Page 56 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Her heartbeat quickened with anticipation to be so close to him for an entire night.

“This is a strange place and I don’t want to leave you alone.” Reaching out, he framed her face with his rough hands and whispered, leaning forward, so she felt his breath on her ear, “I don’t ever want to leave you alone.”

Neither do I,Nola thought.

* * *

As Nola crawled into bed, she looked up to see Lincoln leaving the tent.

“Goodnight, Lincoln,” she called.

He stopped at the entrance, gave her a charming wink, then disappeared as the canvas flapped closed behind him.

Her heart longed for him when he left her alone in the tent. Well, she was not entirely alone; Tipsy laid curled up in a corner, already passed out. The drunken buccaneer snored so loudly she wondered if she was going to be able to fall asleep.

She leaned back, staring at the netted skyline above her. The night was black with only the dim light from the moon coming through the trees, and not even the sound of the music could be heard any longer.

She closed her eyes.

That kiss.

* * *

Mazie sat alone at the edge of the stage, staring at the grass below, wiggling her toes.

“They cleared out already?” Lincoln asked her, joining her at the stage.

“Aye,” she said. “It’s like nothin’ has changed, Captain.”

He gave her an inquisitive look. “How do you mean?” he asked.

“This place—my mother! Everythin’ seems untouched by time, you know?” She stopped suddenly as a clutch of panic twisted in the pit of her stomach.“They should have been venturin’ off to another kingdom by now. Instead, they are—?”

“Stuck?” he said.

“No one has aged a day.” Mazie looked over Lincoln’s shoulder. “Even the children, Captain. In the ten years since I’ve been gone, they look the same.” She scrunched up her face. “Fuckin’ magic.”

He chuckled at her comment and held out a beckoning hand. “Enough. Let’s go. You and I made each other a promise; you are over what happened. I can’t imagine what it’d be for us not to—”

“Age?” she said.

He dropped his hand, giving her a frustrated look.

“Isn’t that what you were about to say?” She pointed towards her mother’s home. “They used magic to keep themselves young. After they banished me from tryin’ to use magic to bring my sister back!” A tear of frustration fled her obsidian-colored eyes. “I tried, Captain. I tried to bring her back before you found me, and I was shunned by every person who ever loved me.”

“You’re drunk, Mazie; let’s get you to bed.” He reached out again, but she slapped his hand away.

“Fuck you, too!” A look of disdain flared in her eyes. Yet sudden guilt hit her like a heavy brick crushing at her chest. The moment those words left her lips, she wished she could take them back, but pride consumed her.

The dark-haired pirate slid off the stage and staggered across the grass, catching herself on a table. “Sorry, Captain, it’s just—”

“It’s okay.”

She planted her feet to keep herself from falling over. “No, I have to say it,” she breathed. “The part that hurts the most is that even after ten years, my mother hasn’t even apologized for blamin’ me for Bay’s death.” She looked up, wiping a tear falling down her nearly perfect cheekbone. She wiped her face with the back of her hand as she said, “I know my mother wishes it was me who tried to fly that day.”

Lincoln placed his hands on each side of Mazie’s cheeks and looked her deep into her eyes.

“So, what if she does?”

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