Leena’s eyes fluttered. “He doesn’t like the name you picked out for him. Think of something else.”
Kost blanched. “What?”
Leena tapped her forehead, her smile turning lazy as sleep started to take her under. “Two minutes into the future, remember?”
I let out a quiet chuckle and caught Leena just as she sank to her knees. I barely had time to sweep her into my arms before she lost everything to unconsciousness. A soft murmur, and she nuzzled into me. My heart shuddered with her nearness. With the rightness of her weight against my chest. Kost’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, but I only shook my head. Her outcome had been predetermined the moment she walked through my door.
* * *
We hit Ortega Key just as evening shifted to night. A cylindrical rycrim core towered high into the sky, showering the surrounding city with magical energy. Cheerful lights glowed against the night, windows thrust open to welcome the gentle breeze heavy with the scent of salt. A crescendo of ocean waves crashed in the distance, and our Zeelahs’ hooves sank into white sand.
Somewhere along the way, pines and firs had shifted to palm trees.
“There’s the inn. I’ll arrange our accommodations.” Kost trotted ahead to the first structure on the outskirts of the city. Ironclad light fixtures lit the face of the bamboo-slatted building. The clanging metal insignia hanging above the door featured a dead pig on a spit with the words The Roasted Boar engraved along the bottom.
Calem followed after Kost, Leena’s bag-laden Zeelah in tow. She’d been unconscious since the taming, and I’d wisely left her to Ozias.
He rode up beside me, Leena tucked between his chest and the neck of his mount, and he grinned. “I dunno about you, but I’m ready for a good scrubbing.”
“Same.” The town was alive with seafaring folk. They wandered the streets and docks, belting conversations at unnecessary decibels. They were so different from the people of Wilheim. So…free. Tanned from days in the sun, they wore light garb and buckled, open-toed shoes. Laughter was so joyous and constant that it could have been mistaken for music. But they had that, too—men and women with drums and lutes sitting in circles around crackling bonfires. Their rumbling chorus welcomed the boats ceaselessly docking and departing from the city.
Tilting my head to the sky, I studied the low-hanging moon. A smearing of emerald light stretched across the indigo night—a fissure in the darkness that was brighter than the smattering of stars. We’d left our world entirely for something grander. More alive.
Ozias let out a low whistle. “We should come here more often.” A soft moan worked its way through Leena’s lips, and she buried her head into his chest. Ozias tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear. “She’ll be okay, right?”
Jealousy was a beast, and I feared Leena was the only Charmer skilled enough to tame it. “She’ll be fine.”
With a heavy yawn, she dug her palms into her eyes. “Where are we?”
“Ortega Key. You slept the whole way.” Ozias shifted to give her space, and she blinked up at him. Realization slammed into her fast, and she went rigid in the saddle.
“I’m sorry.” Her gaze shifted to me for a moment before skittering away.
“You needed the rest.” I tried in vain to ignore the impossible longing to hold her in my arms. Our Zeelahs slowed as we approached the inn, and I nodded toward Calem already unloading our bags. “Take it easy.”
“Sure.” She didn’t look my way. Once the Zeelah stopped, she jumped down and pushed through the double doors without another word.
Kost emerged from the inn, irritation lacing his gait. “She just stormed in and took the key without thanking me.”
“Did you thank her for the beast?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
“Noc’s got a point.” Calem reached for the Zeelahs’ reins. Kost opened his mouth, but Calem cut him off. “And don’t even give me that ‘She tried to murder me’ crap. She bested you. That’s all you care about. She bested me, too. I’m over it.” He turned his back to Kost’s slack jaw. “Ozias, there’s a stable up the road. Come with me?”
Ozias pursed his lips in a horrid attempt to hide his grin. “Sure, but let’s make it quick. I want to clean up.”
“And I want to hit the town.” With a wink, Calem prowled down the street with Ozias close behind.
“About Leena—”
“Enough, Kost.” Baring my teeth, I flexed my hands. “I’m not in the mood.”