Page 73 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

Everyone looked expectantly at Phillippe, but as soon as he felt their eyes upon him, he shuffled his feet, and then took off, heading below deck. Esmeralda looked pained, and Selenia and Renya both went to comfort her.

“That was awkward,” Agatha said, her blunt observation cutting through the tension.

Sion sighed, and looked over at Grayden and Triston. They were both busy studying a large map and had several compasses out and were conferring with the stars. Sion left them to their navigation, walking down the narrow steps to below deck, lowering his head so he wouldn't hit it on his way down.

The ship was rather small, so it didn't take him long to find Phillippe. He was in the galley, munching on some nuts and berries. The second he saw Sion, he rolled his eyes, his defensive posture immediate.

“So, did they all take a vote and decide to send you after me?”

“No, they have other things to worry about than to figure out why you can't handle your own relationship.” Sion's tone was sharper than he intended, his own emotions still raw from the near-loss of Selenia.

Phillippe looked out the tiny porthole of the ship, ignoring Sion's accusation. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension.

“Fine. I only sought to help you.” Sion waited a few more seconds, and then turned on his heel, preparing to leave the room.

“Wait,” Phillippe called, his voice tinged with desperation.

Sion turned back towards his friend. There was still tension between the two, and even though Sion had forgiven Phillippe for his accusations against him the night they had found out he was fated to Selenia, their friendship didn't have the ease it once did.

“What?”

Phillippe looked out the window again, his beefy shoulders sagging. “I don't know how to make it right.”

“What did you do?”

“I'm not sure. After she found out Triston and Julietta were together, she got quite angry with me.”

“You must have done something.”

“Honestly, I can't think of anything.” Phillippe finally turned to face him, his expression a mix of confusion and frustration.

“Well, then there was something you should have done that you didn't.”

Phillippe frowned at Sion's statement. “Like what?”

Sion groaned, running a hand through his hair. “I don't know! You need to figure it out. And you better figure it out fast, because if you lose that girl, I can guarantee you, Phillippe Snowden, that you'll never find one like her again. And for the Gods' sake, take her share of the watch, you idiot!”

With that, Sion turned and left, leaving Phillippe to ponder his words. As he climbed back to the deck, he couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed. Once, he had been the one struggling with relationships, and now here he was, giving advice. The irony wasn't lost on him as he emerged into the night air, his eyes immediately seeking out Selenia's form, a newfound appreciation for what he almost lost filling his heart.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Renya watched as Beauty took to the sky, soaring high above the ship, sometimes disappearing into the clouds before reappearing a hundred feet away. She seems to be having the time of her life, Renya thought, watching her dive straight into the ocean and then emerge with a mouthful of fish.

The sight of the fish and the smell of the sea nearly made Renya vomit again. But she was determined to stay up with Grayden and keep watch, even though he protested the entire time.

“Our baby needs you to sleep,” he begged from behind the wheel of the ship.

“She’s fine,” Renya said, rubbing her small belly.

“What makes you so sure she’s a girl?”

“I just know.”

Grayden sighed. “I really wish you’d listen to me sometimes. I worry about you constantly. I worry for your health, your safety…and now there’s two of you to fret about.”

Renya walked up behind him and put her hands around his waist. “You can’t worry about us all the time, Grayden. Life is going to pass you by, and instead of good memories all you will have is worries.”

He let go of the wheel with one hand and reached down to stroke her fingers resting against his middle. He toyed with the ring on her finger, breathing deeply. “When I gave you this ring, it was a promise to you. I won’t ever stop keeping you safe. Keeping you loved. Warm. Nourished.”

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