Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“Okay,” I say quietly, gently placing her on the bed. I go to the end of it, pull off her boots, thinking twice about taking off the rest of her clothes, and then pull the quilt over her, tucking it under her chin.
I place my hand on her head, staring at her with this overwhelming tenderness that’s taking me like a storm, tearing my heart to pieces, and I lean over, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Good night, Brynla,” I whisper against her skin before pulling back. “Please don’t hate me tomorrow.”
* * *
—
The Banished Land appears on the horizon like something out of a barren dream. A white haze barely visible beyond the shimmering heat lines and the sea. The closer we get, the more the haze takes shape into a dune-colored land that slopes up gently from the shore. A line of sharp cliffs and canyons runs along the north, a natural divider between the Banished Land and the rest of Esland, while the land slopes to the south. Far in the distance are chalklike mountains that lead to a giant volcano. I believe it’s dormant since there’s no smoke rising from the crater, but it’s a formidable beast all the same.
And somewhere, in the empty lava tubes left behind by that volcano’s last eruption, is the Dark City.
“It looks so pretty from a distance, doesn’t it?” Brynla says as she sidles up to me.
I glance down at her, surprised to see her up already. Most of the crew is sleeping still.
“I thought you’d sleep in,” I tell her, noting the dark circles under her eyes and her uneasy pallor, though she still looks absolutely stunning, even under this harsh desert light.
“I woke up to a racing heart and the urge to vomit,” she admits. “Thought fresh air would be the best thing for me.”
“You’re probably right. Though Toombs should start passing out the hair of the dog soon.”
She grimaces and squints into the sunlight. “I guess I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For acting like an utter fool last night.”
“You weren’t a fool,” I tell her. “You were just drunk.”
“Same difference.”
“Nah,” I tell her, tapping her elbow with mine. “Believe me, I know. You were fine. In fact, you were better than fine. It was nice to see you with your hair down, so to speak.”
At that her eyes go wide. She swallows.
“Did I…?” she begins.
“Did you what?” I ask, enjoying this too much already.
She licks her lips, her brows furrowed uneasily as she looks away. “Did I…Did we…I have a memory, a feeling…”
“Ah,” I say, giving her a reassuring smile. “You were drunk, that’s for certain, but you were fine. You didn’t do anything stupid.”
Relief floods her features and her shoulders lower. “Oh, thank the gods,” she says, giving me a nervous smile.
I nod and look back at the land. “You did kiss me, though.” She gasps. “Sorry it wasn’t very memorable,” I add.
I glance at her with a grin and she blinks, her face paling even more, holding her hand at her chest. “I’m so sorry,” she says, glancing at me only briefly. “I don’t know what came over me.”
I chuckle. “I do. You were drunk on grog rum or rum grog and your inhibitions were tossed overboard. Don’t worry, I found it mostly amusing.”
She breathes out shakily. “We didn’t…”
I shake my head and lean sideways against the rail, facing her. “No. We didn’t do anything else. Your dog would have never let that happen.”
She looks chagrined. “I guess that’s good to know. Wait. You found it mostly amusing?”
I give her a pointed look. “I enjoyed seeing that side of you, lavender girl,” I say, my voice lowering. “And I encourage you to let her out more often. But perhaps stay sober next time. So that I can take you up on it and not let my stupid morals get in the way. Though I have to say, if it weren’t for your dog, perhaps I’d be one moral less this morning.”
Her dark eyes widen slightly and I reach out, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. “Saying no to you was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.”
She gulps audibly and I run my thumb over her knuckles, knowing I might be overstepping my bounds, but after last night perhaps anything goes now. “It was the best kiss I’ve ever had,” I add. “I hope you decide to do it again one day.”
Her cheeks flush pink and she shakes her head, looking down at the deck. “Now I think I’m going to be sick.”
I laugh and let go of her hand. “Just what a man wants to hear. Not only is he an unmemorable kiss, but that same kiss has the ability to make a woman sick.”
She looks up and gives me a pained look, unsure of what to say.