brow. “Stand with me.” He rested his face against mine. I couldn’t tell whose tears fell first. Salt stung our cheeks, prickling, gumming our features together like mortar. He whispered against my lips: “I can’t, sunshine girl.” I nodded, smiled, and let my heart grow numb as an empress’s sunstone. Then I stepped from his grasp. “Then stand back, Jeet.” CHAPTER 13 He was gone by morning.
