“Who are we talking about?” Rose asks.
“Collum,” Yemi and I say together.
“Oh, and him asking you out. That has been awkward, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, but I’ve done a good job ignoring it. So it’d be great ifeveryonewould.”
“If everyone would what, little goddess?”
I hold in my shriek as Kyzen wraps his arms around my waist and lays kisses to my neck. The touch of his lips on my skin adds to the chill the salty sea wind is leaving behind and a shiver races down my spine.
The graze of his smile lingers against me, so I don’t believe he heard anything other than that last bit.
“If everyone would get along now that we’ll be out at sea.” I glance over at Yemi’s snickering and even Rose makes a little noise.
“Well, I think our carriage has been doing great. It’s the assholes stalking us. They’re not dumb enough to try anything again with it being ten against five out at sea.”
Yeah, he definitely would’ve said six if he’d heard the prior conversation.
A whistle cuts through the air, and we all turn toward it.
Creed, Amick, Gladian, and a fourth man stand together on the pier, waving for us to come on. I release a nervous breath as Kyzen tugs me that way, but my shoulders slump as Riven replaces the side Yemi was standing on.
“What’s wrong, little burden? Nervous?”
“Yeah. I’ve never been on a ship or a body of water.”
“None of us have.” He snorts, and honestly, it does make me feel a little better. “Would it help if I threw Gladdy’s Valtrue off the side?”
Yes, yes, it would.
I’m not dumb enough to say that to him.
He one hundred percent would do it.
“No throwing anyone overboard. And you don’t go swimming either. There’s no telling what’s lurking in there.”
Riven huffs like Kyzen’s spoiling all his fun and I give him a pointed look.
“I swear to the Valories if I have to jump in this water to save you, I’ll beat your ass when we get out.”
“Aww, but you would be willing to jump in and save me?”
“Without a second thought, but that won’t lessen the bruising I’d give you afterward.”
“You keep being mean to me like this, angel, and you’re going to make me fall in love with you.”
Kyzen snorts, but I blush the color of crimson.
The thought of Riven loving me is both invigorating and terrifying.
There’s not a doubt in my mind that his love is just as intense as every other emotion in him is.
The group of us, Seismet, Verlet, carriage and all, follow up a ramp that’s been carved into the side of the stone structure. I strain my eyes to get a glimpse of a ship somewhere attached to the pier, but the fog that starts about fifteen feet into the sea is too thick.
A grunt draws my attention and my gaze lands on Gladian. My first instinct is to sneer at his staring, but there’s something about his look that gives me pause. It’s as though, for some reason, he’s seeing me for the first time.
I don’t like that shit one bit and my nostrils curl.
