TAP-TAP-TAP.
I drop the scrub brush into the bucket of soapy water with a clunk that splashes my knees.
Slowly, I stand and make my way to the window, but once there, I hesitate, my fingers hovering at the frayed edge of the drapes. I figure it’s Nico … He’d said he’d be back. But it’s after dark now.
After. Dark.
What if it’s not him?
TAP-TAP-TAP.
A shiver travels the length of my spine as those lines from childhood bedtime stories fill my head … A bony finger upon pane of glass at first night’s nap. TAP-TAP-TAP.
“Veda!” Nico hisses from the other side of the thin glass.
I jump out of my skin.
“Nico!” I hiss right back. Then, throwing the curtains to the side, I lift the window open in one motion. A chilly breeze takes my breath and sucks any heat that filled my room right out with it.
“Hey.” Cast in shadows, Nico stands before me, his arms crossed over his chest, impish grin across his face. I assume if I were to peek out the window and downward, he’d also be tapping his toe against the ground. Nico squints at my thick sweater, the fingerless gloves covering my hands.
“What? It’s cold.”
“Veda…” He bends to his knees and leans forward so his head is inside my bedroom, elbows resting on the windowsill. “You promised.” Small clouds flow from his mouth with warm breath, and his dark hair, a mane of unruly waves, falls into his equally dark eyes. I resist the urge to brush it off his forehead and to the side for him, but my fingers itch for the contact all the same.
I wrap my sweater more tightly around me, hugging my middle for warmth. “Oh stop—I’m not going anywhere. It’s just cold.” I playfully glare at him. “You’re one to talk! Who’s out after dark right now?”
He worries his bottom lip like he’s working something out. “It’s easier for me, I guess … I’m not in danger, and if caught I won’t be in much trouble.” He says it like he’s just now realizing it. And maybe he is. Did he truly not know we Basso are always on guard? Whether it’s an Imperi soldier or the Night, someone’s always hovering over our shoulder, threatening to fine us or jail us or, worse, snatch us right up like shadows in the night.
Though I guess he wouldn’t realize that.
Another cool breeze snakes its way into my room. I shiver then make to close the window right on top of him. “In or out, Denali?”
He flashes a crooked smile. Deep dimple and all. I swear he knows I’m helpless to it.
I step back.
He climbs in.
I close the window behind him.
This is a first … A boy—actually, anyone other than Poppy—in my room after vesper bells. But it’s Nico and Nico isn’t any boy. He’s my one constant, unwavering friendship since childhood.
Nico, whom I almost kissed earlier.
Nico, who’s sitting on my bed, glancing around the space as if it’s different after the Sun’s set. And it is different from usual … Signs of the Night’s handiwork are all over, from the broken chest to the papers thrown about to the muddy, paint-stained boot prints covering the floor. Why we’d left cleaning my room for last, I don’t know. It made sense at the time, especially when Nico said he’d be back after dinner to help me, which, in this house, was hours ago.
Nico, who shouldn’t be out, much less on this side of the island, much less in my bedroom.
What I wouldn’t do to see his bedroom … But that’s beyond the point at the moment. Beyond reality, even. I nearly giggle imagining a scenario in which Lord and Lady Denali would invite me into their home, much less allow me to be in Nico’s bedroom. The end of times. After “High Regent Arlen Rivera’s” short reign. Maybe.
I march over to Nico and shove him in the chest. “What in Sun’s name are you doing here?”
He falls flat onto his back against my bed, but recovers quickly, leaning up on his elbows. “What? I told you I was coming back.”
“After dinner.”
“Yeah. It took me a while to get away.”
“Get away?” I sit next to him, stare into his eyes. “Are you telling me your parents don’t know you’re here?”
“Sun, no.”
“Nico!”
“They think I’m in bed. It’s fine.”
“And where did they think you were earlier?”
He only cringes.
I raise my eyebrows, waiting.
“The Imperi recruitment office—which I was.” He looks away. “Yesterday.”
“Nico…” I must wear the same shock on my face that’s tightening my chest because he sits up and scoots closer, takes my hand.
