There were a lot of criminals around here. There were no extradition agreements between my mother’s government and the islands, and that probably wouldn’t be changing.
The people here were proud. Stubborn, but it was born of pride.
I looked out across the ocean that’d just stopped glittering with the sunset.
“I can’t believe she gets to see this every day,” I said, gesturing toward the water. “This is stunning.”
Wyatt’s face was the calmest I’d seen in a while as he looked out over the water. “Yeah, it is.”
I cleared my throat. “Well, now that we’re alone, let’s talk.”
Wyatt sighed deeply, like somehow I was ruining his day by suggesting we be adults and have a conversation.
“We have a problem,” I said, beginning to pace in the sand. Wyatt sighed again. “When did this happen to us? I seem to remember a time when you allowed me into your mind all the time, even in our sleep. What’s changed?”
“A lot,” Wyatt said. “Like, you started stalking a girl who turned out to be our Key, and you’re blaming me for your not meeting her.”
I glared at him.
“I wanted us to do ittogether,” I emphasized with my hands. “Like everything else we do. Why didn’t you tell me about her when you first met her?”
“I was scared,” Wyatt muttered. “She was so fucking pretty, even covered in flour from the pastries, she looked like all my wildest dreams come to life.”
“And?” I prodded. This was good. Maybe we were getting somewhere.
“And…she was lying about something. I could feel that she was strong,reallystrong, but she told me she only had one affinity and I thought, there’s no way…”
I nodded my head, gesturing with my hand for him to keep going.
This all made sense.
Wyatt, whether or not he was ready to accept it, had some sort of sensing affinity. He’d known something was off with Skye from the first moment he met her, yet couldn’t stay away due to our biological connection, and decided that meant she was scary.
But I’d seen how he’d reacted when she came into his office. I’d seen the desperation in his movements when he put her up against his door.
He had to be in immense pain to hold back so hard.
“I know what you’re going to say,” Wyatt said, and I laughed.
“Really? You can sense that too, now?” I taunted.
Wyatt muttered something that sounded a lot likedick, so I decided to keep pushing.
“We’re best friends who don’t tell each other anything. It’s weird,considering you’re a therapist or something. I don’t even think you like your job.”
“I like it fine,” Wyatt said defensively.
“Right,” I drawled. “You just hate all your coworkers, and your hours, and your paperwork, and the rules, and–”
“Yeah,Your Highness, that’s how a job works. You’re not supposed tolove it.” Wyatt snarked.
I shrugged. “You could have been my personal guard.”
“I don’t need your help getting a job,” Wyatt spat, and I almost groaned. We’d hadthisconversation too many times.
“Whatever, Wyatt.” I muttered. “Keep telling me you don’t need me and eventually I’ll stop coming around.”
“We’re stuck in a family Chain together, Rafe.” Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Where is all this coming from? Is it really just about Skye? You can’t be that mad I didn’t tell you I had a weird feeling about her.”
