Page 57 of Fate of Echoes and Embers
“I have no right to the answer,” I admitted.
“No,” she agreed. “You don’t.”
“This was a mistake.”
“On that,” she said, striding into the chamber, “we can agree.”
She didn’t stop until she was at her door. I couldn’t leave this way.
“You are the last woman alive I would wish to disrespect. Just the opposite, in fact.”
“I wish I could believe that, Marek.”
I wish there was a way to prove it to you.
The only thing I could think of was to leave her be.
“Good eve, Issa.” I pulled the words from me like the heaviest of anchors.
“And to you.” But her parting was stiff. The walls that had briefly come down between us were once again erected. As I left her chamber and made my way through the corridor, I wondered if the damage I’d done, both at Hawthorne and this eve, was irreparable.
And if I’d already lost her, why did it feel like I was still drowning?
22
ISSA
The sight of the king of Aetheria standing on the dock waving to me—to us—was never one I’d imagined in my lifetime. Then again, I’d never imagined kissing Marek again, so there was that unfortunate fact.
Not surprisingly, I could not get that kiss out of my mind.
When we broke our fast, I thought of it. As we said goodbye to the others, I could have closed my eyes and felt his lips still, if I’d wished. Every waking moment since last eve, I’d vacillated between chastising myself for encouraging it and wanting to feel that way again.
“Will you steer?” Marek asked as we cleared the bay, and I climbed up to the quarterdeck. “I’d like to trim the sails for open water.”
It was the first thing he’d said to me all day. Marek skipped the morning meal, as did Kael, so I assumed the two of them had been together.
“Trim the sails?”
“Adjusting them to optimize our speed based on wind direction. We trim sails by tightening or loosening lines to ensure they catch the wind properly.”
“Is that necessary if you channel the water?” I asked, taking the wheel, being careful to avoid physically touching him.
“Not necessarily, but it’s best not to rely on magic alone. The sea is unpredictable.”
He moved past me, saying nothing more. I watched as Marek worked, moving around the ship effortlessly. Not surprisingly, my mind wandered to last eve.
I had been unnecessarily harsh on Marek’s question about my innocence, as I thought about it later, one he’d asked out of respect. His comment about my experience, was from jealousy. One I had no right to judge after the incident with Cassandra. But I’d been angry enough at myself for that kiss to lash out at him and told him as much when he returned.
“I should not have reacted as I did,” I said as Marek leaned against the railing, looking out to sea. Aetherian ships were a sight to behold.
His smirk nearly made me regret the apology.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I like to smile.”
“Marek, I am not jesting.”
