“All right. But first—” His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You’re not planning to run the second I turn my back, are you?”
“That’s what you’re worried about? I have no intention of traipsing through a swampy, desolate bog all by myself.” I smirked, nudging him in the bicep with my finger. “In fact, I expect you to carry me.”
“You’re cute. Don’t tempt me with a good time.”
I shoved a towel into his chest, hard enough to make him stumble back a step. All it got me was a low, throaty laugh. The man was impossible. There was no taming him. So I did what I do best and left him standing by the edge of the pool.
Pulling my tunic over my head, I let it fall to my feet and dipped a toe into the water. The temperature was deliciously cool and refreshing. I arched my neck, savoring the morning sun against my skin and the warm, fragrant breeze.
Gavin still lingered. He scraped a hand over the scruff on hisjaw, watching as I entered the pool. His gaze scorched along the thin linen wrap I’d knotted at my shoulder. I let my finger slide along the edge of the fabric.
Two can play, thief.
Muttering something under his breath, he finally trudged up the stone steps.
A woman with silver hair piled high on top of her head, soaked at the far end of the pool. She’d been watching us, her gaze following Gavin’s disappearing form before locking eyes with me. I gave her an awkward wave before sinking deeper into the water.
How embarrassing.
She probably assumed we were lovers. Little did she know that barely a week ago, I'd pressed a dagger to his throat before he outwitted me in a heist. Then I chained him to a rail and tried to run off. It wasn’t a timeless love story.
We were messy, dancing around each other, waiting to see which one would break first. And Gavin was worried I'd run again. Which, to be fair, made sense. I should already be planning my escape. But Gavin hadn’t given me a reason to run. Only reasons to stay.
And that, right there, was the whole problem.
Because even as a sigh of pleasure escaped my lips, and the restorative saltwater eased my aching muscles, it was only a fleeting relief.
With an uneasy glance, I peered at my legs through the rippling surface. Just what I feared. The shimmering scales were back. Stronger this time. Spreading. I moved my toes, but I could barely feel them.
A breath hitched in my throat as pressure constricted my ribs. Each inhale grew thinner, until it felt like the air wasvanishing faster than I could take it in.
Last night, I’d blamed that same breathless feeling on the altitude, telling myself I’d acclimate. But I knew better.
Time was running out. My curse was progressing a little more every day. How many days did I have left? I tried to count them, but they all blurred together. Six, maybe seven? And we still had to find the shard and make it back down the vine. It would be dangerously close. Maybe impossible as my symptoms worsened.
Which was why I couldn’t let myself fall any deeper for Gavin. Because if this thing between us was real, if I let myself believe it, and then failed, Saltgrave would feel like a pleasure cruise down an enchanted river.
See, not a love story. A tragedy.
The spasms passed, and my breaths slowly evened. I gazed over the cliff at the cloud line. Wisps of white drifted gently around the island in the sky like waves lapping a sandy beach.
My curse loomed beneath it all, waiting to drag me back.
And if I didn’t go?
I was dead.
The old woman swam closer, studying me between leafy fronds. Her gaze flicked to the sheen of scales on my legs before drifting upward, settling on my hair.
“My husband mentioned we had a pair of treasure hunters staying with us. I’ve seen all kinds, but it’s not often we get travelers with sea blood up here.”
I stiffened, but she said it so casually as if the shimmer of scales didn’t faze her at all, while it filled my stomach with dread. But I couldn't hide the truth. I was just glad Gavin wasn’t here to see them. I didn’t think he’d take my iridescent death clock too well.
My fingers curled around the length of blue hair near my temple. “I used to think mermaids and ocean magic were a myth.”
She chuckled and gave me a knowing look. “Ah, yes. There are so many myths, but most turn out to be real. People call this realm a myth until they climb the vine and see for themselves.”
I gestured to the cliffs and clouds around us. “Can you blame them? A floating island. A giant’s castle filled with treasure. The first time I heard of this place was around a campfire.”
