A hand rose, tilting before her as she reached for the sunbeams cascading through the window, fingers twirling before her in the air.
Peace.
This was peace.
"You called it back."
Luella opened her eyes, wondering when they had slipped shut, as she turned, finding none other than King Vale standing there, watching her.
He wore dark breeches, a white shirt tucked into the high waistline. The way the sun cut through the window made the material of his billowy shirt nearly transparent, granting glimpses of golden skin and cut muscles. His golden hair caught the light, green eyes sparkling like emeralds.
"Did I?" she asked huskily, voice thick with sleep.
His eyes darkened, tension lacing the quiet air. Her wings shivered.
"You did." Vale walked further into the room. Her head tipped back as he came to stand by the window, his side not quite close enough to brush hers. He stared at the sea as he said, "How do you feel? You slept for three days."
Shock filled her. "Three days?"
The King seemed unusually subdued as he spoke. "You needed it. Your fever broke as you slept. Your storm has left us, and we sail true. We will arrive at the Fallen Isles in three weeks’time." He turned to look down at her; he was so regal, even with a shadow of golden hair along his unshaven jaw, and the slightest of smudges under his eyes. Had he been sleeping? "We have three weeks stuck on this ship together, and much to talk about…"
She swallowed. Three weeks stuck at sea.
"There is much we need to discuss. I believe the time for secrets has long passed," he said lowly, a hand raising, stilling in the air before her, the very tips of his fingers brushing over her sleep-tangled hair. The many rings on his fingers caught the light, small rainbows dancing over the backs of his hands. "Don’t you, darling?"
She was rendered speechless before him and could only manage a nod.
Time stretched on, and the faint whistle of air outside the ship was their only companion.
She looked down at herself, finding the hem of Az’s shirt fluttering around her thighs, bare toes scrunching on the wood floor. Her hand surreptitiously raked through her hair, catching in tangles. She winced. "I need to freshen up."
The thread between them crackled with embers.
His palm finally touched her skin, warm as it cupped her cheek, while his rings were cold. She hated how that contrast made her knees tremble. She didn’t know what she wanted more: to escape him, or lean into him.
Vale forced her face up to his. "Can you manage it, Princess Luella?"
It took her a long moment to understand what he was asking of her.
Thewater.
Though he held her face up, he could not make her look at him—she let her lids drift closed, gathering courage.
"Get Az?" she uttered.
Smoke wafted over her face. "If you look at me."
She opened her eyes, finding the King’s to be wholly consumed with possession as he stared down at her. Dark smoke curled from the corners of his mouth, yet his hand was still against her cheek. She fumbled with the chain of the bracelet around her wrist, making soft tinkling noises.
His other hand reached down, catching hers and bringing their joined hands up between them. His fingers encircled her wrist as he held her bracelet-clad hand up, his green eyes tracking the way the delicate chain was looped around her flesh, the sun and moon charms sparkling much like the rings on his fingers. Entranced, he stared, forcing her arm further up, her shoulder straining as he brought her hand up to his mouth, lips lightly pressing upon the ticklish spot in the middle of her palm, making her breath catch. Warm smoke curled around her fingers as he breathed over her skin, his thumb rubbing over the chain of the bracelet.
Luella watched him, curious and shocked as he held her hand like that. Finally, he let her go, her arm falling back to her side.
Vale stepped away from her, shoulders taut. "Do not leave from here. I will get your demon. Then, the truth will be laid bare."
Steam from the small wooden tub in the center of the room curled into her nose with every breath. Az had brought the tub in for her, water sloshing over the side as his muscles flexed. He hadn’t even broken a sweat as he set the tub down in the middle of what she learned was Vale’s quarters.
The sway of the ship made the heated water ripple, tiny waves lapping against the wooden lip. Her lungs cinched tight.
