Stormbreak (Seafire #3) - Natalie C. Parker Page 0,98

his delegation to make arrangements. Amina didn’t follow. Her eyes landed on a point over Caledonia’s shoulder and suddenly, she wasn’t a part of their conversation any longer. With a small gasp, Amina moved as though pulled by an unseen force, her steps measured and strong as she passed Caledonia and crossed the dock until she stood mere inches from Hime.

The smaller girl breathed hard, as though she’d raced across the entire city to get here. Her hair had come loose from its short braid and her eyes were wide and unbelieving as she tipped her head back to stare into Amina’s face.

Then, taking Hime’s face in her hands, Amina pressed a deep kiss to Hime’s lips.

After a second, Hime pushed up on the tips of her toes, wrapping her arms around Amina’s neck and blocking their kisses from view.

“They’re going to make me blush.” Pine pulled his eyes away from the couple with a small smile.

“I thought that was Sledge’s job,” Pisces teased.

“Sometimes,” Pine answered, turning his dark gaze firmly on Pisces. “But we’re not exclusive, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Caledonia was certain she’d never seen her sister blush so hard or so fast. Her light brown cheeks, already rosy from all the excitement, flushed a deeper pink that spread down her neck. Her eyes skated down Pine’s torso, where sweat held his shirt tight across his densely muscled chest and stomach, and then darted away to Caledonia’s face.

“I should go make arrangements for their people, right?” Pisces asked a little too forcefully. “I think I should, so I’m going to go do that.”

Caledonia couldn’t contain the laugh that fell from her lips. Pisces had never been shy, but she preferred discretion when it came to her entanglements, as she called them. Flirting openly was a sure way to drive her usually levelheaded nature deep underground. A strategy Redtooth had frequently employed to avoid her least favorite duties on the Mors Navis.

The dock cleared and news traveled swiftly through the town. By that evening, Far had prepared a feast, and pockets of revelry cropped up along the wharf.

It was the celebration they hadn’t had an opportunity to take and it was long overdue. In another day, they would sail to fight again. Caledonia might even find herself facing her own brother, but right now, they could enjoy this moment of alliance and the return of their lost friend.

“You’re coming with me tonight,” Pisces said as Caledonia returned an empty plate to the kitchens.

“I shouldn’t,” she protested.

But Pisces wasn’t having any of it. “You should,” she said, dragging her down to the wharf, where a racous fire was ringed with dancing figures.

Strains of fiddle and flute raced above the throaty beat of a single drum, and bottles winking dark red in the firelight traveled from hand to hand. Among the revelers were Amina and Hime, their hair loosed and flying around them as they spun to the rhythm of the song. Just behind them came Tin and Nettle, their cheeks rounded with smiles.

“We should dance,” Pisces said into Caledonia’s ear.

“I don’t think I do that.” In fact, Caledonia was sure her body didn’t move that way, especially with her ribs still aching. The thought of tossing her arms to the sky without worrying what was behind her or beside her or ready to drive a dagger into her belly left her physically uncomfortable.

Pisces laughed, tugging Caledonia forward a little at a time. “I’ll be right beside you,” she said. “I’ll protect you.”

“I don’t need protection.” They were near enough now that the fire warmed her skin, and the sounds of her girls laughing together were tempting.

“You do,” Pisces said. “But mostly from yourself.”

Caledonia hadn’t joined them the night of their victory at Cloudbreak seven moons ago. The battle had left a heavy burden on her shoulders, and the thought of dancing when so many deaths lay at her feet had been untenable. But this moment was different. They were once more on the brink of the unknown, and in another day she would have to bear the weight of every life she intended to risk, but tonight . . . perhaps she could take a moment that was just for her.

She let a smile stretch her lips as she nodded to Pisces, who whisked them into the dance with a small yelp of joy. The fire was hot, and the ground warm beneath their feet as they traveled in a ring. Caledonia followed her sister’s lead, raising her arms to