“You should know, and I have the feeling you’re not reminded enough.”
Her eyes narrowed. “These sound like last words.”
I wet my lips, stealing a glance at Adora sitting under the star-filled sky in the middle of the Atlantic, wrapped up in my coat. “When we get to the shore, the Heathens are drawing straws,” I said, knowing the wind and sea were drowning out my words so Adora couldn’t hear them. “Someone needs to wear that necklace and chant the spell Circe cast all those years ago. Unfortunately, it requires a last breath, so one of us has to go.”
“Why does it have to be a Heathen?”
The lighthouse beam rotated again, and an exhale blew from my nose. “Look around, Ivy. Do you see anyone else here?” It didn’t matter. I’d be here regardless. Saving Circe’s soul meant saving Adora’s soul. If I could set Circe free, Adora would no longer have to suffer the madness she’s been battling. She could be set free, too.
“She’s going to freak out.”
I sucked in a breath. “I know.”
“Fallon must not know either.”
Behind us, Julian was nuzzling her neck like a puppy, while Fallon stroked his head. She must have felt my stare because her pale eyes found me. A peculiar gaze. “She must not,” I whispered.
“If it’s Phoenix, Fable will never have had a chance to say goodbye,” Ivy said, thinking out loud.
My attention moved to Phoenix, and I remembered his memories of Fable, and how important Fable was to him. “Julian gave him an opportunity. Phoenix is hurt and stubborn, willing to take his broken heart with him to his grave.”
“So, I guess we’re hoping it’s Beck or Zephyr.”
“Zephyr would be the obvious choice,” I slid with grin. “Since he’s cursed and all.”
Zephyr bid me a wicked glare, and I wiggled my fingers at him.
On my return to the bow of the boat, I slapped Zephyr’s leg before retaking my seat beside Adora. “I like your sister.”
“That’s weird,” she replied. “No one likes my sister.”
When we reached the shores of Bone Island, I was swept up in opposing waves. Memories, anxiety, fear. They hit me one after the other. Sadness from leaving a place I once called home, anxiety from the unknown, fear of the future. Bone Island was like opening our book, and forcing myself to re-read the chapters we’d already written, then leaving our book unfinished.
As I stood, scared, a smile spread across Adora’s face.
“We’re home,” she said, her eyes gleaming as she looked at me.
Home, I thought, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head as the night held us close together. I felt Julian’s gaze on me as he and Fallon exited the boat.
It was time.
The eight of us stood on the shore under the lighthouse.
I surveyed the island, recounting all the places I’d made Adora moan. I’d recounted the times we’d spent together on this beach, in those woods, in the lighthouse, whether we were whispering or shouting or kissing or crying.
“Stone,” Julian called, nudging his eyes in the direction of Adora.
I turned to her. “All right, Adora, I need the sapphire.”
Adora looked so small bundled up in layers. She glanced up at me nervously as she withdrew the chain from her pocket and placed it into my gloved palm.
I passed the sapphire to Julian.
Julian stole a glance at Fallon, then passed the sapphire to Phoenix.
Phoenix shoved the sapphire into his leather jacket pocket.
The five Heathens gathered in a circle as icy winds blew into us from all directions. I felt my nerves splitting at the ends as we exchanged glances. I could sense Adora behind me, and it felt like it was hailing in my chest, ice pelting against my ribcage, the icy winds rushing across my bones.
