She knew how impossible a task that was. On impulse, she reached forward to cup his cheek. His eyes went wide, dark pupils swallowing his gold irises. She didn’t think she’d ever touched him this tenderly.

“We’ll see each other again,” she promised.

He settled his hands at her waist and drew her close to him. “I know we will.”

He kissed her. She could taste his longing, even after he pulled away.

“Don’t want to miss your boat,” he said.

“What?” She was still a little dazed from the kiss.

He nodded behind her, and she turned to find the boatswain waving a blue-and-white-striped flag, indicating their imminent departure.

Ephyra cursed under her breath, turning back.

“Illya—”

“Go,” he said, a small, genuine smile lighting his features. “You can tell me next time.”

With that promise ringing in her ears, she turned away and boarded the ship.

58

JUDE

Jude shifted through the next form of the koah sequence, his arms crossed in front of him, palms facing out.

It felt different than it used to. When he summoned Grace now, it was like calling out to the universe itself. Feeling the answer thread through his bones. He was still learning, still growing accustomed to this new form of Grace. But on mornings like this, it felt instinctive.

As Jude moved through the second half of the koah sequence, he became aware that someone was watching him.

“I’m in the middle of something,” he said lightly, without looking behind him.

“I can see that,” Anton replied, something warm and admiring in his voice.

“Well, unless it’s urgent…” Jude said, shifting into the next stance that brought Anton into view. He leaned against one of the trees in the orchard, just watching.

Fairly certain that he knew what Anton’s game was, Jude went back to his koahs as if he wasn’t there. It had rained the past few days, and overnight the rain had frozen so that the frosted leaves of the orange trees glittered in the early morning sun.

“Jude,” Anton said.

Jude breathed and moved through the next sequence.

“Jude,” Anton said again, drawing the syllable out. “Are you done?”

Jude again did not reply.

Anton huffed out a breath, knocking his head back against the tree. “You’ll be done soon, though, right?”

Jude finished the sequence and then stopped abruptly, spinning on his heel and stalking toward Anton.

Anton’s eyes went wide, blinking at Jude as he backed him against the tree.

“You wanted my attention so badly?” Jude asked in a low voice, just this side of threatening. “Well, you have it now.”

Anton flushed a pale pink that made his freckles stand out.

“I just thought”—his gaze flickered to Jude’s lips—“that we could have breakfast, if you were done with your koahs.”

“I think,” Jude said slowly, “that you came out here so you could distract me.”