Page 66 of Stars Above the Never Sea (The Last Faeyte #1)

Just enough for me to soften, to lean into him, before he pulls away and smirks. “I intend to repeat that later. All over.”

My head feels dazed. “Perhaps we both won this game.”

His head tips back on another laugh. I wonder if he feels the same way I do. Almost delirious, sat at this table with laughter echoing around us. As if it cannot be real.

Callan’s face softens. He shifts, tucking me into him, his lips to the side of my head.

We both notice our silent, avid audience at the same time.

“Ugh,” Rio mutters. His finger waves toward Sol and Matthias. “They’re going to be just as bad as you two.”

“People can only aspire to be like us,” Matthias says loftily.

He lounges back against Sol, using his chest as a rest and looking up at him.

“One day, when all of our souls are in Ellas and our merry band is trapped together for eternity, the Travelers will tell tales of our love around the hearth of Asteria. You wait and see.”

“I do not doubt it,” Sol says quietly. Mattias beams up at him.

“Only after dark, though.” Rio snickers into his hand. Merrick coughs, and he glances at Leo’s wide eyes as Esme chokes down a laugh of her own. “Um… never mind.”

My smile doesn’t fade as I lean back, Callan’s arm a comfortable resting place. It’s surprisingly addictive. There’s a comfort in the air that didn’t exist on Volatus . The strain, maybe, of the pretium, and not everyone being there.

Matthias’s hand bangs on the table when I stand, helping Rio clear the wooden bowls. Merrick takes them from me at the small, cluttered sideboard with a small smile, tilting his head. “Go and sit down. There aren’t enough nights like this. We should enjoy them.”

I slip back into my seat as Matthias gets to his feet. His arm sweeps out. “And now, there shall be singing.”

“Absolutely not.” Esme snorts, clapping her hand over her mouth and waving at him to sit down. Leo’s eyes slowly widen, as if in horror. “Solomon, you know what to do. Rio, get the vihuela. Selene, can you sing?”

I shake my head. “I was told as a child I could shatter windows.”

Everyone winces. All eyes turn to Sol, and he glowers. “No.”

Voices chorus in disappointment. Matthias sighs. “My love. You must answer the call, since nobody wants to hear my voice. I’m the last stand. Don’t inflict that on everyone.”

I offer him a smile. “Perhaps we could duet, if Sol refuses.”

His laugh shakes the whole table. “Part of me hopes he says no, just so we can make that happen.”

Rio’s fingers glide along the instrument. His voice softens, almost coaxing. “Come on, Solemn-one. It’s been ages.”

Esme chokes. Silence echoes.

And then I watch with wide eyes as the whole table erupts in howls . Sol throws a forgotten wooden spoon at Rio with a snarl in his throat. It bounces off his forehead, but he only laughs harder.

Esme wipes tears from her eyes before she glances at Sol’s face, only to collapse again.

Callan leans in to explain, his whole body shaking. “Sol has a particular dislike for that nickname. It was a favorite of ours when we were children. He was always so serious.”

Matthias swipes his hands down his face, forcing out a breath before he fixes Sol with a pleading expression. “Please.”

Sol’s face wavers. “No.”

“For me?” Sol hesitates.

“I’ll do the thing ,” Matthias whispers, almost under his breath. Esme guffaws, and he elbows her, still grinning.

Sol rolls his eyes. But the thin line of his mouth softens as they exchange glances. “Fine. One song.”

Cheers ring out. Callan’s hand claps against the table as he leans back, his arm leaning around the back of my chair. He’s grinning, his whole body relaxed. “I’m sorry. We get a little overexcited when we’re all together.”

“Without the life-or-death situation,” Esme adds. “Doesn’t happen often.”

“No,” Callan says softly. “It does not. Not nearly enough.”

I feel a small head against my arm. Leo leans against me, and I shift until I can lift my arm in silent invitation. He pulls his stool closer until he’s a warm bundle curled against my side, and we wait.

Sol starts quietly. Rio’s fingers dance over the six strings of his instrument, and they follow each other’s lead without even looking, as if they’ve done this so many times that it’s second nature.

