Cirrus, ever smug, leaned against a supply crate. “Don’t worry, Blume. I’ve always takenverygood care of Vivienne.” His voice dipped suggestively, making Lewis’ fists tighten.
Lewis didn’t miss a beat. “If that were true, you two would still be together, right? Oh, wait…” He winced in mock sympathy. “Guess you weren’tthatgood.”
Vivienne groaned, arms crossing as she squeezed her eyes shut.I’d like to disappear now.
Thorne’s voice was edged with warning. “Surely, gentlemen, you wouldn’t risk Miss Banner’s discomfort by discussing suchdelicatematters in mixed company.”
Despite the polite phrasing, it was an order. Both men tensed, muttering about berries and maps before skulking away in opposite directions.
Vivienne let out a breath. She turned to Thorne, gratitude plain on her face. “Thank you.”
He dipped his head. “Think nothing of it. Too often at sea, men lose what little manners they had to begin with.”
Vivienne arched a brow. “Generous of you—to assume they had any at all.”
Thorne’s dark eyes glinted with amusement. “Perhaps I’m too optimistic.”
“Optimism isn’t a quality I’ve developed.”
He studied her for a moment before shaking his head. “What’s more optimistic than a scholar setting sail to find their family and break a curse?”
She huffed a small laugh. “Optimistic or delusional?”
He smirked. “I have a librarian I can ask.”
Vivienne inhaled to respond when Cirrus jogged up. “Ready?”
She hesitated, glancing between them. “Just need to grab a few things.”
Thorne’s expression darkened. “Miss Banner, would you prefer additional crew members join you?”
Cirrus looked vaguely insulted. Vivienne gave Thorne a subtleI’ll be fineshake of her head.
Thorne rolled his shoulders back. “Be back before sundown.”
21
Vivienne wiped the sweat from her brow, her boots sinking into the mud with each step. "Remind me why this was a good idea?" she panted.
Cirrus glanced back, flashing his usual confident smile. "Best view is at the top."
She hesitated before taking his offered hand, letting him pull her up over a slick patch of moss-covered rocks.
"Trust me."
"Hah, sure," she snarked, yanking her hand away and trudging ahead.
Her legs burned, but slowing down wasn’t an option—not unless she wanted to tumble back down the cliffside. By the time she reached the ledge, she collapsed onto the stone, chest heaving. Cirrus, of course, looked barely winded, which annoyed her to no end. Even sweating, he somehow looked more attractive.Maybe if I keep up the boiled bullfrog look, he’ll stop flirting.Silver lining.
"Banns, you have to see this."
Vivienne pushed up onto her elbows and all the air left her lungs. The rainforest unfolded beneath them in an endless sea of emerald, interrupted only by jagged mountains with waterfalls tumbling down their sides. Cirrus pulled a map and charcoal stick from his bag, sketching rough lines of the river and circling the clearing where their camp sat.
She swallowed hard, realizing how high they’d climbed. "Have you been up here before?"
He shook his head. "I've been here twice, but we only mapped the coastline and explored around camp."
Vivienne frowned. Then how did her mother’s journal contain such detailed sketches of the island? She closed her eyes, recalling the page—rock formations, a leafless tree. But as she scanned the landscape, her breath stuttered.Not rock formations. Ruins.
