“I’m sure I could figure something out,” Sebastian said.Not looking at Kieran, he casually added, “For you, at least.”
Kieran’s pulse quickened.There was something so…humanabout this side of Sebastian.He’d been remarkably handsome before, sure, but there was something about this moment that Kieran couldn’t exactly put his finger on.As if he’d only been seeing a fraction of Sebastian before and a new piece had fallen into place.
“You know, I would like to see those spoons sometime,” Kieran said.
“That’s a very high honor.I don’t show my spoons to just anyone.”Kieran felt something brush his hand and glanced down to find Sebastian’s pinky touching his.“But you’re well on your way.”
Kieran’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest.Sebastian’s touch was electric.He hadn’t had that sensation in months—not since Ash had last touched him.
He stiffened, just slightly.Even as he did, though, all he could think of was what Briar had said to him last night:
Don’t get so caught up trying to glue together the pieces of something broken that you forget to look around and see what’s right in front of you.
That night, as the moon rose high in the sky, Kieran couldn’t sleep.His mind had become a tangle of thoughts—about their impending arrival in the Mirrorveil Woods to get the Stave, about Ash back home, and finally about Sebastian and the scintillating look in his eyes that afternoon.Really, his only focus should be on the Stave, but…he couldn’t help it.
He took out his notebook, stared at the page, and debated how he could explain this to Ash.Hello, darling!I had another great daydevoting myself to fixing our relationship.Sure, my heart has started racing every time I lay eyes on another boy.And yes, he’s started showing up in my dreams, just as you used to.But that probably means nothing!
Kieran moaned into his pillow, nearly waking Seaweed next to his feet, where she’d taken to sleeping.How in the world do you go from loving someone to fantasizing about someone else a week later?
It was love, wasn’t it?Kieran had said so, once.He and Ash had been in the middle of kissing beneath Ash’s sheets when he’d said it.Sure, it had been the first time anyone had ever touched him that way, but he’d definitely feltsomethingstrong.Ithadto be love.And yeah, sure, the other boy hadn’t responded—which had hurt Kieran’s feelings a bit—but he’d figured Ash just needed more time.
Three months later, he still hadn’t gotten there.
Kieran’s jaw worked as he stared at the ceiling of his bedroom.Even in the later days of their relationship, Ash had never fully opened up to him.Sure, he knew about Ash’s family and the mining partnership with the Pelumbras that had ruined their lives, but beyond that, he’d run into something of a wall.There had always been something surface-level to the way they spoke.It was always the same questions:How’s your magic training?Anything new at the library?How are Delilah and Briar?
At the time, Kieran had considered it comfortable.He knew what to expect when he was with Ash.They had their routines and plans.It was all very…safe.
And he liked safe, of course.He needed safe, to some degree, after everything he’d been through with his curse.Kieran wasn’tthe type who liked surprises or did things spontaneously most of the time.The knife-throwing with Sebastian that morning was probably the most spontaneous thing he’d done since…well, deciding to run away from home to break the curse.
Maybe there’s something to be said for taking risks,he thought.
With a sigh, Kieran sat up, deciding he’d go make himself a cup of tea to help him sleep.He threw on the silk bathrobe he kept on his bedpost and tied it around his waist, yawning.Sliding on his sheepskin slippers, he shuffled out of his room and into the hall.
As he did, he couldn’t help but notice that the door to Sebastian’s room was ajar.He probably can’t sleep either.Maybe I’ll run into him.
He didn’t hate that idea.
Carrying on, Kieran made his way out onto the top deck, bracing as a rush of cold air blew past him.With a shiver, he started toward the stairs leading belowdecks.
Just then, though, he caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye.
Kieran whipped around in time to see a shadow vanish behind the stack of crates they’d thrown knives at earlier.He immediately went rigid.Was it a bird that had landed on board?He’d seen ravens and crows occasionally hanging out on the top deck before flying off into the sky, so that wouldn’t be too unusual.
But then again, that wouldn’t explain the unmoving white shape on the ground where the shadow had just been.
Kieran tugged the tie on his robe a little tighter.As he approached the shape, he called out, “Hello?Someone there?”
No response.As he got closer to the shape, though, he realizedwhat he was looking at: a seagull, its wings splayed out but unmoving.It was definitely dead, but it took Kieran a second to realize what had killed it.
The bird’s neck had been pierced with something sharp, and dark red stained its white feathers.Kieran’s eyes widened as he bent down next to it.There was still blood leaking from the wound.Whatever had killed it must have just done so.Kieran suspected it would still be warm to the touch.
Before he could question that, though, a shadow passed overhead.
At first, Kieran assumed it must just be a cloud.But as he craned his neck to get a better look, his heart nearly stopped.
It was another aeroship.
Kieran’s throat closed.Shit, shit, shit—!
