Now, I notice how different he is from his brother. There’s a softness to him. Not in his body, which is all hard lines and cords of muscle, nor in his sharp jaw or straight brows. But in those eyes. Words from an old poet creep into my mind:Tide-kissed, made of salt water and sea glass.
A roguish grin appears on his face. “I knew you couldn’t stay away from me.”
Instantly, the haze of waxing poetic about his beauty drains away. That smile… What was once charming last night, nowseems mocking. He’s here to make fun of me. All the shame and humiliation I felt moments ago floods through me again.
“What are you doing here?” I snap.
He cocks his head. “Well, I didn’t clamber over all these rocks at high tide just to stare at your balcony window.” When I don’t respond, he laughs. “I came to see you, of course.”
“Well, I’m honored. The great prince of the arena deigns to visit the boring, snobby crybaby from Autumn. How kind of you! Now you’ve seen me, so you can go.” With each biting word, I pray my red face isn’t visible. I turn on my heels.
“Come on, Fare! Don’t be like that!” he calls. “Didn’t you have fun last night?”
Yes, I had fun. More fun than I’ve had in…in…inever, if I’m being honest. But that’s because it wasn’t Farron running around Hadria. It wasFare. Fare, with no expectations, no responsibilities, no impending doom of ruling a realm. Of course, Fare is likable. Of course, Fare is fun.
“Go away,” is all I manage before returning to my room. I duck to the side of the window and press my body against the wall so Daytonales can’t spot me. Tears sting my eyes.
I count out ten breath cycles before I chance a peek back out on the balcony. Day’s gone.That was easy. Guess he didn’t really want to see me.
I turn around, debating if I should spend my afternoon lying face down on my bed or wading into the ocean until a sea hag puts me out of my misery, when I hear a grunting sound. Rushing closer to the railing, I look directly down to see Daytonales scaling the wall that leads to my balcony.
“Are you crazy?” I cry. “You could fall!”
Using the coral and shells encrusted on the side of the keep as hand- and footholds, Day flashes that grin at me. “This? This isn’t crazy. This is madcap. Kooky, even. But we haven’t stepped into crazy territory. Not even close.”
“I’m not stepping intoanyterritory with you, crazy or otherwise.” I should run inside my room and lock the balcony doors. If he actually succeeds and doesn’t fall and dash himself upon the rocks, I don’t want to be here when he…when he…when he what?
What exactly is his plan?
“You’re going to die,” I call down to him.
Daytonales tests a patch of coral before heaving himself up to another handhold. His body glistens with oil, skin sunbaked. “People love to tell me that. Hasn’t happened so far.”
I lean on the railing and rest my chin on my hands. “Why do you want to see me so badly?”
“It’s notseeingyou that’s eliciting this fanciful behavior. It’s talking with you. Though, seeing you is a bonus.” He winks and somehow appears as charming as ever despite hanging off the side of a building.
My heart gallops in my chest.Settle down, I inwardly snap at it. “Why do you want to talk to me? Me, who is boring and snobby and a crybaby?”
Daytonales rolls his eyes as he leaps for an upward patch of coral. Damn, he’s scaling this wall fast. “Come on, Fare, I didn’t mean it! We werekidswhen I thought that. I was an idiot.”
“You’re still an idiot, Daytonales.”
“At least one of us has changed.” Another sun-bright smile. “Call me Dayton. Call me Day. Call meanythingbut Daytonales. That’s reserved for uptight nobles like my brother.”
“Dayton…” He’s so close to me now, I can see the sheen of sweat on his forehead, the tangles in his long hair.
He pulls himself up to the patch of coral beneath the railing, then stretches his hand upward. “What do you say, Farron? Give me a chance to make it up to you. Who knows, maybe you’ll be a good influence on me, and I’ll change too.”
I could lock myself inside my room. Better yet, I could shove him off this wall. Now,thatwould be revenge for my ruined book years ago. But my heart has started that gallop again, and I can’t seem to find the reins.
I reach down and clasp his arm. With a heave, I pull Dayton up over the railing. Though I must not recognize my own strength, for the force sends him careening into me. We tumble to the ground, him right on top of me.
“Hi.” He smiles.
“Hi.”
He doesn’t make a move to get off of me. “So, you forgive me?”
