Page 65 of Stars Above the Never Sea (The Last Faeyte #1)

Chapter forty-one

Selene

M y cheeks are still hot an hour later, as Callan pushes open a door to a small stone dwelling a few streets away from the hearth without bothering to knock. A riot of light and noises and smells spills over us, and his hand tightens in silent encouragement as he pulls me through the doorway.

The small space is full of familiar faces, as brightly decorated as Callan’s small home but with significantly more things piled in every corner.

I spot a hastily tidied pile of what looks like whittled wooden figures pushed out of sight beneath a chair, a neatly folded basket of clothing pushed against the wall.

Rio is sprawled on top of it, Esme leaning her head back against his knees as he plucks the strings of a vihuela , his fingers shifting over the long wooden neck.

She waves at us, a glass clutched in her hand.

Across from them, Sol is seated on a small wooden bench, his eyes on Matthias arguing with Merrick across the room even as his hand raises in lazy greeting.

Matthias tosses his head back with a deep laugh that shakes his stomach, throwing his cards down on the aged wooden table as he turns to us. “Thank gods you’re here. Merrick is killing me. He’s taken my acai root and my valerian.”

He gestures to the small pouches scattered across the table. Sol’s arm brushes mine as he passes us, and he offers me a quick smile before bending down. His lips press to Matthias’s neck. “Stop playing, I beg you. We won’t have a house left.”

But there’s only good-natured amusement in his words, even as Matthias feigns outrage. His smile slips through so easily. “Maybe you’re right. Selene, do you play?”

I shake my head. “But I’m happy to be taught.”

Matthias points to the chair opposite. “Take a seat. I’ll teach you all my secrets, which will take us around seven seconds. Maybe I’ll manage to win the first round, at least.”

Callan steps away, speaking to Rio and Esme as I glance around. “Where’s Leo?”

Merrick places a full cup of beer down in front of me. His hand squeezes my shoulder in greeting. “He went to visit Leesa. They know each other from the tutoring sessions. He should be back soon. I’m glad to see you, Selene.”

My mouth dries. “Thank you for inviting me. How is she?”

Merrick says softly, “As well as she can be, although she mourns her father. Ryn has not let her out of his sight. But it could have been worse, were it not for you.”

Heat climbs my face. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You did.” His words are quiet. Opposite us, Matthias sets out the cards in a pattern, his gaze determinedly focused down. “You helped them, Selene, and they will not forget it.”

“Agreed,” Matthias says solemnly. There’s no amusement in his voice. Only approval. “The whole practice is barbaric in my opinion, since nobody asked.”

“ Matthias .” Sol sounds as though he’s said something similar, many times before. “You need to stop shouting that so loudly.”

Matthias sniffs. “Why? Somebody has to say it, and say it loudly. Silence creates accomplices of us all. A truly insidious form of maegis, really, since nobody will realize until it’s too late to stop it.”

“Until they lock you in the compound as a punishment.” The room fills with discomfort as Sol snaps at Matthias. “You walk a thin edge with Petyr as it is. I don’t disagree with you. You know that. But you have to be careful.”

Matthias’s face softens. Behind me, the door bangs open once more, cutting through the tension and deflating it. An excited screech fills the air, and Leo flies into me from the side. “You’re here!”

“I am.” I settle my hands on his shoulders, scanning him. Leo beams at me. I ask, “You’re well?”

He nods, scrambling into the chair beside mine. “I was telling Esa and Ryn about your wings, and how you flew through the Never.”

His arms fly wide, flapping. I wince. “Oh?”

“He’s very proud of you,” Merrick says softly. “Been telling everyone he can about his friend Selene, who saved him from falling forever through the Sea of Stars.”

My throat grows tight. Leo’s eyes widen. “Are you crying ?”

I shake my head. Callan gets up from his seat. He settles behind me, and I lean my head back as his hands land on my shoulders, waiting for the burning at the back of my eyes to dissipate.

Matthias and Sol have matching expressions. Mouths open, as Callan’s words ripple out. “I hope you told them the good part, Leo. About how she was attacked by wraiths and still managed to fly.”

Leo nods seriously. “And about holding onto the ship.”

Groaning, I turn, hiding my face in Callan’s stomach. His laughter shakes my head. “Good lad.”

His lips press to the top of my head. “You’re all right?”

I nod, still flushing. When I straighten, everyone is looking. Rio grins. “Well, well, well .”

“I’m shocked,” Matthias says drily. His eyes dance between us. “Truly.”

“Enough.” But Callan’s voice curls around me with warm amusement. “Behave, all of you.”

