Shadow and Smite: A Fantasy Romance Adventure (The Isles of Fae Book 1) by Mel Braxton

Author:Mel Braxton [Braxton, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-10T16:00:00+00:00

22 | Delicious Dates

Ayla

It was dark when I next stirred. The sailing was smooth and the sea air fresh. We moved with purpose, onward and into danger. If I put my uncertainty aside, it could be a wonderful night.

Ninti rolled over, moving closer to the wall. Like a heating stone, she kept the entire cabin warm. It had been cozy to cuddle her, but now the bed was too warm.

My brain whirred at full speed; my body felt normal. However long I had slept—had I skipped dinner?—I was eager to face the world again.

To face Zayne again.

Zayne…

He wasn’t in the cabin, and the boat wasn’t that large.

With a hesitant breath, I shifted my tunic, checking the Brand. To my relief—and surprise—it remained small, like it hadn’t grown at all.

Grabbing my cloak from the wardrobe, I stepped onto the deck. The crow’s nest glowed blue as Vanessa’s magic swirled and swayed, mimicking the rhythm of waves and sea. The two moons hid from sight, and under starlight, we sailed forward.

Zayne sat at the makeshift table, a fae light casting shadows upon his face. His gaze was distant, lost to the horizon. He drew his lips into a tight line, adding to his somber expression.

My heart skipped as I studied him. The light struck the firm line of his jaw. My fingers burned, remembering the feel of the muscles under his shirt…

“Can I join you?” I asked.

He startled. It took a full moment before he realized I was there. He stared at me, blinking, as if clearing dark thoughts from his mind.

Eventually, he indicated the other crate. “Sure,” he said. “Join me.”

I sat. “Something on your mind?”

“Vanessa says we made good time traveling with Leo. We’ll reach the Isle of Shadow tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I choked. “What time is it?”

“Midnight, maybe.” He shook his head, still stirring from his sullen thoughts. “Sorry. You must be hungry. Let me get you something.”

“I’m fine. I didn’t mean to interrupt… If you need space—”

“Stay.” He stood, pressing me back into my seat. “You need to eat.”

He placed a rough cloth over the barrel-turned-table. From nearby containers—one of which was an ice- blue cooler box—he retrieved provisions for our dinner.

There was bread, baked fresh that morning. A spreadable cheese and savory sausage. A sweet apple jam and a spicy pepper sauce. Crackers for good measure and—

“Are those… dates?” I licked my lips.

“Glad you don’t find the meal too humble, Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty?” I snorted with laughter. “I’ve learned not to expect much from you, princeling.”

He chuckled too, adding a waterskin to the table.

It was nice, the laughter, the jokes. It was strange too. We retreated into silence, the wind and starlight becoming our companions. After my first bite, I found I was quite hungry.

He shifted a few times, like he didn’t know what to do with himself now that he had company.

“You should eat too,” I offered. “Tomorrow will be a big day.”

“Tomorrow. Yes.”

He was worried. I didn’t know how to help him.

I loaded slices of bread with meat and cheese, making up for my missed meal.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.