“I’ve never heard of this.” Sasha looked around. “I can see everyone else has. What is the Island of Glass?”
“A mythical island that appears when and where it wills,” Bran told her. “A place out of time. A world to itself.”
“Like Brigadoon?”
“No.” Riley shook her head. “Brigadoon appeared every one hundred years like clockwork, same place. While in Brigadoon only a day would pass. I like a good myth—obviously—and there are a lot of great stories built around the Island of Glass. But it doesn’t exist.”
“It is real. And it is always there, but only a few have seen it, only a few have been allowed. The one who reads the fates does not lie. When we find the three stars, we must take them back to the place they were born.”
“You’re saying the stars were created on the Island of Glass.” Riley narrowed her eyes.
“Yes. By the goddesses three. Celene, Luna, Arianrhod, as gifts for the new queen, who is Aegle, the radiant.”
Riley leaned back, drummed her fingers. “Where did you study?”
“I studied very hard.” Annika’s face lit like the sun. “Many places. I like to learn new things, and old things, and all things.”
“Who’s Nerezza?”
“You should not speak her name in the night.” Annika looked toward the windows. “Or risk summoning her.”
“Bunk. Who is she?”
“She is the dark one, the mother of lies. She must never have the stars. I don’t like to fight, but I would fight with you to keep them from her. We are together.” She pointed to the sketch. “And you are Sawyer’s friends, so you are mine.”
“Just like that?”
“You are very curious.” Annika leaned toward Riley. “I am very curious, too. So we will be friends. And I will help. This has been foretold.”
Riley glanced at Sasha. “I can’t piss on foretelling. But we’ll see what we see. How—”
“Riley,” Sawyer interrupted. “Give it a rest. Do you have any questions, Annika?”
“I have so many. My mother says I’m made of questions. But it’s enough to be here for now. I’m very tired. Can I sleep in the soft bed?”
“Still a couple to pick from. I’ll take you up, and you can decide which room you want.”
“I won’t sleep in your bed?”
“What? No.” Sawyer caught Bran’s amused look, rubbed the back of his neck. “Everybody gets their own room.”
“I’ll take her up.” Riley rose. “Since we’re going to be friends.”
“Thank you. And thank you for the good stuff and the wine.”
After Riley took her out, Sawyer lifted his arms. “She was just there, standing on the beach. Like in the sketch. Just there.”
“And now she’s here.” Bran looked at Sasha. “What did you read?”
“Joy. So much joy I nearly burst with it myself. And an incredible sweetness. Is she holding something back? Yes, I’m sure she is. But everything she said about the stars, about this island, she believes is truth.”
“Clearly English isn’t her first language,” Bran speculated. “But if she needs to keep where she’s from to herself for now, it’s a small thing.”
He picked up the sketch. “She’s meant to be here, with us, and so she is.”
“Five down,” Sawyer said, “one to go.”
“Let’s hope the one to go waits at least until morning. I want some sleep.” Bran turned to Sasha. “You’re tired yourself.”
“I’m not used to introductions and powwows at nearly two in the morning.”
“I’ll wash this up.” Sawyer picked up the plate. “Go ahead. I’m right behind you.”
Bran took Sasha’s hand as they walked out and, testing, brought it to his lips. “Not angry anymore?”
“Oh, I’m still angry. I can put it aside for the big picture.”
“I get angry myself when I see you making yourself sick.”
“It’s my problem, my business.”
He flicked a nosegay of lavender out of the air, handed it to her at her door.
“Magic flower tricks don’t charm me.”
“They do. But more important, you’re my problem and my business now as well.”
Cupping a hand behind her head, he pulled her in, took her mouth in a quick, warm warning of a kiss. “You’ll have to deal with that as well. Good night, fáidh.”
She stepped quickly into her room, shut the door before she did something insane like pull him inside with her.
It hadn’t been a lover’s kiss, she told herself, as she traced a finger over her own lips. Not brotherly either. It was more . . . making a point.
That’s what she needed to remember.
He wasn’t attracted to her. They were teammates, and he was trying to keep her in line.
Well, she’d keep herself in line.
But she slept with the lavender on her pillow, and slept without dreams.
CHAPTER SIX