10. Days Instead of Months

Bryan had already formed his opinions about us before I answered the door. Even if I couldn't read his discomfort, I could tell by his averted eyes and the red tinge to his cheeks. He holds the tray awkwardly, looking at the floor. "Cook made soup, Master Greybrow."

"Tell him we're grateful." I accept the tray, trying not to laugh. "Would you mind bringing us tea as well?"

"Course." His gaze darts over to Soleil for a fraction of a second, and then he stammers, "E-enjoy your meal."

I turn back into the room, chuckling when I see the guilty look on Soleil's face. "One look at you, and I'm sure he decided he interrupted more than he did."

Her embarrassment circles her, followed by a wisp of curiosity that I must not focus on. It will lead nowhere good.

Correction: it will lead somewhere very good. Very…tempting.

Clearing my throat, I set down the tray.

The fish broth is clear, with a pungent aroma and large hunks of white, flaky meat. Cubed potatoes accompany the fish, along with a few thin slices of carrot and peas that were likely reconstituted from a dry state.

I sigh as I ladle the soup into the two bowls. "We're already to that part of the expedition."

"What part?"

"When our cook runs out of fresh food and begins using fish, potatoes, and dried vegetables in everything."

"I'm just thankful he made us something hot. I'm so tired of dried fish."

I agree, admitting the soup tastes particularly good tonight. Starving for a few days apparently affects the palate.

As soon as I finish the meal, my eyes become heavy. With a groan, I rest my cheek on the table. "I'll just sleep here."

Soleil pushes back her chair and comes up beside me. I groan when she runs her hands over my back.

"You won't be very comfortable at the table," she says.

I murmur my agreement.

"I'll take the tray back to the galley," she offers. "You go on up to Davyn's cabin."

I groan, not wanting to move, especially when she's touching me.

"Or you could stay here," she offers. "I doubt you're much of a threat to my reputation in this state."

"There's no reason to say hurtful things." Grinning, I push myself up. "I'm going now." I wrap my arms around her, relishing that she's mine to hold, and then press a kiss to her temple. "Sleep well, Sunshine. We have a dragon to track in the morning."

"Looking forward to it," she deadpans, making me chuckle.

I then force myself out the door and up the stairs, pausing at the main deck door when another tickle in my throat makes me cough. It's a dry annoyance—an irritation no doubt caused by the musty air in the cave.

If it doesn't go away on its own, I'll have Gregory examine me once he's recovered from the ordeal.

The morning dawnswith rare sunshine. As I step onto the main deck and see its golden light turning the clouds in the east a buttery yellow, I decide to take it as a good sign for the day.

"Morning, Hudson," I say when I spot the first mate on the quarterdeck. I nod to his cup of tea. "That's very civilized of you."

"It soothes my nerves." He peers into the amber liquid. "And it's half whisky."

I chuckle, pressing my hands to my lower back and stretching. "Now that I've had some sleep, why don't you tell me what happened at camp? Why'd they desert it?"

"Two nights in a row, those monsters attacked—a couple dozen of them at least, or so I was told. A few of Lord Alvaro's men were lost the second night, but we didn't suffer any casualties. The crew from the Sea Rose decided they couldn't stay. There weren't enough of our men to defend the camp from repeated attacks, so they came back, too."

"Can't say I blame them. Neither crew was prepared for that. But why did they assume we were dead?"

Hudson scowls at the sunrise. "Loric claims he and several of Alvaro's men searched the mine for you, but…" He shrugs, obviously holding no admiration for the explorer.

"You don't think they looked?"

"I think he was too chicken to go far. You're alive, aren't you? He'd have found the team if he'd tried."

I'd like to agree with him, bitter the men so quickly assumed we were dead. But Loric's search party couldn't have followed us into the lower levels of the mine without a mage to operate the lift—which I don't believe they had.

And we have enough to worry about without holding grudges.

"Where is Loric?" I ask. "I haven't seen him about the ship."

"He's been staying on the Sea Rose," Hudson sneers.

With a sigh, I say, "I have to speak with Lord D'vain's second-in-command before Soleil and I take off anyway. I'll find Loric while we're over there."

"You're leaving already?"

"I'm afraid so."

We've already delayed too long, not that we had much choice. It's too dangerous to travel in the dark. I just hope that most of the monsters are still focused on the cave-in and not giving the camp in the bluewood any trouble—though the raids on the camp up top prove that not all of them are obsessing over the dragon. Could there be different clans? Or is there a group that's gone rogue and decided to start prowling the isle for food?

"I don't know about this island, Lukas," Hudson says darkly, taking a long swig of his tea. "It's felt ominous since we got here."

"We'll leave as soon as possible," I promise him. "Just control things here for a bit longer."

He nods, finishing the last of his drink in one gulp. "Will do."

