Page 42 of Edge of Wonder

“I think I can help you.” I arranged the blanket over my legs, offering him one side, but he shook his head. “More for me, then,” I said, snuggling deeper. I angled my head toward him. “Do you know how I made it through most nights as a ghost?”

“By counting squirrels?”

“No,” I scoffed, then bit the side of my lip. “Actually, sometimes. But that’s not the point. Most nights, I tried to solve riddles. It helped to take my mind off things and it's very relaxing. Want to try one? I promise I’ll go easy.”

He was probably humoring me, but he sighed and said, “All right. A distraction might help.”

I rubbed my hands together and tried to think of the perfect riddle. “Okay, here’s one: I’m best viewed in ink, and I help sailors on the brink. I make no sound, but everyone knows I’m around. What am I?”

He chuckled softly and leaned his head back. His shoulder was pressed against mine, and the heat emanating from his body helped me relax. It was an addictive warmth, laced with the pleasing scent of his skin.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, I asked, “Did you figure it out?”

“Mmm, I did,” he rumbled deep in his throat. “It’s the stars.” Sebastian pointed toward the skylight where the pinpoints of light twinkled in the inky blackness.

I frowned. “I’ll have to come up with a more difficult one next time.”

“I don’t think riddles are going to help me fall asleep.”

No, they wouldn’t. But that wasn’t why I was seated next to him. I spider-walked my fingers across the blanket and rested them next to his forearm. He’d changed into a fresh shirt and had re-bandaged his wound.

“Hey, you never told me what happened to your arm.”

He placed his hand over the bandage and was quiet for a moment as if trying to decide whether to answer.

“I was injured in front of the portal. Turns out we were right to be worried. The man I saw at the inn was one of the queen’s mercenaries. He must have followed me. He threw a knife that was aimed at you, and I caught the edge of it.”

“Wait. What?” I sat up straight. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“No. You wouldn’t have. You were too busy falling.”

My mind raced, replaying the scene. But this time, the motivations were different. Had I mistaken the whole thing?

“Is that why you pushed me? I thought—”

“You thought I was so repulsed by your kiss that I shoved you into another realm.”

My cheeks flushed. “I’m not excited about using the word repulsed and kissing me in the same sentence, but yeah. I thought maybe you didn’t like it.”

“I liked it, Alice.”

His gravelly tone sent a shiver down my back. I didn’t know how to respond. My tongue was tied and every thought in my head made me feel like the inexperienced woman that I was. I didn’t have a sophisticated remark that would leave him wanting more. I had the fact that I’d cursed him into oblivion when, in reality, he’d saved my life.Again. Well—make that three times if you count the resurrection.

“I liked it, too,” I whispered, braving a glance at his reaction. Sebastian’s eyes were fixed on me. His gaze was liquid in the moonlight. The heat from my cheeks moved lower, and I cleared my throat. “What happened after I fell?”

“We fought, but he had me cornered, so I jumped. And then I met Shire, and she led me to you.”

“And now you’re stuck here.”

“Not exactly.” His throat worked, and his tone turned rough. “I’m not staying, Alice.”

“I know,” I breathed. “I wasn’t going to ask you to.”

Sebastian lifted my chin with his fingers. “Shire told me about a gateway that will send me home. It’s on the way to one of the challenges. Let me help you until then.”

I wanted to ask why, but I already knew the answer. He felt sorry for me, probably even felt like he owed me something. The reasons didn’t matter because they were temporary. Still, I wasn’t in the position to turn down help.

“All right. Just until then. Then we’ll go our separate ways.”

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