I’m sorry, Raine.She gave him a half smile.I won’t push you away, but… I can’t. You and I… we’re friends. Only friends, and that’s all right, but you need to allow me to be just that. We will be kind and take care of each other, yes, but… just friends. I… It’s what I need from you.
No returning smile dragged Raine’s mouth upward as he stepped into her space, his body nearly touching hers.Friends? That’s what you want? What you need?
Frelina nodded, gently shoving him out of her mind. “It is.”
Her smile widened, coming more easily when Raine bowed his head, although there was something… something still hard in his golden swirls as he nodded once more.
But his fingers were soft as they splayed out across her cheek, moving to free the strands she’d tucked behind her ears. “I will be what you need, Frelina. I promise you that.”
“Th-thank you,” she responded, but it came out almost as if it were a question, because…
Why did his vow sound like a threat?
One that was immensely more frightening than the one they were sailing toward.
Especially as his hand brushed down her cheek and over her neck before he turned around, heading back to the helm.
Chapter 13
Kerym
He’d never admit it, but the speed they were going?
Bile tickled the back of Kerym’s throat as he stared at the water swirling around the ship like a glittering barrel spinning too fast even for his sharp eyes to follow. The only thing he could make out every now and then was Ydren, a sweep of purple breaking through the blue whenever she turned her head to ensure she was still beside the ship.
Lessia had argued with Merrick for a good few minutes before they left, unwilling to let Ydren travel alone, but when everyone had sided with Merrick, including the water wielder, who couldn’t ensure Lessia wouldn’t be swept away with the strong currents, she’d finally backed down.
Kerym guessed she was happy for it now, because both she and Merrick looked about as good as he felt, a hint of green touching their cheeks as they stood in the bow. The water wielder standing to their left directed thewaves, and Kalia, the half-Fae empath—who apparently wanted to try to talk to any half-Fae left in Vastala—and the old half-witch stood on their other side. Merrick had refused to let him out of his sight until he’d learned everything the man knew. The Death Whisperer apparently believed that the man might have some witchy tricks up his sleeve.
Shaking his head, Kerym searched the deck for the other witches, the oneshedidn’t like being too far away from, and when he caught Pellie’s gaze and she immediately got up to make her way over, her sister remaining seated by the wall, a flicker of warmth awoke in his chest.
“I know you approve of her,” Kerym mumbled to himself, somehow certain Thissian could hear him. “But I do wish you’d be there when we get married. I… I can’t imagine doing it without you.”
“What are you whispering about?” Pellie tilted her head so her copper braid fell over her shoulder, and Kerym couldn’t help but pick it up, admiring how the water was reflected in the shiny strands.
“I’m just planning our wedding,” Kerym responded as he lifted his eyes to hers.
Pellie’s mouth fell open, and he grinned as he playfully dragged his thumb over her bottom lip until she shivered.
“You’re so beautiful when you’re surprised,” Kerym continued. When she stepped closer, the warmth within him expanded until it replaced the sorrow he’d felt a moment ago, thinking about Thissian. “Makes me want to amaze you all the time.”
Pellie pursed her lips, but her green eyes betrayed her, happiness and excitement darkening them until thecolor reminded him of leaves at the end of summer, rich and fulfilled and beautiful where they hung off warm branches.
Lacing his fingers with hers, he tugged on her hand until she stood between his legs, her other hand landing on his chest.
“It’s not easy to surprise me, you know.” Pellie’s eyes wandered over his face in a way that made him wonder if she wanted to kiss him as much as he wanted to kiss her. “While our magic doesn’t work here, we have… very good intuition, I guess you can call it. I usually know what someone is thinking or feeling before they do.”
Kerym nodded for her to continue, moving his hand to play with her hair again as he listened to her beautiful voice. While he was interested in how their magic and gifts worked, the way her voice sounded was just so soothing—like a healing ointment prepared for only his soul.
“It makes it difficult for people to lie to us,” Pellie said, her eyes falling to where his fingers first touched her collarbone, then moved to caress the delicate skin on her throat. “It’s… it’s why I am drawn to you, I think. You’re not like most others. You just… let yourself feel—completely unashamed—so I don’t have time to read you.”
“Can I kiss you?” The question came out lower than he’d intended, but he was happy for it, since it didn’t appear as if anyone other than Pellie heard him this time.
Pellie laughed, and the thrilling sound of it made a low chuckle rumble in his own chest. “Like that… Do you always say everything that pops into your mind that second?”
Kerym pretended to think about it, moving both hishands to her cheeks, holding in a groan when she pressed herself against him in a way that awoke everything in his body, especially his cock, which she… fuck, she was rubbing herself against it, moving deliberately until his growing hardness settled between her clothed legs.
“I do,” Kerym rasped. “But I have also wanted to kiss you ever since you rescued me from that cellar. I have a thing for?—”
