"Kazi," Ninnette whispered against Kazi's chest. She could almost hear his heart beating if not for the humming of the engine beneath them.

"Yes, little drifter?" His thumb brushed over her shoulder as he pulled her to him.

They'd been huddled together on the deck of the small boat since the bangle took another hour of her life. She'd held onto him until the rain ceased. And sometime before that, Kazi's tears had also stopped.

"I hate you," she said, but her words had no conviction.

Kazi clenched his jaw and sighed--a little like a laugh. "I'm not so surprised."

"Because of you, Jeoff died," she said, and she felt his hand tighten on her back. She didn't want to condemn him for it, she only wanted to share the guilt. But in truth, she knew her friend's death was her fault.

"I know," Kazi said, taking the blame.

When he hadn't tried to defend himself, her remorse worsened, causing a tear to be shed. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the emotions at bay.

Softness and warmth touched her cheek, where the tear rolled over. Her eyes fluttered open, seeing Kazi's face inching back.

He had kissed her tear away.

Her lips parted, wishing she'd seen how his mouth landed on her skin. She glanced at his mouth, only a whisper away from hers.

"I'm tired," she said, thinking of his words when they were in the Floating Market. You don't have to fight this. And she wanted to give in, to lean up, press their lips together, and fall into the unbearable attraction that seemed to have grown in only two days.

"I know, love," Kazi answered, stilling himself like a rock.

"Love?" Ninnette said, the word rushing through her thoughts. "You called me love when you appeared on my boat."

He gave her a tired smile. "Now you know why."

She blinked at him, comprehension dawning in her mind. "It's love, isn't it?" she asked, thinking of the solution for the curse that Jeoff had given her before he died. "The heart it needs is not a heart. It's love."

Kazi's eyes grew as if for the first time he felt hope. "And?" he urged.

"The curse will break if I fall in love with you in three days," she said.

He released a heavy breath like he'd been holding it since they met. "It's impossible for someone to fall in love in only three days." He pressed his lips together in a thin line.

"Some people believe in love at first sight. Why can't I love in three days?"

"Do you truly believe in that sea devil crap?" He chuckled, but there was no joy in his laughter.

"Better than nothing to save my life," she said. But she doubted the possibility. To love wasn't something that she could just do. It wasn't even a choice.

If only... maybe if he would kiss her again. She tilted her chin to him, but he pulled away.

He groaned as if he were the one disappointed.

She wanted to slap him, but the pained look on his face held her hand still. Following his gaze, she looked up at the now almost clear sky. A few clouds drifted on the horizon, hiding the sun.

As soon as she turned her eyes up, a streak of light crossed the expanse. It passed by in an instant that her timing was perfect. A second later, and she would have missed it.

"Was that a falling star?" she asked, still clinging to Kazi.

"Make a wish, little drifter," he said.

She wanted to close her eyes and believe the superstition, to wish away the bangle from her arm and its curse with it. But if she did that, would Kazi be gone too?

"Do you know it's my birthday?" she asked, prompted by the thought of wishing on stars.

"Today?" Kazi turned his face back to her.

"Two days ago," she answered. "When I met you." She had dredged that day, thinking luck was with her on her birthday and believing she'd find something extraordinary. Something worth selling. Well, at least the extraordinary part came true.

"I bet falling in love with a demon was the last thing on your wishlist," Kazi said.

"What makes you think it's even on it?"

He chuckled.

She gazed at him, meeting his eyes. "Don't you want me to fall in love with you and break the curse?"

He shook his head. "Every time I come out, I always hope I'll finally be released by my curse breaker. I felt the same two days ago. But now I have a gut feeling I don't."

"Why?" she asked. Was it so bad to be loved by her?

"Maybe because my feelings could change after."

She grimaced. She hadn't thought of what would happen after. If she fell in love with him and broke the curse, would he still love her then?

"Because you're you, and I'm me, and we just don't mix," he added. Slowly, he untangled his arms around her, letting in the cold breeze. He didn't move back yet, like he was waiting for her response.

She nodded. "Fine." Her whisper came hard, and she was the one to push away from him, sitting on the deck and blinking into the deepening afternoon.

She glanced at the bangle, wondering if it would tick again. She'd finally figured out how to break the curse, but the demon refused to help her. How was she supposed to fall in love with him when he was being thoughtless?

Kazi sat up beside her. "We should get to land."

She looked around. The water was now calm, but it had been a fierce and destructive opponent earlier. She still couldn't believe she had fought against it and survived.

"I need to figure out where we are first." She peered at the glow of the sun behind the clouds. At least she knew where the east was. If only there were stars, she could pinpoint their exact location in the Oestern Ocean and tell which way the nearest land was.

