PART 3: THE SPRINGTIDE FLOWER
Antonio pulled back. Carla wanted him, not the duke. It was too good to be true. “Do you mean it? In earnest?” he asked.
“Yes.” Carla threw her arms around his strong shoulders. “I love you, Antonio.”
Antonio’s spirits soared as the last of the sun dipped below the horizon, plunging the dock into a purple haze. Looking into Carla’s dark eyes, he knew that he would do anything for her—even steal her away from the most powerful man in the city. But right now, he wanted to kiss her. To kiss her until they were both breathless.
—fromA Sailor’s Seduction: Tales of Romance at Seaby Erasmus Lenard
33
Iran to my room, searchingfor Misty’s slumbering form on the pillows. She was nowhere to be found.
Of course not. She was with Pippin.
I started down the hall, but I didn’t have to go far before I saw her with the tabby.
“Misty!” My voice cracked.
She leaped into my arms, putting her paws on my shoulders when she saw my tears.
I knelt. My throat was too tight to speak, so I let my jumbled thoughts flow to her. Or tried to. But her usual presence—a comforting ball of warmth at the front of my mind—wasn’t there.
“Misty?” She was on my lap, looking at me with those intelligent green eyes. And yet, she wasn’t. Panic crawled up my throat. Why couldn’t I hear her? “Misty, talk to me.Please.”
Her ears turned back, eyes dilating. She meowed again. Pippin approached, nudging my arm with his head and joining with deeper meows of his own.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t understand. A sob tore through my throat. Then another. And then another.
Something in me broke. It felt like my lungs collapsed. Hot tears welled in my eyes and ran down my chin in salty, uncontrollable rivers as I gasped for breath. I had losteverything.
I let myself weep like I had never before, clutching Misty to my chest, and eventually Pippin too. My whimpers echoed in the empty hallway. I didn’t care if anyone overheard. I was alone, like I’ve always been.
