Page 122 of Storm and Sea

“Don’t let this beat you,” Nephi said, catching himself by surprise. He felt Leo’s gaze on him but couldn’t bring himself to meet it. His throat tightened as he spoke again, the words more firm this time. “Whatever it is, you need to come out on top.”

Because nothing is allowed to break you before I get the chance.

“I won’t. I’ll endure it. Like I always do.”

Nephi nodded, satisfied with his answer. “Good.”

Nephi liked this human. Liked his fighting spirit. Not unlike another fighting spirit he once knew. Maybe he’d keep this human around. Maybe he’d leave Baia Vita and let this one live. But one look at those golden curls, the seamless glide of his amber skin, and the way his thin upper lip dipped just right—Nephi knew that was impossible.

He’d have this human. He’d have him and watch him shatter like glass. Feel his blood drip between his talons in a crimson rain.

“Who are you really?” Leo asked, breaking the stillness. “I never see you around town.”

“A phantom.”

Leo let out a mirthless laugh. “At this rate, I’m inclined to believe you.” He took a handful of sand and watched it slide between his fingers. “Especially on this beach.”

“Tell me about it—why you come here.”

“You’ll think I’m crazy.”

“You assume I don’t already think that.”

Leo took a deep breath. “I’m pretty sure a sea monster saved me from drowning and left me here on the beach. There, see? Crazy.”

Nephi chewed the inside of his cheek. He’d been hoping for a bit more than that.

“You don’t look surprised,” Leo said after a moment.

“Nothing surprises me.”

“Really?” He shifted. “Not even this?”

Nephi’s palm was up, and he snatched the pebble from midair before it hit his head.

Leo whistled. “Impressive. How did you know I would do that?” he asked, and Nephi was glad to see some of the darkness in his eyes gone.

He preferred him this way: engaged, alive.

Ripe for picking.

“You’re predictable.”

“How so?”

“Because you’re human.”

Leo rolled his neck, working out a knot in his muscles. “Aren’t we all?”

No, my prey. We are not.

“Remind me again why we can’t do this when the sun rises?” Atreus complained for the tenth time, smacking the torch against his palm until the bulb came back to life. It was a moonless night, and without the flashlight, Marina couldn’t see her own hand in front of her face. The group paused, waiting for the beam to return before continuing.

“I want the kids to be surprised.” Marina rolled her eyes even though none of them could see it. “Obviously.”

“And they wouldn’t be surprised if we did this during the day?” Atreus’s voice grumbled in the dark somewhere to her right.

“Where is the fun in that? They will see us putting up the flags, and all the mystery will be gone. It’s like Babbo Natale on Christmas morning.”