Page 52 of Forsaken Secrets

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Kaiya

Cool ocean air blew my hair around my face and tangled my skirts in my legs. I'd have to get rid of those if we were going to descend the cliffs. I checked behind me to make sure the men were still occupied, then unclasped the back and slipped the heavy skirts off.

"Uh — what's she doing?" Eli sounded scandalized.

My cheeks heated. Of course they'd noticed. What had I been thinking?

No. It didn't matter. They were just legs …

"Why don't you try climbing with skirts on?" I shot over my shoulder, pushing away my emotional discomfort as I adjusted my chemise and drawers to cover a bit more. That rope was going to burn …

Lynk grunted behind me and tossed something into the air. A small ball of leather plopped onto the ground in front of me.

"Try these," he said.

I picked the ball up and shook it, jaw dropping as it unfurled into a buttery soft pair of fawn leather trousers.

I stared at him, letting my eyes roam his muscular thighs and narrow hips. We definitely did not wear the same size.

So had he made them? Bought them? Did they belong to another woman?

The thought sent a weird pang through my chest.

No. It didn't matter to me if he had a dozen women. He was a tool to get a job done. Nothing more.

Shaking my head, I slipped them on over my legs and hips and groaned. Gods. They were soft …

I ran my hands over the soft leather, then dropped into a crouch and stretched each leg. The leather was snug against my rear and hips, but still surprisingly flexible!

Eli grunted behind me, then coughed. "I don't think that's much better, old man."

"Worse. So much worse …" Lynk muttered as he walked past me.

I smiled and rolled my shoulders, then stuffed my skirt into my pack.

All set, I walked over to the two of them and crowded in next to Eli.

"From what I saw in the notes, there should be an entrance around here, somewhere." Eli motioned to the tower behind us. "But I can't find it."

Lynk grunted and reached over our shoulders to flip the book around. "If that's all fallen into the ocean, we're here." He pointed towards a little tower at the far edge of the structure on the map.

"That would fit with what I saw on the cliff," I said.

Eli twisted the map around several times then nodded, his jaw tight. "I hate to say it, but I think you're right, old man."

Lynk growled at the nickname and I shook my head, examining the ruins carefully to better match the shapes of the towers around us to the map.

"Uh — should we be following him?" Eli pointed to Lynk, who'd already taken off for the cliffs.

I sighed. "I suppose so."

We strode to the cliff in time to see Lynk drop to his belly and peer over the edge — right towards the area Eli had fallen off the day before. "The cliff must have fallen further overnight. There's now a hole the size of the lordling in the cliff."

"Perfect." Eli's voice was tight.

I studied his stiff shoulders and pale face.

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