Twice a Wish (Goddess Isles #2) - Pepper Winters Page 0,37

to sleep.

* * * * *

Dawn crested far too soon.

The first island still seemed ages ahead, leaving me vulnerable on the open ocean. As the sky slowly lightened, I dug my oar deeper, wrenching out more power from over depleted muscles.

I had no choice but to keep going. Keep rowing. Keep trying.

My back crawled with fear that I was being followed, but I refused to look behind me; refused to entertain the possibility that I wouldn’t make it.

Sweat rivered under my clothes by the time I entered a rip around the rocky, palm tree crowded land. The sea carried me swiftly toward the splashing, crashing shore. I did my best to navigate around the island without puncturing a hole in the kayak or capsizing, only stopping when I found a tiny inlet with sand and an overhanging of banyan trees.

The parrot took off, flying into the many palms as I jumped out into knee-deep water and hauled the jade green kayak to shore. Doing my best to camouflage it, I tucked it under some trees.

Only once I’d scattered a few broken branches and foliage over the top did I grab my bag and crawl through the dense undergrowth.

It seemed this particular island was uninhabited—or at least, where I’d landed.

A raucous bird song hinted it was populated by animals other than humans. Peering into the treetops, hidden in dense foliage, and damp with sweat, I spotted the tiny parrot who’d kept me company during the night.

It sat eating some sort of berry, stripping the outer layer and indulging in the juiciness within. My own stomach growled, prompting a small breakfast from my rations. A sun-warmed orange and a slightly crushed pastry were followed by a few sips of water.

Packing my picnic away, I didn’t drink what my thirst demanded.

I would restrict myself carefully. Who knew how long this trip would take.

Thirsty, achy, and tired, I made a little nest of leaves and lay down.

At least I didn’t have to worry about hiding from people. I could rest in the shady undergrowth, recover from a night of rowing, and begin again at dusk.

* * * * *

I rowed for another night.

The tiny parrot perched on my bag and watched me dig the oar into the sea, over and over again. I didn’t know why it’d chosen to follow me. I didn’t know if I’d stolen something valuable from Sully unintentionally, but I was glad for its company. I found comfort in its intelligent black gaze as we continued to slice through black sky and even blacker ocean.

Occasionally, I’d shine my torch over the glossy surface, beaming illumination through the gloom, seeing gliding shadows of sea creatures, witnessing luminescent fish as they darted through the light, but most of the time, I rowed in utter darkness.

I could be going in circles.

I could be returning to Sully.

I could be rowing to my demise.

My back ached from twisting and spearing the oar into the water. My hands, even wrapped with one of my blouses, oozed blood and blisters.

I ignored it all.

Freedom was worth the pain.

By the time the sky lightened on the second day, a larger island beckoned up ahead. A smaller landmass heralded safety to my left, hinting Sully hadn’t been lying when he said he owned forty-four islands in his private archipelago.

The islands were scattered everywhere. Some close, some far. All of them potential friend or foe.

Pausing, I studied the left island. The size looked too small to hold habitation. It would be safe to rest without being caught. But the sheer sides offered no mooring for the kayak and I didn’t have the strength to row around the entire thing, searching for a bay, only to find none and have to keep going.

I needed to be off the open water before the sky pinked any brighter.

My eyes locked on the larger island ahead. Still a few kilometres away but doable if I summoned the final dregs of my energy. Striking off with renewed determination, the little parrot squawked and flapped its wings.

Goosebumps ran down my arms as it cocked its head, staring at the pre-dawn sky. It chirped again, this time with a worried question hidden in the avian dialogue.

I followed its stare, studying the world above me instead of the water around me. Fear appeared and spread through my heart, quick and insidious.

The sky wasn’t clear like usual.

Every day since I’d been on Sully’s island, the horizon usually held turquoise blue with the occasional rain cloud. Rain fell at night when

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