It’s #BookQW and our hero loves a ‘strong’ heroine, despite her reluctance to confide in him.
More from Chapter 6:
Shouts leaked from behind the closed door of the keeper’s quarters. Salm cocked his head—no, he shouldn’t eavesdrop. He backed off several steps. Had Luna told her father already? Then he should knock louder and divert Keeper Jonah’s anger. Salm stepped to the door again and put his ear to the crack.
Nay, ’twas witches yelling.
“Why do you get to go out, and we have to work?” the youngest shrieked.
“I’ll do my part when I come home,” answered Luna.
“Then we can wait until—”
“I’m the oldest,” she ground out. “You’re to do what I say. Papa says.”
Salm smiled. He liked that about Luna, how she knew precisely what to do and just took charge. Sailors needed that upon the seas. One never knew—
The door opened. He stumbled back and caught a glimpse of Luna…in time for the door to close again. She wore her coveralls, dirtier tonight than he’d seen them. Her hair had sprung loose, and something smudged her face on one side.
Blow me down. His smile faded. His fingers twitched over his leather waistcoat, tugging it down over his clean trousers. Clean shirt, too, cuffs even buttoned, his best clothes. Did this mean she didn’t want to see him? Then what about their plans—
The door opened again, and Luna squeezed through a crack before slamming it closed. His hopes rose at the sight of her in fresh clothes, and he started to smile again, started to say what he’d planned—“I’m happy to see you”—but her pale-eyed gaze glanced off him like a gull wheeling from the bow, and instead he asked, “What’s wrong?”
He regretted it before she even had time to mutter, “Nothing.”
That was always her answer. He’d known Luna four years, maybe more if he really thought about it. But not until he’d turned fifteen did he start to notice the witches in different ports and come to know Luna better. Her short answer was Luna through and through: sweet and strong, ready for any adventure he proposed. But she didn’t talk about herself. And never about her family.
In the dark, a dusting of silver magic sparkled on Luna’s skirt and in her fluffed curls—oh, he wanted to dive his fingers into them. More shed from her hands as she wrapped her arms around herself, hugging the sweater covering her shoulders, though it wasn’t cold.
She wasn’t inviting him in, that was for sure.
~~~
Find out what Luna is hiding, pick up your copy of Keepers of the Sea Cliffs!
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