Page 27 of Surging Reef
“Nah, I think I’ll hold onto them. So, the king—”
“Hervey.”
“Whatever. Will he be angry you’re here?”
Ashby shook his head. “I’ve helped some of his spies, so I don’t think so. I do need to let him know I’m here before Anne figures it out, though. I wouldn’t put it past her to let it slip she has a spy in his kingdom and where to find me, and then things could get ugly.”
Tension crept into Kazimir. “Fuck. Go to him now.” He gave him a light push.
Ashby scrunched his nose. “I’ll cut you a deal.”
“A deal?”
“Yes, a deal. I’ll go shower, then I’ll go to talk to Hervey, and while I do, you take a nap.”
“A nap?”
“Can’t have my pet looking worn. It’s not a good look for me.”
Kazimir spluttered. “I’m not your pet.”
“Of course not.” Ashby kissed him. “But you’re tired, pet.”
Kazimir rolled his eyes, but when Ashby got up and fetched a washcloth to clean him with, he yawned. Maybe a nap was a good idea. He’d have to work later, but he could sleep for an hour or two.
“Will you carry Pharos up for me?”
Ashby pulled at the covers and slid them over him before giving him a chaste kiss. “Of course.”
Sometime later, the bed dipped, and Pharos curled up next to him.
“I’ll be back in a bit.” Ashby’s whisper sounded close tohis ear, and he turned a fraction and pulled him down for a kiss.
“Be careful. You still have the key?”
“Yeah, I’ll lock the door. Sleep, love.”
Kazimir’s eyes were already closed. “Be careful.”
He believed Ashby might have been laughing at him.
Epilogue
Two months later
Ashby was gonna kill Kazimir. Who the fuck went outside in the middle of a stormy October night?
“I’m gonna kill you.”
“No, you’re not. This is my second wish. You can’t back out or punish me for it.” He flicked the indicator and turned onto a barely-there gravel road, taking them onto a field. The sea was at war with itself to their right, and Ashby shivered.
Before them was a white lighthouse with a black roof or whatever the tops of lighthouses were called.
“I promised myself I’d never walk into a lighthouse again when you got me out from Surging Reef.”
“Too bad, sweetheart. Lighthouses is my life mission, and since you’re mine, you’re coming with.” Kazimir stopped the car and got out. The wind was tearing at them, but he opened the backseat door and unhooked Pharos, who jumped down on his own now the cast had been removed. Then Kazimir grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
“Come on.”
