Behind them, waves lapped the shore, pulling at Sol’s feet. For once, she wished to stay right where she was. That nagging desire to flee and move was silent, her mind blissfully quiet, as she sat in the warm sand, her arm still around Cas’s waist. Inhaling, she met his gaze. He watched her silently, as if he was also lamenting the impending end of the moment.
Although afraid words would break the moment, Sol whispered, “I don’t want to do this anymore.” She shivered. “I just want to go home.”
Cas gave her the gentlest smile she had seen on him. “Me too. But we have to finish this.”
They hadn't gotten instructions or directions for this trial. Jonah and Phil were nowhere to be seen, but Sol begged herself to trust the boys made it back to land.
Turning to the one familiar thing, they slowly made their way back to the Gods’ Villa. Sol breathed and pulled every ounce of strength within her to the surface. She slid from Cas's embrace, his absence leaving a jarring chill. She pushed herself to her feet, reaching her hand out to grab his. Wordlessly, he took it. It was peculiar to Sol how quickly near-death experiences could alleviate disputes.
And it felt oddly… perfect.
They neared the sharp right path that would take them to the front of the Villa when Cas tugged Sol to a stop.
“Sol?”
Sol peered over her shoulder. “Hmm?”
“Was I dreaming, or did you kiss me?” Cas's gaze scanned her face, slowly meeting her eyes with a slight smile. Sol held a breath as his silver eyes drifted slowly to her lips.
She continued forward, her grip tightening slightly on his wrist. Cas didn’t fight her as she led.
Finally, as they dragged themselves up some steps, she scoffed. “Definitely a dream, Prince.”
She was about to continue and comment on the radical idea they stay on the shores a while longer, but all words left her mind as a tug turned her, making her face him.
His attention once again narrowed on her lips before saying, “Then perhaps you shouldn’t have woken me.”
Forty
A KISS FOR THE KEYS
SAWYER
SAWYER HAD TOquickly down three mugs of wine before mustering the courage to seek out Fin. He had been gone quite often since the beginning of the Vows, off providing protection to wherever they took place.
It had been lovely to have the castle free of his miserable face.
She inhaled deeply, holding the breath inside until it turned to smoke as she exhaled. Raising her closed hand, she tapped on the door. Fin opened it on the third knock, obviously not expecting who stood on the other side.
Sawyer wouldn’t deny the man was very attractive—it was his unfortunate attitude that made it difficult to appreciate his physique. He was shirtless and in a casual pair of trousers, his sandy-brown hair an unruly mess around his forehead.
His eyes widened then were quickly masked by a haze of challenge. “I see you decided to take me up on my offer.”
“I need the keys to my father’s study.”
He blinked at her. “And you think I’m going to hand them over because?”
“Because I’ll tell my father you’ve been fucking Gina if you don’t.” Sawyer examined her nails. “He may hate me, but he believes what I say. Quite confusing, I know.”
“Hand Gina?” Fin laughed, bracing an arm on the door frame. “The woman is twice my age.”
Gods, his muscles.
Sawyer shrugged. “So? It’s a believable lie.”
His eyes darkened. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
