Page 29

Gavin

Who knew my fate would hinge on a handful of measly seeds?

I kicked off my boots and collapsed onto the cushioned couch in Bowen’s living room.

It was well after midnight, and the house was silent except for the steady snap and crackle from the fire in the hearth.

I still wore my jacket from the ball and tossed my mask onto an ottoman, glad to be free of it.

What a mess.

Approaching Marin in disguise had been both brilliant and an act of torture. She’d let me look my fill and touch her warm skin, knowing it was the gateway to more.

I’d meant to remove my mask immediately, but she’d steeled herself in that shadowed alcove, shifting our places, shifting the power in her favor, and it made me ache to touch her. To press my mouth against her scars.

To want.

I’d never wanted so much. It encompassed everything, from hearing her laugh to hearing my name on her lips, filled with that same desire.

I wanted all of her.

And I knew the second I took off that mask, I’d be barred from it all; her walls unscalable .

Bowen had been right. The wounds Marin carried weren’t the kind to heal on their own. Like broken bones, they had to be reset, inflicting more pain. And I was the enemy planning to break them.

Damn, I hate this.

I pressed the heel of my hand against the ache in the center of my chest.

For the moment, I had the upper hand. I had the seeds. By now, she knew I’d won that round, and she was either regretting not stabbing me in the alcove or dreaming up new, more creative ways to kill me. Probably both.

I shouldn’t take pleasure in it, but I would have done just about anything to see her face when she read my note. Ah, it’s no fun when you don’t get to witness the fruits of your labor. I’d have to settle for her face when she showed up on my doorstep demanding retribution.

Because she would show up. It was only a matter of time.

Scraping a hand over my jaw, I dropped my head back and closed my eyes. There was still so much to plan. So many things that could go wrong. This wasn’t just any hunt.

I’d started making inquiries, checking in with some of my less-than-savory associates, and navigating Aetheryal was going to be tricky. If not outright deadly.

The realm was an island in the sky, ruled by the people and not by a crown. It was a lawless paradise, drenched in legend. Full of lost treasures, ruins, and ancient castles surrounded by an untamed landscape of jagged peaks and low valleys covered in clouds.

And we didn’t have a map. No knowledge of local flora and fauna. We could walk straight into a cloud of deadly spores or find ourselves overrun by iridescent beetles that mummify their dinner. I’d seen my fair share of mummies. No thanks.

And that was before we even made it to the castle, where an evil giant waited, cursed to eternally guard the treasure room. Talk about all work and no play.

Then there were the traps. The maze.

A hunt like this would take months to plan.

We had days.

Soft footsteps tip-toed past the living room entrance. I rolled my head to the side, peeking one eye open. Annie leaned her head through the doorframe and spotted me.

“Uncle Gavin,” she whispered. “Did you just get back from the ball?”

“Yes, but it’s past your bedtime. What are you doing awake?”

She shifted her weight, her bare feet peeking from beneath the hemline of her nightclothes. “I couldn't sleep. Did you find the pretty lady who broke into your house? Mama said she'd be at the ball.”

“Your mother told you that? Or you heard it while eavesdropping?”

Annie wrinkled her brow as if I’d asked a ridiculous question. “Eavesdropping, of course. A thief always knows it’s easier to lie low and steal information.”

I sighed. Liana was right. I was a bad influence.

“A thief also knows the value of sleep. So get back to bed before your parents catch you, and we’re both sentenced for skulking around in the middle of the night.”

“Can you tell me one of your stories first?”

I groaned. “Aren’t you too old for bedtime stories?”

Annie folded her arms and cocked her head with an impish snarl. “Aren’t you too old to still be living in my father’s house? ”

My gaze narrowed into slits. The kid had certainly mastered the art of a well-timed jab to the ego. I was as proud as I was wounded.

“Touché. But it’s only until I fix the one I bought. Let’s go, misfit. It’s your lucky night. I do have a story for you.”

With a grumble, I rose to my feet and ushered her down the hall and back to her room. Annie scrambled over the mattress and fluffed the pillow while I scraped a chair across the floor.

“Are you ready?”

She tucked a heavy wool blanket under her chin and nodded eagerly.

“Good.” I arched my hand through the air and spoke with a dramatic tone. “This is the tale of two thieves. One who was very beautiful and fiercely smart. And the other, who was brilliant and revered among his peers.”

Annie flattened her lips. “I’m rooting for the girl.”

“Of course, you are.” I leaned back in my chair with a scowl.

“Anyway. It was a race to steal a packet of legendary seeds from a magically locked vault. The beautiful thief had a plan, and it was a good one. Masterful, even. She picked the pocket of the host, stole his enchanted key, and used plant magic to steal his breath. But, when she opened the vault, the seeds were gone.”

“What happened?” Annie gasped.

I tapped my temple. “You see, while masterful plans are the most admired, it’s the quick, dirty schemes that get you there faster.”

Annie raised a skeptical brow. “So basically, you cheated.”

“No. I didn’t cheat! I out-maneuvered. There’s a difference.”

“Sure, Uncle Gavin.”

I ignored her dry smirk and pressed on. “Back to the story. Where was I? Oh, yes, the brilliant, revered thief knew the host would visit the vault to collect the main attraction for his masquerade ball. So he doused the sconces and hid in the shadows to wait for the perfect moment.

“Then, just when the thief’s feet were falling asleep, the host finally arrived.

He used his magical key to activate the vault, releasing the iron bar holding the door in place.

The moment the man stepped inside, the thief pounced, slipping a thin metal disc into the lock before the door closed.

That way, when the host left, the door wouldn’t seal properly, allowing the thief to waltz in behind him and steal the seeds. ”

I angled my head and grinned. “All before the party even started.”

Annie covered her mouth with a yawn and snuggled deeper into her pillow. I snarled my lip. Bedtime stories were meant to put children to sleep. But my magnificent heist? It should have kept her awake until the thrilling end. Some people just don't appreciate artistic mastery when they hear it.

Annie grumbled softly, half-asleep, “And did you impress the beautiful thief by winning the challenge?”

I frowned. “No. Quite the opposite, actually.”

“That’s too bad. I assumed this was a love story.”

“Well... It’s not over yet,” I muttered.

But my chest felt heavier than it should. Annie rolled over, already asleep. I exhaled sharply. Snuffing the candle flame, I went back to my room, knowing that for me, sleep would be as elusive as impressing the woman who wished we had never met.