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“You’re frustrating me,” I said. “One moment we’re kissing, and the next, you run away. You smile and laugh—we kiss!—then you leave. So, if we’re going to share this small space, we need to talk. Are you attracted to me? Because this back-and-forth attitude, this hot and cold thing, it’s pissing me off.”

I waited, hoping that he was listening—that he could hear my need through the anger. His gaze darted to every corner of the room. I silenced my instinct to keep ranting. Hopefully, he would answer soon.

Eventually, he picked up a particularly long pillow and placed it next to me, dividing the bed in two. He sat on the other side.

“I feel it too, only”—he dug the pillow into place, solidifying it between us—“it has to mean nothing.Wehave to mean nothing.”

My lips parted. A thrill ran through me—he was attracted to me!—and my delight died as quickly as it came.

“Your mission,” I said. “It comes first.”

“It does.” He pressed the pillow deeper into the mattress. “You’re right. It’s inconvenient that we share this space. It’s unfortunate that there issomethingbetween us, something that bubbles up every time we apply the ashflower. But they’re just feelings, and I can’t afford the distraction.”

His answer felt more honest than I expected, and it left me off balance. It would have been easier if he had expressed excessive devotion—then I would know he was playing a game.

“Okay,” I said it aloud. “No more kissing. We’re comrades on a mission and nothing more.”

“And nothing more,” he echoed.

We nodded our agreement, not trusting ourselves to touch. Unable to seal our agreement in any physical way, I grabbed a second pillow, placing it between us. Now the bed was fully divided.

Resolved, I straightened my back, but before I could rise, my ring glowed, ruddy light filling the room.

“Zayne! Ayla!” Vanessa shouted. “I don’t know what is taking you two so long, but you need to see this.”

14 | Thwarted Thrones

Ayla

A giant turtle swam next to theUmbral Star.From snout to tail, the animal was half the boat’s length. Zayne and I stood at the edge of the boat, stunned by its magnificence.

His shell had intricate patterns, burnt orange broken in fractal formations, filled in with streaks of opaline. At the center of his shell, grass and ferns grew, forming a small habitat. I saw a salamander and two frogs. Like a floating island, an ecosystem thrived on his back.

“His name is Heim, and he says he’s going to be our guide,” Vanessa explained.

“You can speak with him?” I asked.

“Of course I can—I’m a water sprite!”

Right, I knew that. Sprites could speak with animals within their elemental domain. It was one thing knowing about the Isles and another applying the information.

“Guide to where?” Zayne asked. “Did he tell you?”

“Does it matter? The Firewolf wants me to go,” I insisted. I needed her—someone Icouldtrust.

Vanessa glowed, her blue mixing with a green swirl, communicating with Heim. “He says he is guiding us to Leodoras, the Great Turtle.”

“The Great Turtle?” I asked.

“I think she’s mentioned in an ancient song,” Zayne replied. “Something about Leodoras traveling the Isles to pick up her siblings? Scholars say the song is a myth.”

“A myth?” Vanessa huffed. “Heim doesn’t look like a myth to me. Should we follow him?”

“Yes,” I rushed to reply, not even giving Zayne the chance to disagree.

Regardless, Vanessa waited for Zayne’s final answer. He startled, surprised she delayed. “Ayla’s right. If this Leodoras is involved, we’re going.”

I hid my surprise. His oath only bound him to pursue the Firewolfifshe was on route. I didn’t expect this generosity.