“What are you talking about?” she asked breathlessly. Her thoughts were cloudy, making it hard to focus on her surroundings. What trouble? Why was he curious? None of this made sense.
“Don’t fret, love. You’ll find out soon enough.” He smiled and leaned forward, putting the tip of his nose to her hair and breathing in. Pulling back, he met her eyes and commanded, “Now, you will go back to your home and forget you ever saw me.”
The instant his gaze locked onto hers, she felt like she was soaring. Soaring and drowning at the same time. All she could see were those endless pools staring into her mind. For what could have been an eternity, or perhaps only a moment, she forgot who she was and simply basked in him, this glorious darkness she wanted to lie in forever.
She shook her head to clear the fog, snapping out of the trance. “Who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?” Isla huffed, her emotions returning in a spark of anger as she reared back from him. Something didn’t feel right, and she needed to get as far away from this man as soon as possible. “You need to leave this bar before I send a pack of huntsmen after you.” She rushed around him, noting the widening of his eyes and the flash of shock on his features.
Not so confident now, are we?
“And you better leave that girl you were talking to in there alone, or you’ll be dealing with someone much worse than a bunch of boys,” she spat before opening the bar door and slamming it in his confused face.
Chapter Four
Jade
Jadespenthoursexploringthe island, awed by how much had changed over time. She knew she needed to devise a plan to get off of Iona but was unable to resist the allure of the island. As she passed by the now-overgrown forested areas where the once-great civilization had been, memories flashed through her mind—villages full of people dancing at harvest celebrations; walks along fields and vineyards at twilight; nights under the full moon with her fellow elementals by her side. Those were the times she looked back on fondly, before everything went wrong.
Venturing further into the jungle, she marveled at the creatures who let her walk among them as if they knew she belonged. Furry brown monkeys only half her size playfully grabbed at her hair, swinging between the branches and calling to her animatedly. Colorful birds with swooping wings and sharp beaks flew by while wild cats brushed against her legs and wrapped their tails around her calves. It felt freeing to be with them once more.
As the sky darkened and stars emerged above her, she made her way back from the hidden depths of the island. She walked across the beach to the deep navy water before her. The surface was quiet and still, and looking down at her reflection, her gaze landed upon shoulder-length chestnut hair, wild and untamed, framing a delicate but stern face. Large, amber eyes set against golden brown skin stared back at her with caution. She glanced at the shadowed waves beyond, the wind gently rustling her hair.
Narrowing her eyes, she focused out into the distance. Something felt wrong.
A large shape was approaching against the dark sky. It was hard to tell from the distance and lack of light, but it appeared to be the mast of a ship. Which, if the old magic they had used to seal off the island from the other humans was still working, should not have been possible.
Unless…
What was coming was not human.
As it grew nearer and nearer, Jade squinted to try and make out more details. It was modestly sized, probably able to carry a crew of twenty. This ship appeared much sleeker and more refined than ones from her time, with elaborate riggings and a large sail made of some material she didn’t recognize. From the orange glow of the lanterns aboard the vessel, she could see the wordsSea Urchinetched into the wood in swooping letters. Its sail bore a crest depicting a tree with a snake winding around its trunk.
She knew that emblem.
How had a ship from Karstos ended up hundreds of miles from its kingdom near an island they made sure would be lost forever?
Jade’s eyes fell on the head of the ship, where a slim figure was positioned. She could barely see what looked like long, blonde hair flying in the wind.
Her jaw dropped.It can’t be…
How in the world hadKaicommandeered a ship in the middle of the ocean, so close to the island where Jade herself slept? It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, given how persuasive and resourceful her fellow elemental could be.
Jade waited for the ship to anchor, then watched as Kai descended a rope that was thrown overboard by the crew. They were close enough now that she could see men running across the deck, going about their business as if they weren’t on a magical island with a naked woman on its shores and a blue-eyed beauty walking on water.
Subtlety had never been Kai’s strong suit.
Jade shook her head but couldn’t help smiling as her friend gracefully walked across the waves to meet Jade. Kai’s hair whipped behind her as the salty spray of the sea kissed her feet and glistened like starlight against her tan, freckled skin. She wore a simple white tunic that laced up the sides and trousers that obviously belonged to one of the crew members. Her bright blue eyes flashed, her full lips turning up in a smirk as she made her way to Jade.
“I’m kind enough to make a house call, and you can’t even dress up for me?” Her musical laugh danced across the waves.
Jade smiled as relief coursed through her. She had been worried that there would be an unmendable rift between them after the way they had parted, but perhaps some things could never be truly broken.
Jade crashed into the water to meet her, ignoring the shock of cold against her legs as she held back tears of joy. Kai threw her arms around her, and they hugged tightly. Jade inhaled the scent of salt and citrus, hundreds of memories with her closest companion rushing back.
“How did you get here? Where were you? Are you unharmed?” Jade asked, grasping Kai’s face between her hands.
Kai laughed again, and the sound was as contagious and effervescent as bubbles rising in the water. “A thousand years won’t stop you from being a mother hen, will it?” She pulled Jade into another embrace. “I’m fine, Jade. I’ll tell you the full story once we’re on the ship.”
Jade took Kai’s hand. “Has—has it truly been a thousand years?”
