Page 78 of Anwen of Primewood
Feeling brave, I brush my hand next to his. I hold my breath, waiting to see if he will mistake it for an accident and not the invitation it is. I look at the ocean and bite back my grin when his fingers twine through mine.
He pauses and then turns toward me. “Anwen?”
“Yes?” I step forward. My heart races almost as quickly as the sun sets.
His eyes are on me, and he looks as if he’s struggling with something. Finally, his gaze drifts to the horizon. “We need to hurry or we won’t be back to the ship in time.”
I nod. “Right.”
He doesn’t move…and neither do I.
The sunset, the golden ocean water—it feels like we’re in our own world, and though I know the ship is waiting on the other side of the cove, I can almost imagine this island is ours alone.
“Galinor,” I whisper.
The feelings churning in me are indescribable. Galinor is so perfect—and not just because he’s absurdly handsome. He’s kind and generous, and he’s come all this way just to help me.
But the sun has almost set.
I laugh, nervous. “I suppose we should go.”
What might be disappointment passes over his face, but he smiles. “Jacques will leave us if we’re not careful.”
I shiver. Despite Galinor’s reassurances, I still feel the captain’s warnings were a little ominous.
“How’s your leg?” he asks, motioning to the one that was shot.
“It aches a little, but it’s not horrible,” I admit. “I’m not used to walking in sand.”
He takes my arm, pulling me close to his side. “I’ll help you.”
We hurry back around the island, and with growing dread, I acknowledge we tarried too long. The sky is on fire now, and the sun just peeks out of the sea.
“We need to hurry,” Galinor urges.
I try to pick up my pace, but it’s nearly impossible to keep up with Galinor’s much longer legs. My foot catches in the sand, and I stumble forward. Before I can right myself, Galinor leans down and scoops me into his arms.
Oh, this is nice.
I wrap my hands around his neck, and he continues down the beach, much faster now that he’s not waiting for me. We turn past the last tree-lined cove, and the dock finally comes into view. Directly above us, the sky is velvet indigo, and the horizon has morphed to a fading red.
The ship is nothing more than a silhouette far out at sea.
Chapter 16
If you’re going to be stuck on an island, Galinor isn’t a bad person to be stranded with. Still, my heart beats in a frantic rhythm, and I go cold despite the warm air. Suddenly, the beautiful island is lonely, and the evening animal calls from the interior seem dark and foreboding.
“It’s fine,” Galinor says, reassuring me. “He’ll be back in the morning.”
He sets me on the ground, and I rub my hands over the goosebumps that have pebbled on my skin. I glance at Galinor to see how concerned he is, deciding I will gauge my reaction from his. If he seems alarmed, then I know we will be eaten by island animals by morning. If he is only a little uneasy, then there is only achancewe’ll be eaten.
Galinor notices I’m studying him. “What?”
I gape at him. He doesn’t look concerned at all. In fact, a small smile tugs at his lips.
“Galinor?” I say. “You do realize the ship has left us, and we are all alone on an empty island, don’t you?”
He raises an eyebrow, and my cheeks get hot.
