Page 110 of I Summon the Sea

“Dammit, Rae. Did Neere do this to you?” I find his gaze on me, flaring with fury. “I’m going to go kill her right the fuck now to make sure she never fucking touches you again. Hells, I’ll bring you her head. You can use it to decorate your room.”

I almost laugh, but it warms me up, his anger on my behalf, his declaration of war on her.

I barely manage to grab his corded forearm as he starts past me, going after her.No.I shake my head.Don’t.

“Rae… Damn.” He turns to face me, reaching up to touch the small wound again. His gaze collides with mine. His rough fingertips brush over my neck, and heat rushes through my veins. I hadn’t realized I’d been so cold until now. Is that why I can barely feel the cold? Because I’m frozen inside?

I put my hand over his, intending to pull his fingers away from my neck, only he laces our fingers together and tugs me closer.

“They dress up in silk and in velvet,” he whispers, “wear their hats and jewelry, wield their small magic, but they’ll never be as beautiful as you. They work on grace, aware of every part of their body and face in whatever they do, keeping every movement balanced, rounded, and controlled. They work on strength. And you… you make that grace and strength seem thin and meaningless because you move like water, without thought, without control, yet smooth and perfect.”

I frown up at him.

“I’ve thought about it,” he says, voice calm but his eyes in turmoil, “wondered about it, wondered whether this is why… why you remind me of her?”

Her?I wait, but he seems to have abruptly run out of words. His gaze is steady on me, though, even if a vein is beating hard at his jaw, betraying him.

He’s standing there like a young god, born of the dark, his eyes darker than the night, his cheekbones inky mazes, his shadows twining around him like storm snakes.

And around us, the crowd has compressed as if drawn to him, putting us inside a circle.

Watching as he lifts our hands and brushes his lips over my skin, a touch of fire.

“No matter,” he breathes, “forget what I said. I’m just confounded. My lady, allow me to present my token.”

Lifting his head, he lifts a hand, the other still holding mine, and sparks jump in the black of his eyes. The black lines on his cheekbones seem to writhe.

And the whistling of leather wings fills the air.

The fae and human crowds shift. Cries, shouts of awe and delight ring out as a darakin spirals down toward us.

A familiar white-and-gray darakin, lacy wings fluttering, the veins in them glinting. Its crest-less head is dog-like with a long snout set on a serpentine neck. The wicked claws on its four legs are the hue of iron, and it uses them to grip Jai’s shoulder and arm as it lands.

“I found him for you,” Jai says as the darakin sways, gathering its wings and rattling its teeth.

That’s an odd choice of words.

“He chose you from the start,” he continues. “He wanted me to introduce you.”

My brows have hit my hairline. He did?

“He says his name is Remi.”

Remi?I blink. Then suddenly my eyes fill with tears, and I can’t figure out why, why…?

“Want to pet him?” Oblivious, Jai turns his star-spangled, dark gaze on me. “Come here.”

Pethim? Is he serious?

The darakin opens his mouth and hisses, and it’s a feat not to stumble away. He may not be a drak, but he’s as large as a hound, and that’s with his wings tucked in.

Not to mention that mouth, full of serrated teeth.

Yet I manage to hold my ground, and faced with Jai’s bright, happy smile—damn, when have I ever seen him looking so happy before?—I grit my teeth and reach for the darakin.

Remi…

If Remi bites my hand clean off, that’s on Jai. I hope he knows it.

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