Page 49 of Tik-Tok

She peered out at the waves as his arms folded around her and he set his chin on her shoulder. With a deep breath, she pushed out two violet tendrils and watched them drift forward, halting a wave. Jaw clenched, she dug the magic’s fingers in and ripped it in half. Her heart practically skipped a beat as she pushed the two tendrils back together. Dipping the magic below the sea’s surface, she worked the liquid, spinning it around and around. She was doing it!

Tik-Tok whirled her to look at him with a smile on his face, her magic snapping back inside herself. “Perfect, North.” His lips came to hers in a single, blissful kiss.

She itched to try more, so she took her gaze to the sea once again and started to churn the water. Then she clenched a wave, yanked on it, making it increase in size. She could feel the entire ocean tuning into her magic’s call. It wasn’t only a small area of water she could control, but the entire sea if she wished.

North wasn’t sure how much time had passed as she practiced again and again. Her mouth was parched when she finally decided to stop, her body aching. Kaliko had brought them water earlier, and she walked with Tik-Tok to the pole where their drinks had been left. Lifting her glass, she chugged the water down as Dax approached.

“Captain, Respen and I need to discuss some things with you,” Dax said, raking a hand through his rumpled blond hair.

Tik-Tok gave him a brief nod and turned to North. “I’ll meet with you later.”

North set down her empty glass and went to scoop up her axe to go and take a bath, when Echo came up beside her.

“Someone reeks of sex,” the siren drawled as she drew her sword from its sheath.

North peered down at her feet and blushed before making eye contact.

“Don’t look so embarrassed. I have to bathe soon myself, but first this.” Echo swung her sword forward and North lifted her axe, blocking it. “Excellent.”

The sparring with Echo was another way for her to distract herself from what was to come, so she decided to linger on deck a little longer.

She and Echo exchanged blows with their weapons for another hour before they were both drenched with sweat and decided to go down and bathe. Dax had heated the water so it was extra warm, as though he knew her muscles ached. And it wasn’t just the ones sore from the training, but from Tik-Tok pressing inside of her. The second time he’d had his way with her, their tumbling had lasted even longer, as if he’d wanted it to go on for an eternity. She hadn’t wanted it to end either.

After bathing and throwing on a silky deep blue dress, North went to the deck and sat alone for a while, eating jerky and a dried plum.

A shadow fell over her, and she glanced up to find Tik-Tok peering down at her with a smirk. “Avoiding me?”

“No. I was thinking.” She shrugged, rolling the plum in her hand. But she had been—she hadn’t wanted him to realize how antsy she’d become about the portal. Her lack of eye contact and twitchy fingers were bound to give her away.

Tik-Tok lowered himself beside her and plucked the fruit from her palm, then sank his teeth into it.

“Hey, that’s mine.” North took it back from him.

“We share.” His grin grew wider while he chewed.

Rolling her eyes, she tossed it to him. Her stomach was starting to feel queasy, knowing they were approaching the portal’s location.

Tik-Tok continued to munch on the plum. One of his legs was straightened, the other bent, with his arm lazily dangling off it, and his head leaned back against the wall of the ship. He appeared composed, as if it were just another day sailing across the sea.

“We’re not far from the portal,” Tik-Tok finally said. “I’m considering turning the ship around before you do anything we’ll both regret.” His relaxed composure started to unravel as he eyed her. He knew her plan…

“Why haven’t you turned it already, then?” North replied, holding his stare.

“I should.” He pursed his lips. “I should take you home right now.”

“But you won’t.”

“Not unless you say so.”

“I won’t. I’m doing it. Once I figure out how to open the portal, I’ll keep it open once we pass through—for however long I have to.” She clasped his hand and inched closer to him. “Are you worried about facing your father?”

“No. Not in the slightest.” He furrowed his brow, his grip on her hand tightening. “I’m more worried about you disappearing into the fucking portal.”

She was too, but she was still going to face it. “There’s no changing fate, and I’ll try my hardest to make everything go smoothly. Besides, you’ll make sure this other world doesn’t end up the way Oz was before I was born.” If opening the portal didn’t go their way, it would be one life sacrificed to save everything that lay in the world beyond. But if she wasn’t close enough to keep the portal open, it would mean Tik-Tok and the rest of the crew could be trapped.

“Celyna saw different outcomes, but I’m only willing to accept one.” It took a moment for him to speak again, as though he was having an internal struggle with himself. In one swift motion, he scooped her off the floor and settled her in his lap so they were face to face as she straddled him. Her eyes widened and she glanced behind her to see if anyone was watching.

His fingers caught her chin and turned her face toward him, their gazes trained on one another. “It doesn’t matter who watches,” he said. “This moment is between us.” Tik-Tok’s mouth claimed hers, his lips moving in a soft caress. He pulled back from the kiss and hugged her to his chest, his calming scent enveloping her. “Fight like hell, my star. Fight to stay with me when we get there. That’s all I want. All you have to do.”

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