“It’ll be fine. I promise. My family’s long asleep. They have no reason to suspect anything.”
“But. How…?”
Nico grins. “You’re not the only one who can successfully sneak around the island, Adeline. Arlen does it all the time. He’d die if he knew I was here. He’s been trying to get me to sneak out for years. But all he does is skulk around for the sake of defying the law. I think he stole some eggs once and threw them into the tunnel so it’d stink. Stupid things like that, though I guess he won’t be doing much of that anymore.” He shakes his head. “Anyway, I figure, if you have a good reason to break the laws, it’s justified.”
Fair enough. And easy for him to say when his worst punishment would be a good talking-to. Maybe community service.
Nico grabs a scrub brush and gets to work where I left off.
I decide to drop it. The army papers, the sneaking around, the lying to his parents. Sun knows I’m no saint. And I’m definitely not a hypocrite. I’m also appreciative at how hard he’s working to scrub those boot prints off my floor.
But they don’t come off.
Not completely.
THE CROW OF a rooster shocks me awake.
Heart racing, I sit straight up to see out the window.
Relief blankets me.
It’s still dark. Stupid, mixed-up rooster.
A sleeping Nico lies curled up on the floor beside me, his chest against my back, and we’re surrounded by cleaning supplies and a pile of trash.
The quilt from my bed’s tucked snuggly over us.
As motionless as possible, I lift Nico’s arm from around my waist. The night was cold, so it’s not surprising we huddled together while we slept.
I hold my breath and scoot inch by inch out from under the blanket.
“Going so soon?” He lifts his hourglass from round his neck. “We’ve got at least an hour until morning bells.” Nico’s voice has a satisfaction to it like he’s humored over how flustered I am, and I can tell he’s smiling.
“I … I…” I have no excuse.
“Yes?”
“We fell asleep.” I shake my head.
“Actually, you fell asleep. I kept cleaning.” He smiles. “Then I fell asleep too.”
I stand, cinching my sweater at my neck, suddenly feeling extremely modest, warmth traveling up from my chest to my face.
It’s then I see his shirt’s unbuttoned and there’s no undershirt beneath his tunic this time. My eyes linger a breath too long before I glance away and the image is burned into my memories like a photo. Nico’s skin is smooth, muscles defined, but lean, and—
“Are you all right?” He’s staring, brow furrowed.
“I’m fine … Just can’t believe we fell asleep like that. Thank the Sun for that damn rooster.” I release the grip on my sweater, suddenly very warm. Keeping my back to him, I reorganize the things on my altar, something I definitely need to do right at this moment.
“Yes. We owe the rooster.” From my periphery, I see he’s buttoning the front of his shirt.
I look back at him.
Nico scruffs his hair, leaving it a mess of black curls, and kicks off the blanket. I’m relieved to find the rest of him covered.
Truly, I am.
Moving on, I try to ignore the way my heart has quickened.
Nico puts his face in his hands, rubbing his eyes. He then looks up and watches as I unwind my braids, slip a skirt over my pants, and pull on my socks and boots.
I’ve no idea what to do with myself so I start toward the door, make a hasty decision for both of us. “I’ve gotta get my bait. If we leave now, we can walk together to the Hill. By the time you’re home, the Sun will be rising and I can safely head to the Hole.”
Nico stands, begins putting on his boots. “I’ll be able to sneak back in before my parents are up.”
I nod and start for the door.
“Wait.” Nico walks toward me, pulling a small velvet pouch from his back pocket. I spot a tag with my name neatly scrolled across it attached to a ribbon around the top.
Odd.
He hands me the pouch. I take it and move to my bed, sit down. I frown at the tiny blue bag. “What is it?”
“Open it.” He sits down, nudges me in the ribs.
I untie the ribbon and open the pouch. When I reach inside, I find something small wrapped in a square of silk. I slide the item into my hand and look up at Nico.
“Go on.”
With one deep breath, I unwrap the silk. Within it is an oval crystal, cut into a hundred angles, set within a gold casing and hanging from a golden chain. The crystal is the faintest, most beautiful blue I’ve ever seen.
