Witch Fall(60)
Han traced the grain of the wood. “You won’t stay a witchling for long.” He turned to face her, his expression open and tender. She saw past the scar, past the scowl he wore to protect himself. He was beautiful—just like Jolin was. But neither of them could see it.
“The point is,” he went on, “you’re a little intimidating.”
“I don’t mean to be.”
“You are who you are.”
Lilette looked at him sidelong. “You could be my guardian.”
“Why me?”
Her cheeks grew warm. “I’m not, well—you’re very good with those swords. And you’re kind. You helped me when no one else would have, and I . . .” Her words trailed into nothing.
“You can do better than me, little dragon,” Han said softly.
Tears suddenly welled in her eyes. He’d made some kind of decision. She could see it in his eyes. “What are you going to do?”
He hesitated a moment. “Somebody has to fight for Harshen, Lilette.”
“Fight how?”
“I have to negotiate a peace—one that involves the return of your witches and the safety and prosperity of my people.”
“I will help you.”
“What about becoming a witch?”
“I can do both. Besides, I promised you I would look after Harshen. I mean to keep that promise.”
“Lilette—”
She whirled on him so fast her head ached. “Don’t. They are my people too.” Her words surprised even her. Harshen and its people had not always been good to her. But then she thought of Fa, Salfe, and Pan. Ko and Lang, and of course Han, and she could not find hatred in her heart.
His jaw tightened and he gave a quick nod.
“What’s the plan?” Lilette asked.
“We plead Harshen’s case. Talk to whomever we have to.”
“Figure it out as we go. I like it.” Sounded just like her kind of plan.
Han chuckled. “We can’t exactly plan a battle without knowing the battlefield.”
“Right. I agree.” She tried to sound more confident than she felt. “What about . . . what about . . .” She paused. “I know you have feelings for me.”
He looked away and braced himself against the gunwales. “Lilette . . . it seems like whenever we’re together, others get hurt.”
Something dark formed inside her. “Don’t.”
“I don’t think—”
“No. I won’t let you say goodbye.” She glared at Han, daring him to look at her. When he finally did, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. He blinked at her, clearly stunned.
A thrill raced through her. “Think about that, Han. See if you don’t change your mind.”
She turned and walked across the deck, feeling more than one pair of eyes following her as she climbed into the hold. After sitting in her hammock, she drew her knees up to her chest.
Jolin came to stand before her. She cleared her throat uncomfortably. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. I’m an idiot.”
Lilette huffed. “Yes, you are.”
“Scoot over.”
Lilette wiggled to one side. “It’s hard in these things.
Jolin climbed in. “Where have you been?”
“Just plotting to save the world.”
“With whom?”
Lilette refused to meet her gaze. “No one.”
“Oh, I’ve seen no one before. Does no one wear a sword and a scowl?”
Lilette shrugged. “I might have kissed him.”
Jolin gaped at her. “Isn’t he your brother-in-law?”
A wicked grin crept onto Lilette’s face. “Well, if they can have more than one wife, why can’t I have more than one husband?”
“Lilette!” Jolin sounded appalled.
“Technically, I’m already on my second husband.”
“Your second?”
Lilette giggled. “What’s another one?”
Jolin’s eyes were the size of sand dollars. “So . . . Han?”
Lilette clamped her hand over her mouth to keep her mad laughter inside. “Yes.”
“Well, I can’t see it. But then I love sardines. Who am I to judge?”
Lilette’s nose wrinkled. “Sardines are disgusting.”
“I know! But they’re deliciously disgusting.”
Lilette dissolved into another fit of giggling.
Jolin’s gaze went faraway and dreamy. “I’ve only ever kissed one man—he was the one who introduced me to sardines. I think that’s why I liked him.”
Lilette burst out laughing. “Because he tasted like sardines?”
Jolin smacked her, but she was smiling. “No. Because he made me try something new. He’s the reason I went on this trip. He said that in order to get conclusive results, I needed a larger sampling.”