Page 189 of Dare

Although I ached to send a message to the man I loved, I resisted that heartache by focusing on my art. The more of Summer I experienced, the more shapes I created. And the more shapes I created, the more I reclaimed myself. And the more I reclaimed myself, the more I owned myself, the more I found myself.

Over time, I composed thousands of messages in the shadows. Never once did I need light. Because I knew how to see in the dark.

***

Three years later, I’d found my voice. Turning away from the sea, I strolled along the tide, where the water met the sand. Always, I walked on the edge of things. As the water swabbed my ankles, I scanned the coastline for the right spot to leave my next signature.

The sarong whispered against my thighs. Beaded bracelets hugged my wrists, each one attached to a ring encircling my middle finger, the ornaments jingling with my movements. The melody sounded like a song.

Humming to myself, I skimmed the bank. Then I stopped. Everything in me stopped.

My limbs stalled, and my thoughts vanished like smoke. The only thing that kept moving was my heartbeat, which drummed against my chest.

Several paces away, a sketch burrowed into the sand. One that I hadn’t drawn.

Located a safe enough distance from the ocean ensured the drawing wouldn’t be rinsed before dawn, as if the maker had known this was my method. As if the source had intended for their creation to be found.

In all this time, I’d kept my traveling pattern erratic, lest Summer’s Crown or curious spectators should try to catch me. I had earned followers and admirers. But I’d also amassed my share of foes, those who despised the content of my artwork. Either someone was emulating me, or someone had been expecting me.

I yanked the machete from a harness across my back and padded cautiously to the drawing. As the image of a familiar place became clear, my gaze seized on the camouflaged symbols indicating a date and two words hidden within.

Rule me.

The weapon toppled from my fingers. A whimper fell from my lips.

Knees buckling, I dropped to the sand, my eyes clinging to the message. With shaky fingers, I etched every line of the rainforest. Tears heated the backs of my eyes, because I understood this call. I knew what this meant and who it came from.

Staring at the plea, I melted into a weepy chuckle. He’d made his offer and left the choice to me. And now I knew what I would draw in the sand—a reply, because I had a message for him too.

Except not here. No, I’d sketch my response elsewhere.

Leaves shivered, the sound traveling a great distance to reach me from a sacred realm. Like a fated calling, the noise seemed to ask, Are you ready?

Wiping my eyes, I rose to my feet. “Yes.”

Hellfire. Finally, I was ready.

56

Jeryn

I paced like a lion in my suite, then paced the throne room, then paced the medical den, then paced the castle deck while Mother and Father observed me in amusement, then paced before a roundtable of council members—who had no idea what the fuck kept me on edge—until they complained of neck spasms from having to swerve their heads back and forth.

Far too fucking long passed before the courier returned. He had completed the task, albeit without glimpsing her, while I’d expected as much. That little beast wouldn’t be caught if she did not wish to be.

Weeks later, I sailed to The Phantom Wild, pretending to commence a research expedition regarding the landscape’s viruses. I traveled alone, with the exception of Solstice—my First-in-Command knew nothing of my intentions but wouldn’t report a word about me disembarking from the ship without backup—and a discreet sand drifter who cared about riches more than secrets, and who feared my retribution enough to keep his mouth shut.

Wary of exposure to illness, the captain docked only long enough for me to set foot on land. Good. I would have cut him with a look if he’d shown the slightest interest.

Dropping a sack of coins in his palm, I stalked from the vessel and waited until he and my First Knight shrank into the horizon, with orders to return in a week. Although Solstice hadn’t liked following this order, I’d proven well enough that I could live here without incident. Also, issuing unbreakable commands was the perk of being a king.

Regardless of what happened next, I had a place to sleep and had learned how to survive in this environment. And for Flare, I would wait infinitely longer, should the need arise.

Patience.

I strode across the shore. No crown. No fur cloak. Only unembellished clothing, along with a scalpel knife and a necklace.

The wind buffeted my open shirt. The tide struck my heels.

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