“See. What was all the fuss about? It’s not like you can’t dance.”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t dance. I just said I don’t dance. Which I don’t usually.” I laugh.
She shakes her head and I smile at her. I look around the room as she twirls and giggles. Jinx and Sunday have the right idea. They’re sitting down, watching the rest of us dance. Aziza and Ya-Ya are dancing together and I realize Mel is missing. I wait a few moments, assuming she went to the kitchen for a drink or a snack or something. She doesn’t emerge and I feel a stab of worry in my gut, but I don’t say anything. Not yet. I don’t want to put a downer on Sailor’s night if Mel has just gone to the bathroom or something.
I keep dancing, waiting for the song to end. When it does, I take Sailor’s hands in mine and grin at her.
“Right. You’ve had your fun. Now go and dance with the girls and let me just sit and watch,” I say.
She laughs and nods her head. I move to join Sunday and Jinx, watching Sailor twirl around. She seems lighter, like a huge weight has been lifted from her, which I suppose it has. She giggles and I find myself smiling with her.
“God, you’re so lovesick, Rye. It’s pathetic.” Jinx grins.
I don’t even bother trying to deny it. I just shrug.
“Well look at her. I would have to be stupid to not see the beauty in her.”
That stops the teasing.
“Any idea where Mel went?” I ask.
Jinx shakes his head.
“She said she was popping out to get some air,” Sunday says.
My face must change because he quickly goes on.
“Relax. Mel can take care of herself. And it was only a couple minutes ago.”
I try to relax, but something is nagging at me. I don’t like the idea of Mel wandering around in the woods on her own, even with War gone. I decide she’s getting ten minutes, and then I’m going to go look for her.
I go back to watching Sailor, and I repeat my vow to her. I will do whatever it takes for us to be together, and whichever of the gods is stupid enough to try and get in the way of that will regret it.
I lose track of the time watching Sailor, and when I remember I was giving Mel ten minutes to come back to the party, half an hour has passed. I get to my feet. Sailor breaks away from Aziza and Ya-Ya and comes to my side.
“Where are you going?” she says.
I laugh. “The bathroom if that’s okay with you.”
I hate lying to her, but I’m not going to ruin this night for her while there’s still a good chance I’m just being paranoid and Mel is fine.
“Ah, go on then, I’ll allow it,” Sailor jokes. She’s still looking at me though and her smile fades. “Rye, you look stressed out. Can you please just relax for one night?”
“I’ll try,” I promise her. “But it would be easier if my bladder wasn’t bursting.”
She laughs and steps aside. I go out of the room and head for the cabin door. I am halfway along the hall when Mel comes in.
“There you are. I was starting to get worried. Are you alright? Sunday said you went for some air, but that was ages ago,” I say.
Mel steps closer and I can see the worry all over her face. My senses come to life and I look around quickly, almost expecting a demon pack to burst into the cabin behind her.
“I’m okay,” Mel says quickly. “But there’s something you need to know. Can we go in the kitchen and talk for a moment? We can let the others have tonight and tell them tomorrow.”
I nod and we head for the kitchen. We sit down at the table and Mel looks at me.
“I think Sailor was right about Raven. I slipped out to follow up on a lead I had. I’ve still been digging like you asked me to, and it turns out there’s a good reason why Raven is so secretive about her past.”
“Okay?” I say, on high alert
“There has to be a reason why she put herself in Sailor’s life the way she has. She has to know about Sailor, about us. This is no coincidence.”
“Mel, what are you saying?” I prompt her, my stomach whirling.
“I don’t know if she is part of the Boundless or not, but Rye, she’s half god. And if she is part of the Boundless, then she’s more dangerous than we ever could have imagined.”
Click below for book 3:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZBN938P
