Page 65 of Sea and Sky
It’d been three days since Kyler hit him with impshade and disappeared. Three days of wondering if Kyler really was a dream. A beautiful dream and a lie, like the man had said. Three days of trying to get his heart to calm.
Basil squeezed Gavin’s shoulder. “Can’t wait too much longer. There’s a storm coming, and I’d rather be ahead of it.”
Gavin gripped the railing as he looked over the calm seas. “Come back, Kyler,” he whispered. “I need you. I don’t care about the fucking stone. I just needyou.” Gavin surprised himself at the words. At believing them. What did it matter if he was a Grand Mage? He was still a skilled healer. Still a scholar. He could give up his dream as long as he had Kyler with him. But what if the merman didn’t feel the same? It didn’t matter. Gavin would find a way to free Kyler and the mer could decide his own fate.
A shout came from the crow’s nest above. “Port side!”
Gavin ran, hoping beyond hope to see—
Kyler’s head popped from the waves, a smile on his face. He raised his hand to show a glowing golden stone. He’d done it.
Whoops went up all around. Gavin wanted to jump in and meet him, but thought better of it. The waves usually pulled him under and he didn’t want to make Kyler save him after retrieving the stone.
“Sand!” Gavin called out. “Get him sand!”
“No, just throw down a rope,” Kyler answered.
“You’ll suffocate.”
Another beautiful grin. “I won’t. Not anymore.”
Someone threw down a rope. Kyler latched on and began to climb with the stone tucked under his chin. It had to be uncomfortable and difficult.
Gavin couldn’t know what had happened to Kyler while he was below, but as he climbed, Kyler’s tail morphed to legs, his gills faded away, and the man laughed.
Laughed.
As if shocked himself.
Once Kyler was over the rails, Gavin scooped him up, forgetting the stone already.
“Are you okay? What happened? Did—”
Kyler’s brows knit together and his fingertips grazed the scruff along Gavin’s jaw.
“How long have I been away?” He looked around.
Basil came into view. “Three days. And we best get to moving. We don’t want to be here when the storm hits. We’ll dock at a little cove south from here.”
Kyler shook his head. “We can’t go there. Vex—”
“It’ll be the safest place rather than buck around on open waters. The mages can keep the ship intact better at the cove. Gavin and Ailey can keep us safe from pirates with their battle magic.”
Speaking of Ailey, she’d been holed up in her room for days. Gavin had hardly seen her.
“I’m not well versed in battle magic, but I know enough.” Hopefully, enough to keep the ship protected if pirates the likes of Vex came around.
Everyone eyed Kyler. He glowed almost as bright as the stone he clutched.
“What?” He stepped back and back until he pressed against the center mast.
In that moment, Gavin realized the blue scale had completely left Kyler’s hip… if what Ailey had told Kyler was true, that meant Kyler was in love. Gavin’s heart soared. “Nothing. Are you hungry? Tired? Let’s retire to our quarters. You probably need food and rest.”
Kyler sagged against the mast. “That sounds amazing.” He held out his hand to Gavin.
“I want to see the stone,” someone called out. “It’s what we’re all here for. We should get to see the prize.”
Kyler’s eyes turned wild. He clutched the stone to his chest and shook his head. Gavin couldn’t make out what he said. Had the stone turned him mad?
