Chapter 53: Following Destiny

Troy

Duck was bounding up the beach ahead of us, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth and slapping his snout as he ran. Robbie was sulking behind me, his feet shuffling in the sand.

“Come on, man. We have to go back for the girls, you know,” I said, looking at him over my shoulder. He huffed audibly, like an animal, but refused to keep in step with me. Robbie hadn’t wanted to leave Dianny. He had met someone, but refused to talk about it to anyone, which was probably because Myla would tease him relentlessly if she found out.

Oh, Keaton was going to have my head over the Myla situation.

I could already see him storming down the beach towards us, his face twisted in anger.

“Where is she?!” he bellowed from several yards away, his voice booming over the sound of the waves lapping against the sand. I waved at him.

“Nice to see you too!”

“Shut up, Troy. You useless,” His words were drowned out by the sound of the waves crashing over a large rock as we passed by. High tide. I turned my head to look over at the Persephone. Its masts were mended, and people were climbing the rat lines to help hoist the sails back into place.

“She’s fine. She felt she needed to stay back with Maeve and Pete,” I said, stopping short of Keaton, who was fuming with frustration.

“Fine? You’ve been gone for three days, and all you have to say to me is that she’s fine?” He crossed his arms over his chest, cheeks reddening. “And… at least a dozen complete strangers show up at our camp saying they’re going to fix our ship with nothing but primitive tools,”

“Looks fixed t’ me,” Robbie said with a chuckle, tilting his head towards the Persephone. Keaton reddened further, his eyes glazing over with righteous fury.

“What exactly are you doing back here? Hmm? Without the women? You brought this useless dog but not- Keaton pointed down at Duck, who interrupted him by licking his hand and leaving a trail of slime along the cuff of Keaton’s coat. “Ugh!”

“There’s a lot to explain,” I said, running my fingers through my hair. How the hell was I supposed to explain everything that had happened?

“Obviously! And what’s wrong with you, Rob?” Keaton stepped forward, giving Robbie a quizzical eye. It was unlike Robbie to sulk.

“Robbie has a girlfriend”

“I found my mate.”

I nearly snapped my neck turning to face him. Keaton and I stared at Robbie, jaws slack in communal shock.

“I’m

gonna stay behind.” Robbie tucked his hands into his pockets, rocking on his heels.

I looked at Keaton, who looked at me, and we broke into peels of laughter.

But Robbie wasn’t laughing.

*Wait, you’re serious?” Keaton wiped a tear from his eye, his face falling as Robbie’s cheeks pinkened with mingled embarrassment and dismay

“Robbie?” | coaxed, my stomach tightening to a knot. Robbie had been markedly absent during most of our stay in Dianny, but Myla had made it seem like he was merely enjoying himself, not that he had a mate somewhere in the city.

“Aye, it’s true. Her name is Alison. And she won’t leave Dianny. I’m gonna stay back while you guys, well, chase the stones.*

“Chase the what? Wait a minute–” Keaton began.

“Keaton, look-” | interrupted, holding my hands up in surrender, “We’re going through the southern passage. All the way through. There’s an island

“Oh, no, no, no, Hold on just a minute – Keaton took a step forward. “You’re staying behind? And you–” He turned to me, pointing his finger accusingly.copy right hot novel pub