“What is it?”
“I’m going alone this morning.”
His brow furrowed. “All three of us are going—” She silenced him with a finger across his lips.
“Listen… I don’t know what ‘wringer’ Luke will put us through to see if we can keep up with his crew. But even if somehow you two can hide your ears for the test… you’ll never be able to conceal them long-term on the vessel. All it will take is one gust of sea breeze to take off your caps or bandannas, and then everyone will see them.”
“We can illusion them.”
“Those same sea breezes will make your hair wild. You won’t be able to predict its movements with an illusion.”
“We’ll illusion the whole head of hair, then,” he countered.
“And you don’t think that would ever look suspicious?”
“Dark Isle dwellers don’t understand what our ears mean. We could say it’s a birth deformity.”
“One you both share?” Vi arched her eyebrows.
“We’ll say we’re siblings.”
“Even though you look nothing alike?” Vi barely refrained from rolling her eyes.
“We both have black hair.”
“Ihave black hair, Taavin. You have bottles of ink.”
“There are bottles of ink in Norin as well. We can keep up the deception,” he insisted.
“I need you both here.” Tired of arguing, she got to the heart of the matter. “You need to keep exploring the tunnels and caves to look for the treasure. This way, we can divide our efforts: I’ll go and ensure Adela doesn’t have the crown while you two remain here to look.”
“You have no guarantee they’re working with Adela.”
“And you have no guarantee they aren’t.” Just when she was on the verge of exasperation, he cracked a grin and pulled her closer. There wasn’t a bit of space between them and she was left breathless as Taavin leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
“I understand, and I know.” He sighed. “I’m not going to fight you further.”
“Really?” Vi asked skeptically.
“If I tried, I think I would lose.”
“You would, because I’m right about this.”
“And I know it.” Taavin kissed her lightly once more. No matter how much time passed, the act still sent sparks up her arms that were their own, unique type of magic. He pulled away and murmured, “I still don’t want to let you go.”
“If it’s any consolation, I don’t want to leave your side. But whenever I’m docked here, I’ll be with you.”
“And the weeks or months when you’re sailing to and from Norin?”
“I’ll yearn for you—for where I am home.” Were she able, she’d hide from the world and spend forever in his arms. Taavin’s embrace was one of the few places she still felt fully herself. She was Vi, here, nothing more or less. “Hopefully, I can gain some kind of lead on Adela early and I’ll return to you quickly.”
“Or maybe we’ll find something and call you home.”
Vi nodded and heard Deneya begin to stir. Before the woman was up and about, Vi leaned in for one more kiss—for one last, longing second when they were entwined. Then she pulled away.
There was work to do.
Deneya was understandably frustrated by the notion of not getting to go on the ship and prove her prowess. But she ultimately agreed with Vi that it would be for the best.
