November was gone. This day marked a new month, and there were only three weeks remaining until Cyrus and I announced our engagement. Only eight weeks until the Crimson Eclipse. I should’ve joined my mother-in-law in planning my wedding. I should’ve joined my coven in finding ways to defeat the Shadows. Ishould’vebeen making sure my plans to kill Kane still lined up, but all I wanted to do was waste away my last weeks with Stone.
A warmth simmered under my skin, and I dipped my anxious hands into my dress pockets to hide them.
My fingertips brushed silky petals of the black Persian lilies.
I looked down at the pile of bulbs in my palm.
“Cyrus is concerned,” Alice said, startling me from behind. “I know you weren’t at the Sullivan cottage the other night.”
I crushed flowers in my fist. “What are you implying?”
“I’m not implying, Miss Adora. I’m simply stating that you weren’t at the Sullivan cottage when you said you were. We both know this. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re looking at the window as if ready to jump out of it. If the sneaking happens again, you may not be as lucky next time. One day Cyrus or Mrs. Cantini will insist on coming into the room, and I can’t protect you if you don’t tell me where you run off to.”
I turned to face her and swiped clean clothes from a folded pile on the bed. “The less you know, the better,” I informed her, slipping out of my dress.
“You’re taking offnow, aren’t you?” Alice couldn’t look me in the eyes as she folded the stack of clean clothes into a drawer. The wardrobe shook as she closed it, and her shoulders slumped when she looked at me again. “I’m tired. I can’t do it again. I stay awake all night to watch you, and then you expect me to stay awake all day to protect your door or run your errands. I need sleep. I can’t have a repeat of what happened the other night.”
“If you aren’t satisfied with your employment, talk to Mrs. Cantini. Now, shoo and close the door.” I only had five minutes to climb out the window before it was time for Mrs. Cantini to retreat to the dining room for breakfast.
Alice’s jaw slammed shut, dark circles adorning her eyes.
Guilt coiled in my chest. I was being inconsiderate and selfish. All for what? What exactly was I running off to? People were dying in the grips of unkillable Shadows, and I wanted to spend a little more time with him.
I didn’t usually have these thoughts. I didn’t usually have these feelings flowing through me. Our indecency and indiscretion made everything an adventure. On Bone Island, there were no rules, no expectations. It was both freeing and terrifying, and these were all the reasons I couldn’t give him up. I had little time until my life would change forever, if not by murder, then certainly by marriage, and I was taking advantage of every second until then.
I’d left Stone without a promise of returning, and the thought of the look on his face when he saw me again made my heart race.
“I’m not being fair,” I finally said, walking to Alice and taking her strong hands into mine. I led her to the edge of the bed, where we both sat. “Just lock the door and sleep. It’s not like the Shadows come during the day, anyway. If anyone asks, I walked to Town Square, and I promise to return on time.” I offered a sweet smile. “Please do this for me."
“Okay, Adora.” She patted the top of my hand and sucked in a breath. “And you can’t tell me where you go?”
“Knowing could put you in a position you don’t want to be in.”
Alice stood, and my hands fell from hers. She grabbed her book from the armoire. “I suppose I’ll get some shuteye.”
Then she stepped out the door and closed it behind her.
I darted my gaze to the window before rushing toward it. I cranked the lever open, and under the cloud-dusted sky, the cold slipped under and bit my skin. My gaze landed on the lighthouse, and anticipation soared through me. It made me feel light on my toes.
I stepped away to collect my coat and bag, then returned, took one last look at the bedroom door, and threw a leg over.
The toe of my shoe settled into the lattice panel.
I gripped the edge of the sill and kicked another foot over.
After descending three stories, I bolted the between bushes with the keys to the jon boat jingling in my coat pocket.
The walk to the boat was two miles away and took me less than an hour. The sky was muted gray. The air was poisoned with the scent of salt and snow as I crossed the Atlantic. I felt my pulse with every wave that slipped under the boat on the way to the island. I felt it hit hard and fast. All the possibilities of how I would find him—or not find him—spiraled through my mind.
What if his mother returned and drove his mind to a place where there was no coming back? What if he drowned in the ocean or fainted in the thick trees while searching for food? Or what if he wasn’t there at all?
“I wonder what would happen if one day you return to this island and I’m no longer here,”he’d said, and my heart shook as the boat neared the shore of Bone Island.
As soon as the bottom struck sand, my gaze latched on to the lighthouse. My heart jumped into my throat at the sight of it, bringing me back to that night.
When I reached the lighthouse, Stone opened the door before my fingers touched the knob. I was robbed by white hair, black eyes, a gray coat, mint, and mistletoe.
My eyes caught on to his face.
