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Magnus smirks. “Happy anniversary.”
“We’re not married yet.”
“It’s an early present. Isla painted you in. It’s the perfect scene now.”
Planting a kiss on Magnus’s cheek, I say, “You’re perfect.”
“Careful, you don’t want that going to my head.”
Our gazes catch, reflecting our mutual love. Mouths are about to come together when footfalls approach at a rapid clip.
“Hey, I was looking for you guys.” It’s CJ.
“Did you see Harley?”
CJ grunts. “No, I got this. It’s addressed to Lally. Didn’t think it was a good idea for her to be up here in the dark.”
“She’s with me,” Magnus says protectively.
“And she’s been known to board ghost ships at night.”
Magnus eyes me. “I suppose I can never be too careful.”
My arms sling in front of my chest. “Ha ha, guys. I’m not about to run off and set sail tonight. Have you noticed what I’m wearing?”
Magnus wears a private smile. “Yes, I have.”
“What is it, CJ?” I ask, nodding to the box in his hand.
“I, um, opened it.”
“That’s a federal offense.”
“It doesn’t have postage.”
“What’s in it.”
“A bottle. An empty bottle of Sempre Spirits with a note that says,Rematch?”
I tuck my head back.
Magnus peers into the darkness, daring anyone to come closer. “Let’s get back to the party.”
“I think we should talk,” CJ says, catching up to us and listing all the items Chip left to the brothers.
“And you got the Salty Skeleton. No one knows what that is,” Magnus says, accusingly.
“But we have two stones for the crown. One to go. Two pieces of the map.”
“Two more to go?” I ask.
“And the crown.”
“Exactly. Maybe the Dark Seas captain can help.”
Magnus stops in his tracks and rounds on his little brother. “Royal is finally happy. I’ve never seen him smile this much in his entire life. As for Ryan, if Harley is here he may have an issue on his hands. Me, I’m over the moon. You, Brother, I know you have connections. It goes unspoken between us, like we made a mutual but silent agreement not to discuss classified topics, but don’t think I don’t recognize things.”
CJ’s expression remains impassive. I don’t ask questions. Strictly speaking, this is brother business.
