Ten
“Daphne Stone,” my sister whisper-yells, making Malachi break away from my lips. Why couldn’t she wait a tempo or two? I’m busy being kissed hello, and I need to give attention to all the Stirlings, so no one gets jealous.
I spin to face my sister, who storms through the library like she’s on a mission. I brace myself for whatever she’s about to say or do.
She opens her arms wide and envelopes me inside of them, burying her head against my shoulder and huffing. I wrap her up in return and bask in the awesomeness of sisterhood. It’s an unbreakable bond. Miles apart, we will always find the other.
“I feared I’d lost you,” she mutters against me.
My hand rubs slow circles on her back. “Never. You should know by now that no ocean or narrative will keep me from you.” My heart swells with love and acceptance that I lack elsewhere. I may have found the Stirlings—or perhaps they found me—but Gwyneth has been with me through thick and thin.
“What is our saying?” she asks as she pulls her head back to stare at me.
“Snacks before chit chat?” This is common sense, but folks need reminding.
She shakes her head. “Try again.”
I gaze at the ceiling and think about the many things that have made up our sister bond over the annuses.
“Dudes are fleeting. Sisters are for keeping?”
“How many sayings do you have?” Malachi wonders.
“Enough for every situation,” Gwyneth says. “Try again, Daphne.”
“Sisters forever?”
She sighs and smiles. “That’s the one.” She grabs my hand and tries to tug me away.
“Wait,” I mumble, stooping to grab my giant knife and fork.
“Is that the trident?” she squeaks.
“If I say yes, are you going to freak out?”
“Yes.”
“Then no, it’s part of a giant matching cutlery set for when I’m presented with a giant sausage.”
She swipes a hand down her face and groans. “Bring your big knife and fork with you. We have much to discuss.”
The sword is much heavier now we are on land, and the trident is impossible, so I drag them along the floor as she leads me down the aisle between the towering shelves of books. We emerge into the central part of the library, revealing the semi circular desk and a wide-eyed librarian. “She’s dripping all over my floor,” he snarls. “And her weapons are leaving scratches in the wood.”
“I’ll mop it later. Right now, I’m taking a break,” she calls out as she gives him a dismissive wave on the way to the corner of the library, the Stirlings stalking behind us.
My nose twitches, igniting a grumbling in my stomach as I spy the most amazing thing and almost fall to my knees in worship. No seafood in sight.Oh, glorious sausage, myyearning for you has been strong.I balance my weapons against the wall, next to my original cracked mirror, and breathe a sigh of relief. Nothing says home like a good sausage. Forgethome is where the heart is.My heart is where the sausage is.
“Is she praying to the sausage?” Theo asks.
“Only the worthy get worshipped,” I declare as I snatch a plate and load it with all the deliciousness I can fit on it. Is that cheese? They stepped up their game in the kitchens. Typical that they would do it while I was gone.
They leave me to my food, demonstrating they now comprehend the hierarchy of priorities. I drop my butt on the armchair, but Theo sweeps me up and carries me over to the sofa, before sitting between Hart and Malachi. They are dressed in loose white shirts and black breeches with riding boots. Each and every one of them looks amazing.
Malachi grabs my booted feet and arches a brow at the supple leather.
“For the love of all the Idols, please explain what you are wearing and why,” Theo mutters in my ear as he sweeps his hand down my arm.
I stuff the first bit of sausage into my mouth and sigh as I try to figure out how to explain my last turn in the ocean.
