Corvin furrowed his brow. “Are you sure you’re meant to? Do it all by yourself?” he said at the same moment as my feline companion.
I nodded vehemently. “These bargains are my responsibility.”
He pursed his lips slightly but said, “I’m glad I was there to help out then. But I also believe, if I hadn’t been, you would have found a way to free Eterna all on your own. Don’t discountyourself, Elvira.” I thought I saw Nix shoot Corvin an approving look.
I looked gratefully at Corvin, the passionate kiss we’d just shared still fresh in my mind.
“Were there any visitors while I was away?” I asked Nix.
“No, the island was quiet. No midnight visitors while you were gone.”
“That’s good,” I said, a wide yawn cutting off the rest of my words. Corvin yawned too, which reminded me how tired he must be after going so long without sleep. “I’m sure there’ll be time to catch up more tomorrow. In the meantime, I think everyone is in desperate need of some quality sleep.”
Corvin looked uncertain. “Do you mind if I stay here tonight? I can shift, but I never sleep quite as well.”
Nix licked a paw. “I believe the garden shed is available.”
I snorted with an exasperated shake of my head. “He’ll be sleepinginside,Nix.”
“In whose room?” he asked.
“Mine,” I said, a rosy hue spreading across my cheeks. “I’ll sleep on the floor.” Why was I explaining myself to an overprotective cat? I could sleep in Kaylin’s old room, but I wasn’t ready yet to claim the space for myself. I wanted to preserve some part of her presence in the cottage. Some reminder that she had been an important part of my life.
I walked into the cottage, guiding Corvin to my room. Would he try and kiss me again before bed? The thought sent butterflies soaring through my stomach. To my annoyance, Nix followed us into the room, jumping up onto the bed, while I prepared myself a place to sleep on the floor. He didn’t leave until Corvin was fully tucked into my small bed.
I took the treasure map, stolen from Rogam’s prison cell, and placed it on my dresser to look at some time in the future. I flopped onto my makeshift bed, made of blankets and pillows.Too tired to properly undress, I lay down and shut my eyes, my moonstone necklace a comforting weight against my chest, even if I probably should have taken it off before bed as well. “Sleep well, Corvin,” I murmured. I hoisted myself up onto my elbows after getting no response. He was already asleep, out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. I watched him a moment longer, affectionately, before laying back down, ready to let sleep claim me too.
The grass was cool and spongy beneath my bare feet. I breathed deeply, inhaling fresh air—while I took in the night sky overhead. Why was I out here again? Oh, right, to look at the full moon. The meadow was calm, the perfect place to take in her rounded face, to bathe in her gentle glow. She was resting on the farthest hill, close enough I could touch her surface if I wanted. That was nice. That she had drifted down from the sky to be closer to me.
Picking at a thread on my olive-green cotton nightgown, I took off across the meadow, strolling toward the moon, toward the silvery, ephemeral moonlight pouring off her in all directions. As I got closer, it swirled around my ankles like a thick fog. Only it wasn’t fog; it was liquid moonlight, filling the meadow.
A softy whinny diverted my attention. There was a horse flying into the meadow—a rider astride its back. I changed course, tracking its descent. It landed amidst a herd of winged horses, roaming and grazing in an adjoining meadow. It tucked its white wings tight against its dappled gray flank while the rider gracefully dismounted. He summoned his own midnight-black wings when his feet touched the ground. I knew thosewings.Corvin.I grinned, running through the meadow toward him, my hair flying freely behind me.
As soon as he turned toward me, I launched myself into his arms. His eyes went wide, trying to catch me, but I’d taken him by surprise, and while he tried to shift his balance, my momentum sent us both tumbling into the grass. We rolled together, coming to rest with his body on top of mine. He propped himself up on his elbows, looking down at me with an amused smile. “Hello,Moonflower.” I smiled up at him with barely restrained happiness. “Kiss me,” I breathed.
He needed no further encouragement. He was still on top of me when we broke the kiss.
I ran a hand up and down his arm. “I had a good day with you.”
He blinked down at me. “Me too.”
I reflected on the festival. “It’s a shame we don’t live in Kothia; screaming was oddly cathartic.” Corvin tensed, his voice low and rough, eyes never leaving mine, as he said, “If you ever get the urge to scream again, Elvira, I would be happy to assist.” Heat coiled restlessly through my core. Somehow, I didn’t think he meant by scaring me.
Corvin lifted himself off me, taking up a casual position, leaning against the winged horse, ankles crossed. I stood up too, brushing off my black silk nightgown. I fingered the silk, confused. Had I been wearing it earlier? Corvin watched me, gaze hot. “You’re gorgeous, Elvira.”
Looking at him, I was overcome with a sense of yearning so potent it was almost painful. I suddenly felt like I was on a precipice, in danger of falling, falling, falling into him. Would he catch me? Or…? “Who are you, Corvin?” I asked him, a question that was becoming a common refrain between us. But this time, there was realneedfueling the words. His answer was not what I expected.
“Catch me.” A devilish grin crossed his face.
“What?” I echoed, bewildered.
“Catch me, and I’ll tell you who I am.” He stepped away from the horse, unfurling his wings, before taking to the sky.
“Now that’s just unfair,” I called after him. His eyes danced with laughter. “You’re resourceful; you’ll think of something,” he called back down, his wings beating as he hovered above me.Such a cheat,but I was grinning just as wickedly as he was, a mental image playing on repeat—me knocking him out of the sky, and holding him to his word.
Corvin began to fly away. I leapt up onto the back of the winged horse; I intended to give chase.
Gripping the horse’s mane, I directed him to fly closer to Corvin. Laughing wildly, Corvin swooped through the air, dodging my every attempt to grab at him, circling the horse again and again, teasing me, maneuvering just out of reach as soon as I got too close. I was going to need a different plan.