“Oh, no.” Matthias shakes his head. “After all of the ribbing you’ve given Sol and I over the years, you are significantly overdue for some of your own.”

He winks at me. “Apologies, Selene. In this house, we tease each other relentlessly. You’re going to get caught in the crossfire, since Callan is owed some payback for all he’s dished out over the years. But outside of it, we’ll fight if anyone else dares the same.”

“Do your worst.” Callan’s fingers trace the back of my neck. He pulls up the stool beside mine as Matthias spreads out the cards, explaining the game to me.

“Ready?” He holds up his cards, shielding them from me. “Callan, no helping.”

I nod. “It seems simple enough.”

An hour later, victorious in four rounds of carpo, I’m still grinning and flushed with my victory as Merrick carefully puts a large bowl of steaming stew down in the middle of the table and Matthias packs up his cards with a pout.

It’s followed by a wooden tray of small rye rolls, enough for one each.

He waves off our thanks. “I picked this up from the hearth earlier. It just needed a pinch more seasoning to be perfect.”

Everyone serves themselves, laughter and chaos ensuing as Sol and Rio squabble over a spoon and Esme sneaks the roll left for Sol on the tray while he’s not looking.

He doesn’t even look. “You know I can’t eat that, Es-mer-ay . No point in hiding it, you little sneak.”

“I made you one with rice flour,” Merrick interjects. “It’s on the counter.”

“Thanks, Merrick.” He gets to his feet. “Glad to know someone appreciates my sensitivities.”

“I appreciate all your sensitivities.” Matthias purrs the words with laughter underscoring each one, his loss forgotten, and Rio snickers. “Every single one.”

“Ugh,” Esme grimaces. “Also, I know that.” She tears the roll in two, tossing the far bigger half to Leo and running the remaining sliver around her bowl to gather up the juices. “I’m preventing the inevitable wrestle between Rio and Callan over who gets your allocation.”

“Good idea.” Rio stretches his arms above his head, smirking slyly. “Wouldn’t want you to pull a muscle, Cal. Not after last time. Besides, you need your rest.”

“I can see your lips moving,” Callan muses. His fingers brush my shoulder, and I look down to watch him nudge his own roll onto the side of my plate with his free hand. “But all I’m hearing are excuses.”

Esme’s whisper is loud as she addresses me. “Merrick banned them from wrestling in the house.”

Merrick sighs. “And for nothing, since they took it outside instead. Last time, half the town came to watch for entertainment and Esme led the betting.”

Smiling, I tear the roll into three. One part for Leo, who crows with delight as his gifted bread pile grows bigger and he happily starts munching through it.

I chew on the second before holding the third part up to Callan in silent offer. He takes the small piece with his teeth, his lips brushing my thumb and making me shiver. “Thank you. You didn’t ask who won that wrestling match.”

My blink is innocent. “I assumed it was Rio.”

Callan’s mouth drops open. Laughter echoes around us, and my smile creases my face.

His low murmur in my ear has my expression shifting between one word and the next. “Perhaps I could show you some of my moves later.”

My brows pull together. I press my lips into a tight line, not looking at him.

“All the moves,” he almost purrs, and a choked noise comes from my throat. “I seem to have a point to prove. I’m an excellent wrestler, Amaris. And I play to win.”

A loud snort slips free despite my attempts to keep it in, and I slap my hands over my mouth. “Oh, gods. Stop… whatever this is supposed to be. Please .”

His deep chuckle only makes my own laughter deepen. “I’m extremely disappointed that my wrestling talk doesn’t impress you. I’ll have to try harder.”

It does not . But his eyes, lit with amusement, and that grin that curls up his mouth as he leans back in his chair and rakes his hands through his hair—

That does something.

I glance down, taking in the thin strip of gold above his waistband as he stretches. My mouth turns dry at the dusting of brown hair that trails down, hidden from my eye. I bite down on my lip.

How unfortunate.

The back of my neck warms, and when I jerk my head up, he’s watching. “Perhaps a little impressed?”

His grin grows wider at my blatant assessment. Only to vanish when I lean forward. My movements are hidden by the table as my fingers skate across that warm patch of skin, and I feel Callan’s stomach flex beneath my touch as he shudders.

It’s a heady feeling. I’m already grinning before I look up to claim my victory in our small game—

Callan’s hand grips my chin. Not hard, but swiftly enough to pull a startled noise from my lips as he angles my head and covers my mouth with his own. Warm, soft, he presses his mouth to mine for a single, heated moment. His tongue traces my lips, and they part for him as I inhale.