Page 77 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

He leaned until his lips brushed the shell of my ear. “No, not by many. Just you.”

The unwanted heated feeling crept down my neck and much lower to places it shouldn’t. “Only because you’ve earned it.” I crossed my arms. After a thought I said, meeting his gaze to prove a point, “Repeatedly.”

“Mmmm,” he huffed, almost a laugh. “And yet you’re still in my presence. I think I’m growing on you.”

More than he knew, but I would never admit it.

“I’d rather face the Seelie queen. What does that tell you?” The railing suddenly became something I had to touch.

He chuckled lightly. He didn’t believe me.

A gust pulled at my hair, on the other side the crew stirred.

“Where are we headed?” I asked to get that smirk off his face that was doing funny things to my heart.

“We’re headed to the Yellow Sea, the Kingdom called Auris. I have someone I trust who will keep everyone safe. You and your friend should think about staying there too.”

He had forgotten about my personal mission, to rescue my family from the horrible cavern. But I didn’t remind him.

“Why there?” Though I had no idea where they would be safe. “The queen will search for us, won’t she?”

He shrugged. “Or find more humans to mine Mount Kael. But do not fear, I’ve got the mountain all in control.”

“How? What are you going to do?”

“Again…” he tsked. “So curious.”

I let it go since he wouldn’t tell me, no matter how much I pushed. And the more we stood here talking, I couldn’t stop thinking about what he did to that blond woman.

For a while neither of us said anything, just staring out into the darkness of the ocean, the swaying from the water.

“You did a good thing, Little Star,” he said, breaking the silence.

“You didn’t arrive at Mount Kael by luck.” I studied his face, waiting for the lie. “You knew we were going there. Didn’t you?”

He didn’t answer right away. The wind pulled at his hair, and for a moment he just looked at the stars while the ship rocked gently.

“Yes,” he said finally. “I found out you were sent to Mount Kael.”

“How?”

“Does it matter? I found you. That’s all that should matter tonight.” His expression hardened. “One day I’ll tell you everything. Tonight, let it be enough that you’re safe. That they’re safe.” He nodded toward the lower deck, toward where Hope, Faith, Sunny, and the rest of the children were asleep. “That’s not a small thing, Star.”

Him complimenting me did funny things in my belly.

“Whatever the reason, I thank you.” I dipped my head. “Well, enjoy your sleep.” Then I murmured for only my ears, “With Selene.”

I took a step to leave but his fingers wrapped around my wrist, halting me. A sudden dip of the wave caused me to stumble forward and I smacked into his chest, all soft parts of me against the hard planes of his body.

He smelled like pine and honey. This close, the faint scar cutting through one dark eyebrow was impossible to miss, the sharp line of his jaw shadowed with a day’s stubble, the way his mouth, even set in that infuriating almost-smile, looked like it had been carved by someone who’d taken their time. Suddenly there wasn’t enough cold air to cool me down.

His arms around me tightened, his blue eyes darkening. “You know her name?”

“What name?” I swallowed. “I don’t—”

“Like I said, Little Star…” His gaze lowered to my mouth then to my eyes, his thumb tracing a slow, idle circle on my back. “You’re not a good liar. Besides, you should know that my kind have great hearing.”

His kind? If not a Seelie, then what was he? No, not a Seelie, his mother nor he had pointy ears.