Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (19 page)

“Good morning,” he said.

“Morning? Half the day is gone.”

He smiled, and scratched the back of his head. “I only woke up a little while ago. I don’t sleep too well.” He slid the hat back on his head and little tuffs of dark hair stuck out.

“It must be difficult being away from your family.” I thought of Calli and Mother, and pictured them tending the garden. I missed them.

“You always live with your grandpa?” Edward placed his hand on my back, guiding me past a barrel with its contents spilling on the ground.

“This way.” I pointed to the small hill and the gray willow trees decorating it. I didn’t want to talk about my family. It would bring too many questions. “I’ve been staying with Grandfather over the summer. I’ll return home soon.”

The wind brought the salty air from the harbor to my nose. With each day I spent here, I appreciated the beauty of the sea more. It provided food and wares from other lands, and brought new people to our shores. And while I did want to see my family, Luna harbor was slowly working into my heart. Could it be my new home?

We strolled to the beach, a little ways away from the busy port. Tall grass surrounded the worn path leading down the hill to the beige sand. When I reached the shore, I discarded my shoes, turned to see if Edward would follow, then hiked my skirt off the sand.

Seashells of every shape and size scattered the ground where the water lapped onto the shore. I walked around, bucket in one hand, gathered dress in the other, searching for those perfect shells, the ones that swirled with pale blue and a hue of soft pink. When Grandfather had showed me a lupa shell for the first time, I’d begged him to show me where he found them. After that, he left the hunting to me.

“Is this where you find those shells?” Edward kept his boots on and carefully stepped across the sand.

Not many of the villagers ventured into this area of the beach. There wasn’t much here except shells, and the shoreline was small. I liked the quiet. It gave me time to think and enjoy the view. “Yes. Would you like to help me choose some?”

“I don’t know anything about picking shells.”

Shells surrounded my feet. Little white crabs, resembling spiders, crawled out onto the sand, the sea pushing them closer to my toes. I stepped back, trying not to squish any, and spotted the perfect shell. It had a spiral of pale blue with dots of fuchsia, darker than the normal pink shells I found.

I picked it up and laid it across my palm. “This is a lupa shell.”

Edward leaned over and plucked the shell out of my hand. “Interesting colors. I can see why you chose it.” He placed the shell back in my hand, his fingers grazing my palm. “I’ll see what shells I can find for you, my lady.”

Why was my heart pattering at his touch, and why did his crooked smile and mesmerizing blue eyes fill me with flutters? The last boy to make me feel this way hurt my family and me. Could I ever trust my feelings again?

“Everything all right?” Edward stepped closer. The wind pushed his scent to me and reminded me of winter when the firewood left its mark on the air.

And Lucino.

I pulled my hand away and dropped the shell into the bucket. “Yes. I’m going to look on this side. How about you search over there?” I pointed to my right.

“Very well. Maybe we’ll get lucky today.”

Maybe.

I looked past the waves to where the suns disappeared into the sea. I wondered how far the sea went and if it ever had an end. I stood admiring the quiet waters and glanced over at Edward, who squatted on the sand picking up shells and making a disgusted face when he discovered a snail still inside.

Grandfather had a special technique to take the lupa shells and turn them into jewelry. He coated them with a resin and used a small metal tool to drill a hole where a thick thread could be weaved through. Looking at the different shells scattered about, I imagined the perfect necklace with this perfect shell as the centerpiece.

The suns dipped lower in the bright sky.
I should go.

Edward glanced at me with his crooked smile.

“It’s getting late,” I said. “I should head back before Grandfather starts to worry.”

“I’ll walk you.”

I went back to my shoes and slipped them on. Instead of heading back on the path, we walked the shore to the harbor. At this time of day, the fishing boats were coming into port. I loved seeing all the different fish the sailors had caught.

We waded through the people, trying not to get in anyone’s way, and walked the street back to the shop. Grandfather’s shop sat at the far end of town, away from all the hustle and bustle of the market. Luna Harbor had a quaint beauty. Gray stone cobbled the main street, and the houses sat close together, charming structures with white stained wood and different colored stones. My favorite part of Luna Harbor was the tree responsible for the town’s name.

“This is the luna tree.” I pointed to the tree with giant weeping branches that dipped low, heavy with white circular flowers resembling the moon. “These trees only grow on the southern shores. It’s where Luna Harbor got its name.”

Edward picked up one of the fallen flowers and twirled it in between his fingers. “My mother would like these.”

Luna flowers had a scent similar to freshly washed clothes drying in the sun. It reminded me of sunshine and home.

“Do you think your family will want to move here?” I asked.

He brought the flower to his nose, the waning sunlight sparkled his blue eyes. “I’m not sure, but I think I’m ready to convince them.”

The suns gleamed glorious and bright, a perfect day for apple picking. Grandfather was a good friend of the orchard owner and he never minded when I strolled the grounds, though I tried very hard not to fill myself on the yellow apples.

Edward was meeting me by the road leading to the orchards. I wanted to show him the wildflowers that grew near the trees. After the flowers he had picked for me a few nights before, I thought he would appreciate the view.