I go below deck, expecting to find Soleil asleep. But she answers my knock almost immediately, fully dressed, hair already braided.

"You're up early," I say.

"A seagull perched on the rail above the window, making an awful racket at an ungodly hour." Something sad drifts around her. "And I felt bad I slept so comfortably when the others are still trapped in the cavern."

"We're going to rescue the dragon and get them out," I promise. "Today, if possible."

"What about the treasure?"

I don't have an answer to that. I frown, dipping my hand into my jacket pocket and feeling the two coins within.

"The mole trolls must have found the treasure," I say.

"You think one of them dropped the second coin when they raided the camp?"

"I do—and the first in the pit when they snared the dragon."

Soleil rubs her neck, looking weary despite our full night of sleep. "We don't have enough men to fight our way into their lair. We don't even know where their lair is."

If only Davyn and I could communicate with the monsters like we do animals, we might have a chance to recover the journal peacefully. But we can't.

I don't know what to do.

"Let's rescue the dragon first," I say, "and then we'll face the rest."

Soleil looks back at the bed, her face wistful and dread clouding her emotions. "It's going to be days until I see it again, isn't it?"

"Probably."

Her eyes move to me, her mood changing. "This is probably the last time we'll be alone for a while, too."

My blood runs a little warmer as she walks toward me. The corners of her eyes are creased with mischief, and her smile is full of promise.

I soak in the feel of her attraction. It's hot and bright, but it's woven with pure affection, which is soft and warm. It's the most addictive combination.

When she's close, I catch her by the waist, pressing my lips to her smirking mouth as she tilts her face up in invitation. Her hands rove up my chest to my shoulders. Her lips are sweet, parting under mine.

My mind marvels, slow to catch up. Soleil is kissing me—my Soleil. She's agreed to a courtship and given me permission to talk to her father.

It seems impossible.

After courting for a few months, as is customary in Kalae, I'll be allowed to ask for her hand, and our courtship will become an engagement. We could be married by the end of the year.

Or…we could ignore social custom and ask Gregory to marry us on the ship. We could elope.

Soleil presses into me, making the thought all the more tempting.

Days instead of months.

This cabin could be our cabin. My bed could be our bed.

But I dismiss the idea, embracing delicious torture instead. I want to stay the course and prove to Soleil that I'm in this for life. If we rush into marriage, I fear in time, she'll question if our match was the product of a whirlwind romance and hasty decisions. I don't want that, so I'll behave myself. Mostly.

"You smell like my soap again," I murmur as I drop my nose to the spot where her neck meets her shoulder, nudging aside her shirt to kiss the mole I discovered yesterday.

"You realize it's the only soap available, don't you?"

"It drives me mad."

Her breath hitches. "Lukas…"

There's a tentative invitation in my name. It's almost too much.

I trail my lips back up her smooth neck and then kiss her one last time. "That should hold me over for a while. What about you?"

Soleil stares at me, her eyes half-closed and her lips parted. "I don't think I'll ever get enough of you. So no, it won't hold me over." Her fingers twine in my hair. "But I'll try to be content."

I groan as I laugh, looping my arms around her waist and clasping my hands at the small of her back. "You can't say things like that, Sunshine. I only have so much willpower. We'll end up wasting the entire day in here."

"You said you like it when I tell you what I feel," she points out, a touch wicked.

"I did—I do."

"Then let me tell you. I like the way you hold me." Her eyes shine. With her free hand, she runs her finger over my jacket's stitching, as she often does. "I like the way you touch me."

I grin, marveling at this playful side of her.

"And I really like the way you kiss me." She adds pressure to the back of my head, bringing my lips to hers. "I like it very much."

"I know you do—I can tell."

She softens her grip on me, giving me a questioning look, her emotions touched with suspicion.

"I can read you, Soleil. Not just your sighs, but your emotions. Every touch, every kiss..."

Her eyes widen when she realizes what I'm telling her.

"For example…" I brush my bottom lip against her earlobe and whisper, "I know how much you like this."

"That's not fair." Her eyes flutter closed.

To tease her, I drop a chaste kiss on her cheek, feeling a wisp of irritation. "But not so much this."

"You're terrifying." She narrows her eyes. "You could own the world with your gift."

"I don't want the world." I move my attention to her lips, lingering for several seconds. "I only want you."

She lifts an eyebrow, amused. "You want to own me?"

"Is that offensive? I'd gladly be owned by you. Claim me—I'm yours."

She laughs, shaking her head. "You're?—"

"Ridiculous?" I grin, lifting my brows.

"And it seems I'm now stuck with you." She lets out an exaggerated sigh, but genuine happiness radiates around her. Smiling, she takes my hand and pulls me toward the door. "We can't put it off any longer. Let's go find the dragon."