Third a Kiss (Goddess Isles #3) - Pepper Winters Page 0,23

of being kissed by a bird.

Her tiny head bumped against my chin, bringing another unwanted wash of tears up my spine. “Ugh.” I swiped at the moisture with my knuckles, the diamond icy and sharp in my fist. “You know…before this whole mess, I never used to cry.”

Skittles cocked her head, listening attentively.

“It’s true. Before Sully, I’d never fainted. Before being kidnapped, I only cried out of frustration rather than grief.” I stroked her silky plumage. “Maybe it’s my parents’ fault that I’m fawning over a man who’s cold-hearted and cruel.”

Skittles bounced on my knees at Sully’s name but remained a rapt listener. “Mum and Dad weren’t exactly good role models of how a relationship should be. They bickered all the time, and the tension when they were together was awful. I was glad, not sad, when they got divorced.”

Yet another layer of pain found my heart, a strange kind of tower filled with recent pain, past pain, and overwhelming future pain.

“Maybe, there’s no such thing as ‘the one’ or soulmates or happily ever after. Maybe for girls like me, there’s possession, and trade, and new masters when the old ones get bored.”

Skittles twittered and rubbed her beak on my knee in sympathy. Her little personality had blossomed since she’d claimed me as her own. I was wrong when I thought she wasn’t as cute as Pika.

She was adorable. Adorable and sweet and kind and—

“Ugh, stop it!” I swiped at another stupid tear. “Just stop it. You tried; you failed. Tonight is probably your last night here, so go for a swim, soak in the island, and then never ever think about that man again.”

A squawk shredded the soft hish-hish of the ocean just as Pika dive-bombed from above, tucking in his wings, hurtling down like a green torpedo. I ripped around just as the pipsqueak parrot landed on the sand, fanning his wings and stomping his scaled feet in vibrant display.

My heart lurched.

Sully.

Pika normally appeared just before Sully did, flying ahead to torment me before his master could. But no man appeared from inside my villa. No visitor with an apology or explanation.

I slouched, twisting to face the sea again. Pika nibbled my toes, his black eyes so much more mischievous than his sister’s. Skittles chirped indignantly, puffing up as if she didn’t appreciate the rude interruption.

“Hey, Pika. Where did you come from?” I held up my hand, letting him flutter up and perch on my finger.

He squeaked, chattering on about life and nonsense.

“Seems they love you, Jinx. They don’t hang out with any other goddess, that’s for sure.”

I spun around so fast, Pika took wing off my finger with a snippy squawk.

My heart wanted it to be Sully. Disappointment flowed thick when I found a female instead.

“Jealousy…”

She laughed under her breath. “Don’t sound overjoyed to see me or anything.”

“Sorry. I am…just—I’m contemplating life and not liking my options.” I scooted to face her, waiting until she stepped off the deck to join me in the sand. In her hands rested a familiar garment. One that’d been torn into pieces and ripped off my body yesterday. A bejewelled dress that probably cost an absolute fortune and had been left in ruin on the path.

She laughed again as I blushed. “Recognise something?”

“Where did you get that from?”

“Cal asked me to walk the pathways after he very unceremoniously commanded all of us to return to our villas until further notice. He came to get me a few hours later to…clean up the mess. His words, not mine.” She giggled. “I found the pieces on the fork to Nirvana.”

I groaned under my breath as she dropped the glittery dress onto the sand and sat elegantly beside me. “Nirvana happens to be where Sully lives.” She nudged my shoulder with hers. “So…are you going to tell me what happened, or do I have to guess?” Her eyebrows waggled. “Because I’ve been guessing all day, and I really want to know if my imagination lives up to the reality.”

Pika and Skittles suddenly took off, abandoning us in a flurry of feathers.

Had they been summoned by Sully?

Could he hear us?

Did he expect me to stay mute on what’d occurred or could I share with Jealousy?

He said she’d be your only confidant.

So…confide.

Inhaling, I admitted in one long rush, “Sully was about to sell me so I dressed up as much as I could, stole a vial of elixir, spiked his drink, waited instead of running like he told me, let him use me however he wanted,