I folded my arms and stared him down. “I won’t take it back, and I’m not going to beg you. But if you care for me like you claim, you will let me come.”
Finn drifted back and forward, muscles tense, one arm still behind his back. What felt like minutes passed until he paused, leveling me with a glare.
The silence that came next was stretched. My pulse was pounding as I held his gaze.
A softness crept into his drawn expression—a flare in his eyes as he surveyed me, a genuine shred of something cutting through his impenetrable mask. Brows furrowed, he rubbed his chin as if thinking. “You’re connected to the prophecy somehow, so... it could be beneficial to have you there.”
“Great, so it’s settled.”
Finn nodded curtly. “However...difficultit might be to be around you after what you’ve said to me.”
My throat indented as I swallowed, but I ignored his comment. “Where are we headed?”
“We are going to the island of Santorini,” Finn grunted through gritted teeth. “After we find what we need there, we can return and travel with the others to the summit.”
I blinked hard, trying to steady myself. Once known long ago as Thera, Santorini was the island where Manannán had resided, as I had seen in my visions.
“If you don’t mind.” Finn gestured to the door, one hand still behind his back. “Since you barged in, I’ll need a minute to finish getting ready. Meet me in the throne room—we’re leaving the second I’m done.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?” Skye trailed behind me as I descended the expansive stone steps leading to the Thálassian throne room. I’d roused her and Edward to come and see me off.
I fingered my dagger, now re-strapped across my hips. “You need to stay here and learn Agápe’s magic with Peisinoe. I have to do this alone.”
Edward let out a huff of indignation from my side just as Finn emerged behind us from his chambers. He gave a curt nod before gliding past us and descending the stairwell.
Skye grabbed my arm. “What’s going on there?”
“I clarified that I was no longer interested, but he’s agreed to take me with him, and he’s not happy about it.”
“What? I thought you would have climbed that Mer body like a tree.”
I grinned. “Someone had fun with Alexandros.”
Skye flushed.
“Have you not told her yet?” Edward’s eyes narrowed at the doorway Finn had disappeared through.
“Told me what?” Skye asked sharply.
So much had happened I still hadn’t found a moment to speak with her about what Finn had done. Maybe I dreaded saying it aloud, as if speaking it would make it real, so I’d kept it all inside. Perhaps that was why my heart had betrayed me, ruining my plans by letting my anger spill over.
“We cannot trust him. I shall explain everything later,” Edward muttered, then turned to me, silently asking if that had been okay.
I nodded.
Skye gasped, grabbing me by the hand. “If that’s true, you can’t go with him.”
“The Captain used all his magic to raise that shield and protect us because he knew the prophecy named me. I have to try to find it.”
“Then let me come with you,” Skye pressed, stopping on the stairs.
I turned and grabbed both her hands in mine. “I think Louisa was right. Agápe brought you back for a reason. You need to stay here and find out why—it might give us anedge at some point.”
Skye’s lower lip quivered, but she nodded. Guilt washed over me for reminding her of what she’d become.
I kept her hands in mine. “If you learn to conduct a dream ceremony, this could prove very useful. I’ll be back in a few days, and we’ll all go to the summit together.”
“And you have me to keep you company.” Edward put a hand on Skye’s arm, and she bit back her tears, nodding.
