Page 129 of Of Mischief and Mages

“We make camp until he returns. Wildling.” Kage’s palm covered my cheek. “Will you gather the reeds?”

I kissed the center of his hand and leveraged over the rail of the longship, landing knee-deep in the gentle ebb of the shore.

Misty dawn reflected over the sea, soaking the surface in soft reds and gold. On this side of the island the sand was tinted crimson, and tall grass from the forest overtook much of it before it could stretch on too far.

Tops of the reeds swayed in the tide. They were tubular plants,slimy, and an ashy gray color. Iridescent fins of fish, eels, and more than one toothy mud dweller wove through the maze of plants. The moment my hand slipped beneath the water surface to yank the reeds, the creatures scattered like a burst of silver and green and blue.

By the time the ship was tethered in the cove, we had at least two days’ worth of reeds. Gwyn left with Asger to fish,ofskycasts confusing the creatures into a feeding frenzy. Hardly an effort to spear a few for a meal.

Kage and I draped a folded canvas between sturdy branches, crafting a sort of bower, while Asger made a fire that would not give off a smoke signal, but breathed a bit like mildew and sweat.

“Keeps the vargun away,” he said, brushing soil from his palms.

“Small wolves, right?”

“Little bastards. Why are they the worst fiends on the cold side of the island?” Asger said, my reliable tutor keen to quiz me to toughen my knowledge and memories.

I closed my eyes, then grinned. “Because they’re saliva drops can spur fungal growth in the soil that burrows into the skin in . . . uncomfortable places.”

I wasn’t certain if Asger realized he’d covered between his legs, as though the very thought of the infection was unbearable. I snickered and finished tying off the canvas. Kage had gone quiet, rolling out the fur mats beneath the tarp.

“Thoughts, Thief?”

He sat back on his heels, peering over his shoulder. “This is where I fell in love with you, Wildling.”

“What do you mean?” I crept into the tent and laid back so I faced him.

He grinned and sprawled onto his side, head propped on one fist. Kage dragged one fingertip down the bridge of my nose. “Your eighteenth weave, my father took us on a special hunt. Do you remember? He knew you liked to make arm bands from the spindle leaves.”

“They’re naturally waxy and dry like leather.” I caught his hand in mine and kissed the tips of his fingers. “He brought us but sent us to gather on our own. You let me stand on your shoulders to reach the brightest leaves.”

“Your monstrous feet yanked on my hair”—he kissed one cheek— “and bruised my shoulders”—another kiss to the other cheek— “and when you fell because of those monstrous feet, your elbow blackened my eye.”

Kage brushed his lips over mine.

I shoved against his chest. “If I recall correctly, you arrogant prince, you did a great deal of laughing amongst your blubbering.”

Kage’s face sobered. “I looked over—one perfect glimpse—and the sight of you burned into my heart.” He swallowed. “It was why I said those words for our vows.”

My grin fell. When Kage sat up, elbows propped on the tops of his knees, I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind. “You still resent me?”

He hesitated. “I resent the impossible choice we faced. I resent a plan made without me.”

“You would’ve barred me away, Kage,” I whispered. “Locked me up in the tower, while falling on the battlefield.”

“Of course, I would’ve. There is no world where I would willingly hand you over for sacrifice.” He paused for a long breath. “What I resent most is myself.”

“Why would you say that?”

One of his callused palms rubbed over my hands on his middle. “I took moments for granted. I do not recall the despair after you were gone, but I can sense it in my soul. There was despair for your absence, but more for the regret that I did not tell you, did not show you, every damn day that I would sink the whole of this world into the seas for you. I wonder if you had known what lengths I would go for you, if you would’ve made a different choice.”

I kissed the space between his shoulders and shook my head. “I wouldn’t. The trouble is I would do the same for you. I merely had the first opportunity.”

Kage chuckled darkly, then turned to face me, eyes burning like hot coals. “Don’t take the opportunity again, Adira. Swear to me. If the world needs burning, we do it side by side.”

I shifted so my thighs straddled his hips and took his face in my palms, drawing his mouth close. “It’s a deal, Thief.”

Hakon did not returnuntil the next dawn. Kage jolted and moaned in his sleep, but he’d gone quiet when I draped my arms around his body, wrapping him up in my arms and legs.

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