Because I want you to kiss me, you beautiful idiot. Now. What are you waiting for?
I tap his chest, hoping to change the subject. “You’re better suited to tunics than vests and scarves.”
He laughs. “I wholeheartedly agree.”
“Are you glad you came with us?” I blurt out. The question takes Galinor by surprise, and I quickly add, “Forgetting about the parts where we traveled across the kingdoms in a wild goose chase and where we were kicked out of Lenrook in the middle of the night.”
“And when you were shot?”
“Most certainly forgetting when I was shot—but other than all that?”
“And the parts where I was forced to dress as a street performer against my will?”
I give him a wry look. “I didn’t force you.”
“You cut my tunic apart.”
“It wasn’t a bad look for you.” Heat swiftly returns to my cheeks, and I bite my lip as I look away.
Galinor leans close, and I wonder if it’s so our driver won’t overhear what he’s about to say. “You’re blushing.”
He smells good, too. The soap he used to bathe with before our outing must have been scented with citrus oils because he smells like ternfruit and tangerines.
“You realize that if you take that all away, you’ve discounted our entire trip,” he teases, bringing me back from my wandering thoughts.
I shake my head to argue, and then realize that, yes, he is correct.
“All right,” I say, preparing to amend my original question. “Are you glad you came with usdespiteall of that?”
“I am. Who knows what trouble you would have gotten into if I hadn’t been here.”
I give him a solemn nod. “I told you.”
He’s about to say something else, but the carriage stops, and the driver announces our arrival. We’ve reached the eastern pier. I look at Galinor in question. The area is all hustle, bustle, and excitement, but it wasn’t where I expected Galinor to bring me.
I accept his hand as he helps me down from the carriage. A little thrill passes through me when he doesn’t drop it once I’m on the ground.
Happy to make our way through the crowds with my hand in his, I follow him without question. Galinor passes the docked vessels, and he appears to be looking for something in particular.
He stops in front of a small sailing ship and nods to the captain. “Are you Jacques?”
The man looks over and acknowledges Galinor with a wave. He makes his way around boxes and coils of rope, and then he joins us on the pier.
“I was told by Prince Dristan that you would sail us to Isle Merrily.”
Sail?
It’s not lost on Jacques that Galinor has dropped Dristan’s name quite intentionally.
“You a friend of the prince?” the man asks.
“That’s right. I’ll pay you an extra gold piece if we can leave within the hour.”
Jacques scratches his chin, thinking it over. “I’ll take you, but it’s already late in the day, and I won’t be on that island after dusk. If you aren’t back by sunset, I’ll leave you.”
I’m startled by the captain’s words, but Galinor takes it in stride and agrees. Before I’ve had a chance to ask Galinor where exactly it is we’re going, we’ve set sail. Once we’re on the water, our destination no longer seems important.
I keep my eyes open for pods of dolphins, but what I would really love to see is one of the whales Dristan spoke of. Galinor joins me by the railing, and we stand together in comfortable silence.
