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“What happened? Were you in a fight?” I stopped in front of him. My hand lifted toward his face, fingers curling before they made contact. A low sound slipped from my lips. “You’re bleeding.”

He said nothing. Just watched me. But his chest rose and fell, each breath stronger, more ragged the longer he stared down at me. My hand still hovered uselessly in the air. Then Gavin moved. His fingers closed over my wrist just like in the alcove. But this time, he tugged.

I stumbled forward, eyes flaring as he let go, only to gather me in his arms and pull me against him.

“What are you doing?”

“Holding you.”

Gavin’s tone was hollow. Thin and frayed like wind howling through an empty tunnel. It made my throat ache.

“Why?”

“Because I had a shit night, Marin. And I need you…”

His throat worked. A shudder rolled through him. His heart pounded against his ribs, his warmth sinking into me .

“I need you to pretend you don’t hate me. Just for a minute,” he finished, his tone hoarse.

I breathed deeply, pushing past the sting in my chest. I’d never seen him like this before. Gavin was unshakeable. A man with ten plans in case the first nine failed. But now, it looked like he was barely holding himself together.

“Fine. But only for a minute. I don’t want to get used to it.”

“No. Let’s not risk that.” Somehow, he held me tighter. I should have pulled away. But I didn’t.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I want to forget about it.”

“Hmm.” The sound rumbled in my throat. “I know what that’s like.”

Gods, how I wished I could forget. The last few years. The version of me who didn’t question every feeling. Mistrust every kind word. The woman who didn’t carry scars on the inside and out.

I let my fingers curl into the front of his shirt. “I don’t know how to forget. But sometimes, when I’m having a hard time just existing, I try to count things.”

His breath ruffled the hair at the top of my head. “There’s only one of you.”

I laughed softly. “I meant count the stars or pebbles in the sand. But maybe counting isn't your thing.”

It’s been way longer than a minute. But Gavin still needed a distraction. And I, foolishly, needed to give him one.

“I bought a new pair of boots today,” I mused, tipping my head back to study his granite features. “They have thick soles and are made from the finest leather. Feels like walking on air. Did you know…” I pressed a finger lightly to his chest. “that in some kingdoms, boots are made out of fish? ”

“What?” His shoulders jerked in surprise.

“Yeah. Fascinating, isn’t it? They tan the fish leather, then layer it over a soft lining before stitching it together. Very water-resistant,” I added with a solemn nod. “I bought you a pair, too. Guess what they’re made of?”

“No, you didn’t.” He pulled back, searching my face. A hint of a smile formed on his lips.

“Afraid so. I had a lot of money to spend. And I took advantage.”

His eyes held mine. The hollowness in them faded, shifted to amusement, then darkened into something that made my breath catch.

“I bet you did. What else did my money buy?”

“New clothes. Food rations—the good stuff. A new dagger—extra sharp.”

Shackles…

I tensed. This had gone too far. I’d slipped into the familiarity of the Gavin and Marin from before. When one of my absurd facts would make him smile. And it had worked. It had always worked. But that didn’t change anything.

Slowly, I pressed the flat of my hand against his chest, creating space between us. His arms tightened for just a second, then a flicker of resignation flashed in his eyes, the light in them dimming as he dropped his arms.

“Minute’s up. We should clean that cut before it gets worse.” I walked away, then dug into my bag for a clean rag, the small pot of salve Cass had given me, and my leather flask. “Wouldn’t want you to drop dead from a fever before you find your precious pile of gold.”

Gavin bit out a weary curse. “Marin, about that—”

“Sit.” I pointed to my bedroll.

He stared at the ground for a long moment, then let out a slow, tired breath. Exhaustion hung on him like weights strapped to his shoulders.

Gavin eyed the thick bedding, then sank onto it with a barely restrained wince.

“Fine. We’ll discuss it later. What’s one more night living with your low expectations?” He dropped his head against the rail, but his dark gaze stayed on me. “Are you sleeping out here tonight?”

“Yes.” I ducked my head to twist the cap off the salve. “You are too. It’ll be like old times when we camped under the stars.”

And make it easier for me to shackle you to the railing.

I poured a stream of water onto the rag.

I’d cleaned hundreds of Gavin’s cuts before, but this time felt different.

Awkward. It was the way he watched me, like he knew I was off balance.

I was desperate to brace myself against whatever that moment had been, when holding me had felt like his lifeline, and I'd wanted to be one.

I pressed the rag against the wound, and he hissed.

“Your bedside manner has lost some of its touch, Mare.”

“Then don’t get into tavern fights.”

“You should see the other guy—or six.”

“Geez, Gavin. Six? You’re going to cross the wrong person someday.”

