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I’m lying on the ground, with cold air rushing over me. I gulp great breaths of it, coughing and hacking. The cold freedom of it is the best thing I’ve ever felt.

A hand grabs me and I panic, lashing out. There’s a grunt of pain and then arms wrap around me. “Look at me,” a voice says. It’s the voice I love most in the world, and I match it to the arms around me and slowly relax. “Look at me, Blue.”

Levi’s crouched beside me, holding me tightly. “There you are,” he says, his face blazing with relief.

I blink. “I do really think I’ve definitely had a worse time than you,” I croak.

He snorts as he buries his face in my hair.

“Where’s Branok?” I ask, looking around.

“He’s gone.”

I gape at him. “Gone where?”

“He vanished. I found his body,” he says sadly. I feel the echo of it in my chest. Branok’s become a friend to both of us. Obviously, we know he’s long dead, but finding out more details surrounding his death is… Well, it’s awful.

“I think you finding him is what saved me,” I mutter. “I heard a bang and she let go of me. Freeing Branok must’ve removed the graveyard from the power of the wreckers’ magic.”

“She? Who had you?”

“Some old bird in a coffin.”

I’m trying for humour, but my voice cracks. My heart is beating so fast I can feel it thrumming in my ears, echoing the panic that’s still coasting through me.

“Shh,” he whispers, rocking me slowly. “It’s okay now, sweetheart. I have you.”

We have so much to do, and we need to get out of here before dawn comes and someone finds us next to the scene of a grave robbing. Instead of telling him this, I snuggle into his arms and hug him tightly, pressing a kiss to the side of his face and wherever I can reach. Everything else can wait for a bit.

CHAPTER 18

BLUE

“Imight not be able to make that,” I say, looking up at the hill leading to the cottage.

Levi leans against the sea wall with a slow, tired smile. “Want me to carry you?”

“You’d just drop me.”

“Oh, ye of little faith. I’ll have you know that I’ve got muscles like Popeye.”

“As long as you don’t wear that silly little hat, we’ll be fine.” We start up the hill slowly. On our left, the sea is a restless black gleam, but on the horizon, a faint pink light is appearing. Dawn isn’t far away.

“How far do you think we’ve walked tonight?” I ask.

“Seven miles according to my watch.”

“What the fuck? Grave robbing is not for the fainthearted.”

“You’re telling me. My Apple watch categorised it as weightlifting.”

“It’s my honeymoon, not a training day with the army. I’m going to have words with Branok.” My stomach twists in sudden dread.

“I’m sure he’s alright.” Levi squeezes my arm.

“Do you think he’s gone? We found his body.”

He hesitates. “I’m not sure,” he says.