“Hey, I happen to like my boots. Very expensive.” Gavinjoined us at the rail, his arm wrapping around my shoulder. “But see, even Cass gets it. Not all heroes need worship.” He laced his fingers through mine and brought my knuckles to his lips. “Though my skills are as highly praised as my rugged good looks. Not to mention—” He patted his chest. “This whole masterpiece.”
I rolled my eyes. “Someone take me back to the sea… before Gavin’s ego gets completely out of hand.”
“That ship has sailed, Marin,” Bowen said, his mouth twitching. “Honestly, I’m not even sure there ever was a ship.”
Cass gave me a sly look, her gaze flicking to where Gavin’s arm was still wrapped around my shoulder. “At least you finally started paying attention.” She let out a dramatic sigh. “I love it when two people take years of strife and backhanded comments to finally come together. Fate is beautifully twisted.”
Bowen’s eyes creased with his smile. “It is, and I’m finally getting my manor back. He’s your problem now, Marin.”
I peered up at Gavin’s scruff-lined jaw. “He’s always been my problem. That’s what happens… when a relentless thief… stumbles upon a wary jewel.”
Gavin’s eyes met mine, the wind sailing through his disheveled hair. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to.
Bowen glanced toward the cliffs, his expression sobering. “We’ll be here when you get back.”
Cass nodded, her voice cracking slightly. “Making sure this thief doesn’t slack on fixing up your house.”
I swallowed hard against the ache in my throat. Then I hugged each of them one last time.
I knelt in front of Annie and held up the sea glass.
“I think I’ll take this one with me… for good luck. But we’ll find more when I get back.”
“Promise?”
Lightning speared overhead, and thunder boomed, stealing my response. I squeezed her shoulder and glanced at Bowen. His gaze had already lifted to the billowing clouds.
“Annie, wait inside the manor until we get back. Stay away from the windows.”
She hesitated, then jolted as a crack of thunder split the air. Wrapping her gloved hands around her arms, she slipped inside the manor and closed the door.
The wind had shifted, roaring in from the sea, carrying the storm with it. Gavin checked the cutlass strapped to his back, then handed me the shard, followed by a dagger he drew from his belt, hilt-first.
“Take this too. Just in case. Sea glass isn’t my favorite choice of weapon.”
I took them both without argument; the dagger’s weight was solid in my grip, the shard humming beside it. My fingers tightened around the shard. Whatever waited beyond the waves, I’d face it head-on. We’d come this far, it was time to finish this.
A violent crash of waves against the cliffs sent a chill down my spine.
Bowen hoisted an axe from a pile of split wood nearby, and Cass adjusted the strap on her satchel. A blade etched with vines was attached to her hip. None of us spoke, but we all felt it. The storm carried more than rain and wind. There was magic in the air, and with it, a cold swell of dread.
The four of us started down the path to the beach in silence.
Sand crunched beneath our boots as we neared the shoreline. The sea was dark, roiling with fury as if it knew I was coming home, and it wanted to stop me.
My curse tightened like a vise inside my chest, even though the waves crashed and salt infused the air. The witch was close. I could feel her on the wind. Sickly tentacles of magic coiled around my ribs.
The shard trembled in my hand, and I clutched it tighter, afraid the wind would rip it away.
Gavin gripped my hand, pulling me to a stop before we reached the edge of the water. He looked at me like that night by the vine when he’d kissed me in anger because I’d tried to run away. Haunted by screams of the past. By losing control. By almost losing me.
When I’d begged him to let me go.
I reached for the chain around my neck, wrapping my fingers around the compass. Then I held it up for him to see.
“It’s not letting go,” I said softly. “If I’m taking you with me.”
Gavin’s jaw clenched. He didn’t speak, just stared at the compass as if he could will it to bring me back.
