Rían conjured a massive fire of tented driftwood, instantly bringing warmth back to my bones. “Hurry it on. I have places to be.”
“T-then go. I d-d-don’t want your h-help.” With my chin trembling so badly, I sounded pathetic and weak when I wanted to sound angry.
“Will I take back the dress and leave you in that then?” His stormy blue gaze drifted down my body, lingering on my breasts. My hips. My thighs.
I didn’t want him looking at me like that. I didn’t want him looking at me at all. “T-turn around.”
With a long-suffering sigh, he twisted so his back was to me. I took a moment to study his outline, silhouetted against gray clouds. So perfect on the outside. What a shame his soul was rotten.
I tried to work the ties free on my dress. Removing clothing was hard enough when the garments were dry. Wet? Impossible. Everything stuck together, and my frozen fingers couldn’t open one damned button. My arms felt like they weighed ten stone. Eventually, the shivering got so bad, I was afraid it’d start a bloody earthquake.
Then came the sound of ripping fabric, and the top of my dress fell away. I clutched my hand over a torn seam to keep my breasts from spilling free. When I whirled around, Rían was still staring at the sea.
I peeled myself out of the heavy garment and let it slop onto the stones.
Sea birds circled overhead, their lonely caws echoing against the vast expanse of nothing. The breeze kicked up, and I changed as quickly as I could into the dry gown made of the softest navy-blue cotton and long blue cloak lined with fur that appeared a moment later.
“I’ll have you know that was my favorite gardening dress.”
“And I’ll have you know this was my favorite shirt.” Rían had changed back into the shirt with two dirty handprints on the sleeves.
“All you have to do is wash it.”
“Are you asking me to go for another swim?” he threw over his shoulder, wiggling his eyebrows.
I told him to shove off.
I would rather take my chances with the murderous merrow than swim with him.
“I spoke to my brother this morning,” he said, drawing his knees to his chest. “He’ll meet you in the garden on the night of your betrothal ball.”
That meant I had one week left.
One week to pretend. One week to live.
“Why then?”
“The more witnesses, the better. Wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re faking your own death.”
I wouldn’t be faking it though. I’d actually be dying, no longer in this world but part of whatever lay beyond.“How long will it take for me to come back?”
He picked up a skinny piece of driftwood, snapped it in half, and tossed it into the fire. “It’ll feel like you just closed your eyes.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Rían winced.
“Tell me,” I demanded.
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“No, I mean I physically can’t. It’s part of my brother’s curse. But I can tell you this.” He held up a finger.
“What’s that?”
Rolling his eyes, he gestured to the digit.