The golden flakes seem to swirl, and I find myself tracking their movements, trying to predict where they’ll go next. It’s mesmerizing. Hypnotic, even, and I’m fairly certain he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
His sharp features frame a face that seems impossibly crafted. All hard lines, with a slightly stubbled jaw. His unruly black hair brushes against his forehead and curls slightly at the nape of his neck where a faint scar snakes along his skin.
My heart pounds in my chest.
He’s the one who saved me.
Savedme.
Suddenly, my memories come flooding back.
Norin and the others.
They were going to kill me.They almost did kill me.
That’s why my head aches. Are they still nearby?
My eyes dart in every direction, searching the area for signs of danger. But all I see are mounds of endless sand and an infinite pool of water.
Water!
My mouth instantly salivates, and I lunge for it. My hands and feet scramble beneath me, dragging my body to the closest source.My head screams at me with each movement.
“I wouldn’t drink that,” the stranger warns, his tone steady.
“Why? Want it all for yourself?” I snarl, glaring at him over my shoulder, and I’m not sure why I’m being so hostile. He just saved me, didn’t he?
But then, hesmirks.Like I’ve said the funniest thing in the world, and his eyes slowly explore my face, stopping on each of my features. Almost like he’s looking for something,searchingfor something, but I couldn’t possibly guess what it is.
“I’m just trying to help.” He tilts his head, the movement sending strands of thick hair tumbling over his brows.
“By keeping me from water?”
“By keeping you fromthatwater,” he says pointedly, and I turn my gaze away from him and back to the lake that seems to go on for miles.
“Why? What’s wrong with it?” I ask, and now my throat feels even drier because I want the water so, so badly.
“It’s ocean water.” The way he says it makes me feel stupid. Like I’m supposed to know what that means and why I can’t drink it.
Then, suddenly, I do.
I’ve read about ocean water. We studied it when preparing for the second trial. Drinking it would lead to dehydration. It’s dangerous because you won’t realize it until it’s too late. I’ve never actually seen an ocean before. I’ve never seen anything outside of Village 28. And the closest ocean is far from Village 28.
Where has he taken me, and how did we get here?
My pulse quickens, a rapid intensity I couldn’t possibly stop, but then he reaches out, trying to hand me a tin canteen. I eye him warily because I don’t know who this man is, and I have no idea what he wants from me.
“Here, drink this instead.”
I hesitate, but then my need for water feels all consuming. I take the canteen, and the moment the cool liquid hits my lips, I’m gulping. It’s gone in seconds.
I look up at him, and he’s watching me closely.
He isn’t as bulky as Char, but his shoulders are still broad, and his forearms are corded with muscle, his warm bronze skin—the same shade as the sun-kissed sand—stretches taut with every movement.
I hand him back his canteen.
“How’s your head?” he asks, crouching lower so we’re almost eye level. He sounds concerned. Like he actually cares, but that doesn’t make sense. He doesn’t know me, so why would he care?
