Blackwater Islands Nevermind an SMS.

val was curious: when sobeille went off for long stretches of time, where did she run off to?

he found her tracks leading to the island where once, sobeille’s mother had bartered for sibling life. strange that she would come here, but val got the sense she preferred to be alone.

only today, she had company. val lingered close, a protective urge rising in his belly as he saw a man many years sobeille’s age close to her.

they bent over a brush of flowers. the man spoke of their uses, his tone gentle. yet for all his harmless affect val’s hair stood on end.

sobeille, he said as he came close, his normally soft gaze drained of its warmth as he stared at the man standing a little to close to sapphique’s daughter for his liking. your maman would like your help with something. a white lie to get her home — he knew no amount of beseeching on his request would move the stubborn girl.

all the while he held back the lifting of fur on his nape.