A wooded sign with arrows pointing to the harbor and to the Great River marked the road, a giant luna tree beside it. I stood, holding the basket, waiting. Giddiness bubbled in my chest. Edward was a handsome boy, and I couldn’t help but be excited to spend the day with him.

We had spent the past few days picking shells and exploring the beaches. I even showed him how to clean the shells. I didn’t have any friends in Luna Harbor—not that I didn’t want any—but with the shop and jewelry making, I didn’t have much free time.

I laughed at the memory of Grandfather trying to explain what proper and improper behavior was for a boy and girl of our age. He turned bright as a cherry before deciding it was a talk best left for women.

“Good morning.” Edward arrived dressed in the same dusty trousers from the day before, looking every bit the village boy, but walking with a strong stance. I wondered if he could fight with a sword well.

“Good morning.” I curtsied and tried to hide the nervous flutters in my chest. “Ready?”

He nodded and we strolled the long dirt path. The air had the perfect mixture of warmth and wind. Walking beside Edward reminded me of carefree days, and the ache of Lucino’s absence dimmed. I had hoped Luna harbor would be a place of healing, but I never expected to find a cute boy, and especially not one as polite and sweet as Edward.

Lucino was polite.
I shook away the thought and focused on the beautiful day.

“Sorry about last night. Grandfather can be a bit nosy.”

“It’s all right. He doesn’t know me.”

“Still… I think it’s rude.”

Grandfather had been especially nosy at supper, asking Edward all sorts of personal questions. I think all the time we spent together made him uncomfortable, but we were only friends.

Edward looked my way and smiled. His face was kind with round features and bright brilliant eyes. Whenever he smiled, sunlight kissed his eyes, igniting the vibrant blue.

Ahead, the tops of the yellow apple trees peeked over the hill.

“Won’t the farmer be angry with us for walking around?” Edward took the basket from me and slung his arm through the handle.

“No. He’s a friend of my grandfather’s.”

I would normally run the rest of the way, but running in front of a boy seemed a little foolish. Walking faster, I smiled and waved him to follow. Trees lined in perfect rows, went back and swept over the hill, the apples hidden in between the bushy branches.

“He picks these all himself?”

I laughed. “That would take a very long time. He hires workers for the harvest.”

We stopped at the first row of trees. The apples were round, yellow, and perfectly ripe. I ripped one off the tree and handed it to Edward. “Here. They’re delicious.”

He took the apple and mouthed a thank you before biting into the juicy fruit. I searched the tree for another perfect shape and grabbed one for myself.

When I bit into it, I sighed. In silence, enjoying the fruit, we strode to the edge of the orchard where the trees broke apart and purple and white wildflowers covered the grass. I found a clear spot and sat on the ground, taking another bite of my half-eaten apple. Edward sat beside me.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” I said.

He nodded, wiping the apple juice from his lips. There was a tiny piece of apple stuck to his cheek, and without thinking, I reached to brush it away.

His expression froze and I quickly explained myself. “You’ve got apple there.”

I wiped away the creamy crumb, and a wild sensation ran through me when I touched his skin.

“Thank you.” The broken accent I was accustomed to had disappeared, leaving in its place a refined and smooth voice.

I tilted my head. “You’re welcome. Do you like the apple?”

“It’s good.”

His voice now back to normal, I wondered if the heat clouded my mind. Suddenly, the air was too humid and I needed to walk. Was I imagining things? No… his voice
had
changed. I quickly stood, Edward standing with me, grabbing my elbow to steady me. He was close, very close.

Winter… why does he smell like the cold air?
Lucino smelled like winter, an attribute embedded into my senses. So unique, and yet this boy smelled the same. How?

I rubbed my chest, wishing the bodice I wore wasn’t as tight. Sunlight beamed onto my forehead and sweat pooled underneath my chemise.

“Everything okay?” Edward still held my elbow.

“I should have thought of bringing water. I’m a little thirsty. Do you mind if we return to the harbor?”

“Of course not.”

Silence replaced conversation and uneasiness filled my steps.
Why do I feel so uncertain about this boy? A boy who’s been nice and kind.

But after Lucino, I was wary of trusting anyone.

When we reached the market, I decided to break away from him. “Thank you, Edward, I hope you enjoyed the orchard.”

“I did. Thank you, Jeslyn.”

Seeing his sweet smile, I suddenly felt guilty for letting my feelings shorten our day. Edward had done nothing wrong and I shouldn’t have been so mistrusting.

A butterfly flitted past him and he swatted the creature away, his face cringing in disgust.

Lucino hated butterflies. He’d made the same face at the grotto.

Suddenly, I was brought back to that day in Daath when Lucino had brought me to the enchanted grotto where the mystical blue butterflies resided. That day I saw the
real
Lucino
.
A boy who was much more than his title. And a boy who hated butterflies.

It can’t be.

His scent, the same eyes, and now this?

Can it be?

I found myself stepping away from Edward. Avikar had said Lucino was a shapeshifter. Did he not die that day? Was he standing before me now? And if he was, why?

My heart frantically beat with confusion and fear. “Sorry to leave in a hurry, but Grandfather wanted me back before noon.”

“May I see you later?”

I’d already turned around, and I didn’t dare look back at him for fear I’d see what I already knew was true. “Maybe another time,” I called out as my steps quickened.

Before he could say another word, I ran.