Outside, a curtain of vines swayed violently in the night wind. Cold water trickled down from the rocks above, and Easther dipped her slender hands beneath the stream. The icy current ran over pale skin, reddening her fingertips. A sudden gust struck her small frame, her dark hair whipping wildly across her delicate face. For an instant, she looked like a solitary spirit standing at the edge of the world.
Easther shuddered faintly before pulling back. Turning swiftly, she moved toward the warmth of the fire, her bare feet light against the stone.
Zaki Lee sat near the flames, watching the fish sizzling over the crackling wood. Steam curled upward, carrying with it a fragrance so rich it made even the strongest restraint brittle. When he looked up at the sound of her returning steps, his