My breath catches in my chest as I listen.

His voice is deep, and low, almost hypnotic, and my eyes slip to Matthias and the softness in his eyes. Esme props her chin on his shoulder.

It comes to an end too soon.

First, there is silence. Sol stares down at the table.

“There.” His voice is gruff. “One song.”

Everyone is still, even Leo. Rio’s fingers trail from the strings.

Matthias leans in, planting a kiss against Sol’s cheek. “Gods, I’m blessed.”

Callan whistles as the rest of us clap enthusiastically. I smile at Rio, raising my hands in silent appreciation for his own talent, and he bows his head.

“On that gods-damned beautiful note, we should head to bed.” Matthias gets to his feet. He nods, a small smile curling up his mouth. “Although some of us are already done for the night.”

I glance down. Leo’s mouth is open as he slumps against me, soft little snores coming from his mouth.

“Here,” Callan murmurs. He eases himself free, shuffles around us and carefully lifts Leo. “I’ll put him to bed, Merrick.”

Matthias wraps his arms around me in farewell, squeezing tightly and whispering something in my ear that has fire lancing my face. “Matthias!”

He snorts with laughter, grabbing Sol’s hand and tugging him through the door as Esme slips on her shoes.

Rio sighs. And then sighs again, when she doesn’t look up. Loudly. “The pallets at the barracks are very uncomfortable.”

Esme’s mouth works. “As if you were going back there anyway. When are you back on shift?”

“When Callan manages to pry himself away from Selene’s side for more than a moment. I guess I’m sort of on extended leave.” He eyes Esme. “So…”

She rolls her eyes good-naturedly, dancing around and planting a kiss on Merrick’s cheek. To my surprise, she gifts another to me. “Come on, then. Thank you for dinner, Merrick. I’ll see you tomorrow, Selene.”

I wave, and then Merrick and I are left at the table. He offers me a smile. “I hope we weren’t too overwhelming for you.”

“Not at all. I enjoyed myself.” More than I’ve enjoyed anything for a long time, in fact.

Merrick nods. “I’m glad to hear it.”

I study him. Wondering. “Merrick? Did you ever come across a faeyte called Lucia, while you were here?”

Grief fills his eyes. So much of it that I regret asking, as his shoulders tighten. But he meets my eyes, his own steady. “Yes. I knew Lucia before she took on her role.”

I almost ask. But then Callan is back. “He’s completely out, Merrick. I pulled his shoes off, but he’s not dressed for bed.”

Merrick waves a hand. “He’ll sleep like a log. It won’t hurt him.”

“Are you ready?” The room suddenly feels too small. Whatever thoughts I had vanish beneath Callan’s gaze.

When I nod, he takes my hand. “Thank you for dinner, Merrick.”

Sadness still lingers in Merrick’s face. But he stands. Callan’s face shifts as Merrick embraces him, his hand falling from mine to return it as his hand comes to rest against the older man’s back. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything is just as it should be.” Merrick pulls away, his eyes bright. He turns to me. “It has been a pleasure, Selene. Truly.”

Impulsively, I step forward. Merrick sucks in a breath as I hug him, his hand settling on my back. “Well, now.”

His voice sounds choked, as I pull back. “You two should head off. It’s getting late. An old man needs his rest.”

Callan grins. “You have many years in you yet. I wouldn’t worry.”

Merrick’s eyes linger on my face. And I remember the shadows between us. He smiles again, and his voice is gentle. “I am not worried.”

My breathing stutters. Now, at this moment, I understand what he meant when he told me it would be hard. To know someone’s fate and not share it.

Callan’s hand slips into mine, and then we’re stepping through the door, cool air against my skin. I tip up my face, letting the night air brush over my cheeks.

Anticipation and nerves war for space in my stomach as I wait.

Large, careful hands cup my face. Then Callan’s lips are on mine, and I’m reaching for him as though I have starved for too long. He presses me back against the doorway, before he pulls back with a gasp. “Gods. I wanted to do that all night.”

“Don’t stop.” I reach for him again.