Page 70 of Suncatcher

They stayed like that, simply touching as the heat of Driz slowly warmed and dried Pearl.

Pearl was a selfish, cruel person. She was fairly certain this meant far more to Driz than it did to her. She needed to put some space between them and try to explain better what this was, and what Pearl couldn’t give her. Instead, she snuggled closer, enjoying Driz’s heated skin against her own. The cold necklace rested heavily on her breast, and Pearl’s gut clenched at the thought of how Driz had gotten it.

“How old are you?” Pearl asked Driz’s shoulder, a stupid part of her hoping Driz might say something to make it untrue.

“I have not kept count of the years. But I would say at least…thirty?”

Pearl chewed on her lip. That timeline made unfortunate sense.

“How old are you?” Driz asked back.

“Twenty-eight.”

“Do your people help keep track for you?”

“Yeah. My ma always reminds me of the day.”

“I think I would like that. To have a day to mark each year. Perhaps you can help me choose one.”

Pearl’s stomach rolled. “I should head home.”

“Already?”

Pearl hated herself a little more. “I need to sleep.”

“You could sleep here, and I can fly you home later?”

“No.”

Driz tensed before reluctantly pulling away.

They dressed in silence, but Pearl felt Driz’s intense gaze.

Driz took her hand, leaning in for a kiss. “When will I see you again?” She didn’t ask if this time—she asked when.

“I can’t spend every night with you.”

“I did not ask you to.” Driz’s wings twitched as she looked down. “Though I would like that.”

Why did Driz have to say things like that? It made Pearl physically ill. “It doesn’t matter what either of us would like. This—you and me—” She gestured helplessly, pointlessly. “You know we can’t really be together.”

“Why not?”

Such a simple, horrible question with a million equally horrible answers. Because my mother will find out soon. Because we aren’t even the same species. Because you’ll realize I’m not worth the trouble and leave me anyway.

There were too many reasons, so Pearl didn’t bother with any of them as her chest constricted, a boulder lodged in her throat. “I wanna go home now.”

20

Into the Flames

Sometimes, Driz had terrible thoughts. This was one of those times.

What if she didn’t take Pearl home? What if she could keep her?

Driz dismissed the idea at once. Pearl had asked to go home, and Driz would always take her there. Pearl belonged in Salt Bluff.

Driz had nothing to offer her here. She had no shelter or food or warmth a human needed. Her home was a hollowed cliff filled with junk.