“Nico…”
He places his hand over mine, our fingers clasping, the necklace tucked within my palm. I swallow hard.
“It’s your birthday gift,” he says. “I know it’s early, but I couldn’t wait.”
“It’s…”—I hold the pendant out before my eyes—“magical.”
“It was my mother’s. She gave it to me a while ago. I used to love it when I was little. If you look through it, it gives the effect of a kaleidoscope.” He breathes out. “It reminds me of the sea, which always reminds me of you.”
Closing one eye, I peer through it with the other. On the opposite side of the crystal, Nico’s distorted, mixed into a hundred Nicos all staring straight at me from different angles.
“I love it.” I hold it up toward the light shining through the window, and it casts several shimmering rainbows on my wall.
I swivel to the side and lean my head down. Lacing it around my neck, I hold my hair up so Nico can clasp it.
He does, and the way his fingers, light as feathers, graze the back of my neck gives me a shiver and a fresh layer of goose bumps.
“There,” he says.
I turn back toward him and he’s smiling. “It suits you.” But he’s not looking at the necklace, he’s gazing into my eyes. “Happy early birthday, Veda.”
“Thank you. Truly. It’s so special.” I cup the stone in my palm over my chest. It’s heavy, but so incredibly fragile, the cuts precise and delicate, the chain a hundred tiny gold links perfectly pieced together.
But this gift, one that should, and does, make me happy, is also singed with sadness. Deep down I fear this gift means more than happy birthday. Nico’s army agreement, left crumpled on our kitchen floor, still nags at me.
I fear this gift—on some level, maybe even one we’re unaware of—means goodbye.
As Nico and I make our way out my window and into the dark night, I clutch the pendant in my fist, determined not to let that happen.
IT’S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT sneaking around the island with Nico by my side. I don’t glance over my shoulder nearly as much. I don’t jump at each and every sound that catches me off guard.
And while we don’t dare speak a word, we’re able to communicate as easily as ever.
I point up at the moon. It’s full and so bright, only a scattering of clouds surrounding it. Nico takes my hand as we pass over a pond, stepping across slippery rocks. And he doesn’t let go once we’re on the other side.
In this moment, surrounded by the darkness I so often fear, Nico and I are together. Without worry or wandering eyes or Dogio obligation, Basso judgment. Right now, us being something, being more, doesn’t feel so completely impossible.
It’s too good to be true.
Because this is reality, where Dogio and Basso are never more.
A whistle blows to our right.
Then another to our left.
Nico and I share a look of pure panic, dart into thicker wooded forest, when “Hey! Stop!” rings out right behind us. A soldier grabs Nico by the arm, jerking him to a stop. My best friend no longer by my side, on instinct or stupidity—I’m not sure which—my feet slow. I look over my shoulder back at Nico.
He’s not even struggling. In fact, he’s got his arms up in surrender and is talking with the soldier who stopped him, giving some kind of excuse. Almost as if he’s stalling …
Almost like he’s making it so I can get away.
I turn to run when the other soldier comes out of nowhere and I slam right into him, knocking us both off-balance.
Nico shouts, “Go! Run!”
I scramble to my feet and take off in the opposite direction, only catching Nico’s eyes long enough to see a flash of the reflection of the silvery, full moon.
I’m forced to leave the forest and travel the main walkway. It’s reckless … I’ll be seen by another soldier or the Night for sure. But I have no choice.
My boots echo with each quick, hard step against the stone. I splash through puddles. I’m completely out of breath and breaking all the rules I’d vowed to keep when out before sunrise.
Before too long, the soldier’s whistle sounds again.
I take a hard right into the dark square.
At least two more whistles blow. More footfalls.
The tunnel is nearly within reach and I can’t believe I’m going to run through it at night, alone. But—I gaze back—the alternative is jail. Worse.
Three Imperi soldiers enter the square.
“Stop!” one shouts. The others blow their whistles.
The candles that mound on the tops of the altars usually provide light, but they’ve long burned out. The tunnel is nothing but a black hole in the stone wall.
Without hesitation, I sprint toward the entrance.
A tall figure steps out of the shadows.
I gasp and skid to a stop before slamming into him.