It’s #BookQW and Coral has her ‘finger’ on poking her siblings! Family can be everything, but sometimes you’ve had enough of them!
More from Chapter 25:
Did you make these, too?” Ty gestured to the macramé she’d tied into her hair at her temple when she’d left it loose tonight.
Hoy, now he was taking note of her appearance. “Aye.” She touched the spiraled cord threaded with shells on her neck. “The necklace, too.”
He brushed aside her hair to peer at it. But Manta’s gaze kept cutting to them.
Will she not let up? Coral had to admit the situation was a smidge uncomfortable, here on the deckwalk where anyone could see. Gossip would have her prebonded to him before she even had a chance to know her own mind—and her energy’s reaction. “What happened to asking about touching? Don’t the same rules apply to you?”
His hand fell away, but Ty didn’t move back. “May I?”
She eyed Manta, who was saying goodbye to the neighbor. If Coral wanted to learn which was the real Ty—the open or closed one—she’d have to push a little, despite Salm’s warning. “Not here,” she said quietly. “Be ready to leave.” She tilted her head toward her sister.
Understanding, Ty nodded. “Could you make me a necklace with a shark’s tooth I found?”
“You are full of it. You don’t have a shark’s tooth, nor would you wear a necklace.”
“I do.” He magicked the fossil into his palm and held it out just as Manta dropped onto the bench with them.
“That’s one of the largest mako shark teeth I’ve seen,” Coral said. They passed the two-inch stone tooth around, admiring the shiny gray enamel and finely serrated edges. “Still sharp. It didn’t spend much time rolling in the waves.”
“Where’d you find it?” Manta asked.
“Three coves north, a beach that Dar said to try after that big storm a few weeks ago. He used to take his kids there and has jars of shells and teeth.”
“Ah, that is a good spot. Some of the other teens from Giuthas are there at the estuary cleaning up a Styrofoam spill. Maybe we could help them next week and do more hunting.” Coral peered at him. “You really want it on a macramé?”
“I’d wear it. That twisted pattern is in style with surfers, and I can’t show it off very well in my dresser drawer.”
Coral took out a spare piece of cord. “Long enough to hang to your collarbone?” She dragged the measuring cord along with her fingertips around his neck, suppressing a grin when Manta rolled her eyes.
Then Manta’s cookie timer rang, and she jumped up.“I’ll be right back,” she said pointedly and hurried inside.
In a second, Coral had everything stuffed into a bag. “Hold on,” she told Ty and darted after Manta. Her sister was already disappearing into the back. Coral sneaked to the counter and shoved her bag safely onto the shelf beneath. Outside again, she snatched up her cape, swung it around her shoulders and waved Ty along. They briskly walked toward the south end of town. Thank the Orb she’d dressed warmly in long sleeves and a long skirt. She wouldn’t be tempted to go back anytime soon.
* * *
Want to read more about Coral of the Seas and her siblings? Lost Whisperer of the Seas follows a new set of characters in the Windborne world. This novel can be read as a standalone, or after books 1 & 2!
Get Lost Whisperer of the Seas in print or ebook! Buy it here!
* * *
Soon the Seas will appear in another novel, featuring Coral’s brother Salmon of the Seas.
I’ve finished revisions for Keepers of the Seas Cliffs, with plans for it be off to the copy editor in November and published before the end of the year. Get early excerpts by joining my newsletter!
Leave a Reply