She listened to the boat's engine, surprised that it was still running until now. Unlike larger vessels that used steam engines, this one could be using an outboard motor--one that required gasoline. And if their gas ran out, they'd be stuck in the middle of the Sea Mother's domain with no oars to row them back to land.

She could use her hydrostrinjerie to propel the boat forward, but she was already drained. So she hoped, though she knew there was little chance, that the gas would last long enough for them to find a port.

Glancing at Kazi, she found him already standing and bracing himself on the boat's railing. "What do you need?" he asked.

"I--" A moment ago, she wanted a kiss. She wanted to fall for him, to be released from the curse. Now she took in his always-arrogant stance and listened to his apathetic tone.

Kazi was a demon. He'd do anything to get what he needed--to get to land, to break the curse. He wouldn't truly care for her.

His embrace and his tears were merely the damnation taking over.

She squared her jaw, pushing down the disappointment. "Watch out for birds. They usually fly toward land."

"Alright," he answered, craning his neck and looking at the sky.

"Also, watch the color of the water." She pointed at the sea. "If it turns lighter, we could be nearing land."

"Got it." He glanced at the sea. His tone was void of emotion.

It irritated Ninnette that he was not as disheartened as she was. "When we left the Floating Market, do you know which direction we headed?" Her voice came with a sting, and she hoped Kazi didn't notice.

He tilted his head sideways. His lips curved to one side a little--a hint of a smile. "I think we headed north."

She searched her memory for the map of the Draga Isles. They could be near Granacia, or they could be heading toward Sivona, the capital of the kingdom.

Either way, any direction in the Oestern Ocean could lead to land. It was only a matter of how far.

"Right." She stood up, a little wobbly.

Kazi reached out to steady her.

She stepped away before he could touch her. "I'm fine." She walked to the helm, where she gripped the wheel for balance. Never had she felt her legs shaky on a boat before.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Kazi asked, coming to stand beside her. "Maybe I should check your head again."

"I'm fine, demon," she snapped. "Watch the water for any debris. A log, or a leaf, or something. It could have drifted from land," she demanded.

Kazi frowned. His dark eyes became stormy, and for a moment she saw the emotion she had been searching for. But they were too intense for her to bear that she looked away.

"I can take the wheel," she said, trying to even her voice.

Kazi placed his hand on hers over the helm and stepped closer so he towered over her. "What do you really need, little drifter?"

What did she need? She needed him to stop being so distracting so she could focus. "Just do what I asked you to do." She stayed still, feeling the warmth of his hand on top of hers.

He stared at her. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he swallowed like he was about to say something. For a while, he remained standing there.

When she stared back, something sad flickered in his gaze.

He shrugged and stepped aside before she could understand what the sadness meant. "Alright. You're the captain."

She turned to the console, noticing her hand had tightened over the wheel. Trying to relax, she pushed a lever with her other hand.

The boat answered with a roar and accelerated over the water, cutting through the ripples. They had not gotten far when the motor started complaining with a sputtering groan. The engine gave a clinking and clanking rattle.

"What's happening?" Kazi asked.

Ignoring him, she pulled the lever down to slow the skiff. It stopped abruptly. Its engine died, and the boat started to sway with the mercy of the waves.

"Sea devils!" Ninnette cursed. "How can you make this so much worse?" She kicked the base of the helm.

Kazi chuckled, then he laughed heartily, clutching his stomach.

"It's not funny, Kazi!" She gritted her teeth.

He took deep breaths before he paused. His eyes had gone teary from his amusement. "Oh, yes, it is, little drifter," he said, grinning at her. "Looks like you're still stuck with me."

🐚

Aleja placed the filigreed box on the table in front of her. She had not bothered to change her muddy clothes. Her robe was tattered and smudged with soot, and she guessed her face was just as filthy.

She glanced at the unconscious Honorable Priest lying on a small cot nearby. Matias was tending to him, but other than a small lump on the head, the priest seemed to be alright.

Amaru, that was his name. The Honorable Priest had never introduced himself as such before. Aleja was surprised when he revealed his name to the demon like they had known each other. But the demon acted like he didn't remember.

Looking back to the box, she unlocked it using her pearl ring. She removed the lid and let its glow wash into the room.

The small dot of the bangle's location blinked within the map of the Draga Isles. It was somewhere in the ocean, slowly moving north between Granacia and Sivona, almost as if it was just drifting.

"Where are you heading?" she whispered, gritting her teeth and remembering how the demon had smiled before the ceiling of one of the largest chapels of the Order collapsed.

She was lucky to get out with the Honorable Priest, but the rest of their members--his guards--had not been fortunate.

The last time she saw the demon was when sunlight came through a crack in the chapel's roof. The ground beneath him sprouted as he carried the hydrosi, his curse breaker, up toward the light.

"I will find you," she growled at the blinking dot. "You won't get away."