Page 20 of Rise of the Isle of the Lost (Descendants 3)

She shook her head as she drew both hands away and took the length of cotton, shaking it out and folding it in half, then applying the knife to it again so she was left with two pieces.

“I will take the half with the knot,” she murmured, handing me the other, frayed length and my dagger.

I took it gently, frowning. “What—”

She took the ends of the cotton and began to twist them in opposing directions until the length tightened and twisted like a small piece of thin rope. Then she offered it to me. “Would you… tie it onto my ankle? Like a bracelet?”

Suddenly moved, I swallowed and took it gently from her, then knelt at her feet to tie that simple cotton around her ankle, forced to loop it twice because her limbs were so tiny.

When I straightened, she looked at me, her eyes large. “Keep your half,” she said. “However you want to. Just… keep it.”

“Show me. Help me… I want to wear it too,” I said gruffly, offering her the length of cotton she’d given me.

Blowing out a breath and blinking a couple times, she took it from me and twisted it as she had her own. Then she knelt at my feet and tied it around my ankle. It could only loop once, and it was a good thing she had such little fingers, because there was barely enough left to knot it. But she managed, then laid a hand on my shin for a moment, before she stood.

I didn’t wait for her to raise her eyes from it, but slipped a hand into the hair at her nape, cupping her neck, then leaned down and kissed her—slowly, deeply. Not the kiss of passion, but of love. She reached up quickly and gripped the back of my neck as well, holding me into the kiss tightly. When we did break it, neither of us moved away.

I opened my eyes to meet hers. “I’m sorry that my duty required this,” I whispered.

She shook her head. “Don’t be. It’s life. Gall is too important. I want you to go to him.”

I nodded again. “Thank you.” Then I cleared my throat. “I don’t know how long this is going to take.”

“I know, it’s fine—”

“No, Yilan, it’s not. We have to…youhave to be ready,” I said hoarsely.

Her eyes got big as I straightened, still keeping my hand on her neck, not moving away, but looking down at her from whatever advantage my height gave me, and swallowing hard.

“If something keeps me… if something goes wrong, you have to go,” I whispered.

Her eyes got wary. “Melek—”

“You gave me your word,” I growled. “Do not break it, Yilan.”

“I won’t, but until I know—”

“There is no time or room for error now,” I said huskily. “If I do not return by dark and Jann doesn’t bring word, you need to go.”

“But—”

“Yilan, please don’t make me order it. Please… I pray I will return soon. I pray this is simply youth and vigor caught up in the celebrations. But if it isn’t… Ineedto know that you’re safe.”

Her beautiful throat bobbed and she nodded silently.

“Use your judgment. Use those instincts. Even if it is only hours… ifanythinghappens before I return, go. Go swiftly, and don’t look back. If I come back and you’re not here…”

Her forehead pinched to lines. “No. It’s not… that’s not what’s happening right now.”

There was a high edge of fear in her tone, so I pulled her into my chest.

“I pray it isn’t also. But I’m telling you, Yilan. Don’t hesitate. Do you understand?”

She nodded against my chest, her arms wrapping around my waist and squeezing.

“You promised me, Yilan. You gave me your word.”

“I won’t break it,” she breathed, but her grip on me tightened. “But I am praying that you’re back soon and… this isn’t goodbye.”