I dabbed salve onto his temple. Gavin’s eyes slid shut, pain carving through his features.

“I already have,” he murmured. “She’s brutal. Knows how to inflict a fatal wound.”

My fingers tightened around the rag. His words cut me all on their own as if I were the villain here, and not the other way around. I grabbed my bag and the other bedroll, stalked to the far end of the terrace, and laid out my things.

“Get some sleep. You look like you need it. You’ll probably fall off the vine and take me with you.”

I slumped onto my bedroll and faced the rail. Wide awake. Nerves and bitterness tangled together, knotted with this absurd desire to ease his pain; to inflict more.

I was a mess. And I needed as much distance between us as possible.

The entire sky would do.

***

Three o’clock.

I rolled over slowly, peering through the faint moonlight at Gavin. He was asleep. His arm tossed over his head, boots lying on their sides near his feet.

My heart beat so hard behind my ribs, if it wasn’t for the waves crashing below the cliff, I was sure it would wake him. I only had one shot at this. A single mistake, and it was over.

I shut down my emotions. The damn things were rioting inside my chest making me second-guess myself, and the man who’d needed me. Held me. For a moment, it had felt as natural as breathing.

Pushing the thought away, I pictured Sirena. Her long hair flowed in the water, hands gripping the coral bars as she spoke across the prison tunnel. Know your worth, Marin. You’re a treasure hunter. This is what you do.

She was counting on me to bring back the shard. This wasn’t just about me. My friend’s life was at stake. A kingdom I had helped curse. Whatever conflict raged inside me couldn’t come at a cost to them.

And she was right. I was good at this. Quick when I needed to be. Silent. Steady under pressure, even if that pressure made me do things I never imagined I’d do.

I removed the shackles from my bag and unsheathed my new dagger. The blade was honed to a whisper-thin edge. Leaving my boots behind, I crept on bare feet toward Gavin’s still form.

His breathing was steady. Features softened in sleep. The leather cord holding the seeds still hung from his neck, and the pouch lay nestled in the folds of his shirt.

Crouching low, I matched his breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. I waited to make sure he didn’t stir, then with careful precision, I pressed the tip of my dagger against the leather pouch. Just enough pressure to pierce it.

A single seed fell into my waiting hand. Then another. I didn’t need more than that. My fist closed around them as I tucked the seeds away.

The fox stealing from the lion.

Now the shackles.

I hesitated. My fingers clenched the iron rings until my knuckles ached. This was it. I might never see Gavin again, and I just stayed there, memorizing his features as if not moving meant I could stop time.

But time was a slippery thing, and mine was running out.

Moving painfully slow, I closed one end of the cuff around the metal rail, trying to time the snap with the crash of a wave. Then I eyed Gavin’s arm, still resting above his head. His wrist was inches away from the bar as if fate was on my side.

If it was easy, did that make it right? Probably not. But this was a game he’d started. And now it was a race to the vine that I had to win. I held my breath .

Click.

The second shackle locked around his wrist.

Gavin’s eyes snapped open.

His free hand shot out as I tumbled backward on my hands and feet against the cold tile. The shackles jerked, his whole body straining against the iron.

“What did you do?” His voice was sharp, fury laced with an edge of panic.

“It’s better this way.” I pushed to my feet, hands shaking as I scrambled for my gear. The cuffs clanged in the air behind me. I stuffed my feet into my boots as Gavin shouted my name.

I squeezed my eyes shut, teeth clenched against the guttural sound. Then I grabbed my gear and stood out of his reach.

“There’s food and water in your bag.”

He smacked it away. I threw it back.

“I left Cass the key. She’ll set you free after I’m gone.”

Gavin seethed. “Release me now, Marin. You’re not thinking clearly.”

“That’s the thing—I am! This would never have worked. We are broken. ” I choked on the words. I hated them. “Look, you want treasure? I’ll bring you back whatever I find. I promise.”

“Marin! Unlock these cuffs!” Gavin wrenched against the shackles, muscles straining so hard I thought he might snap the rail, or worse, his arm.

“Stop! You’ll hurt yourself.”

I knew what chains could do. The raw skin. Broken bones. The streams of blood.

I felt sick.

Earlier, Gavin had been hollow. Now he was filled with rage, desperation, and a fire that blistered through me .

You better run.

It wasn’t a whisper. My mind screamed it.

I listened.

Rocking back on my heels, I spun toward the terrace stairs.

“Don’t do this, Marin. Do not run from me!”

Moonlight glinted off the rail as my boots landed in the dirt. A sob constricted my chest. And with Gavin roaring my name into the night, I raced into the darkness.