wider apart, the ridge of his hip bones hard against the inside of my thighs. Heat washed the cavern mouth around us, a tidal wave of flames against my skin. They left me dizzy, drowsy, gasping for air. When he pulled away, he only gave me an inch, panting over my mouth and chin, but his forehead pressed against mine, his eyes shut tight.
“You were going to kill me,” I breathed.
“Sorry.” He kissed the side of my mouth. “It would have been fast. You wouldn’t have felt a thing. What are you doing here?”
“I came to find you. I’m leaving Calder.” I stroked a thumb against his chest. “And taking you with me.”
He wove his fingers through mine, holding them still, a sudden intensity in his eyes.
I bit my lip, stifling the impulse to wiggle under the weight of that gaze. “You thought I was Thaan.”
“You pretended youwereThaan.”
“Well,” I huffed. “You weren’t coming with me.”
“He’s never let me get that close to him before.” Pheolix laughed softly against my cheek. “The mind games in this place.”
I leaned away, looking him in the eye. “What is this place, exactly?”
