Ultimate Nyssa Glass H. Burke (bookstand for reading .txt) 📖

“Not quite.” Ellis reached into his vest pocket and pulled out the sparkling gem. Renard dove for it.

Nyssa’s jaw dropped. “How?”

“You’re the one who taught me pickpocketing.” Ellis shrugged. “Blythe kept taking it out and fingering it, so I knew where he had it. He didn’t even realize I’d lifted it. Risky, but I thought it might give us another bargaining chip. Besides, I don’t like letting men like him win.”

“You have restored my family’s honor!” Renard held the necklace in the sparkling sun. “How can I ever repay you?”

“Just try to avoid nearly getting us killed again, and I think we’ll be even,” Ellis said.

Nyssa’s shoulders relaxed. The sooner they were away from the tumultuous couple, the better. “How far to San Azula?”

“Right there.” Renard pointed ahead.

A line of green broke the endless blue.

Amara clapped. “Oh Renard! It’s as beautiful as you said it would be!”

Nyssa squinted. They had to still be at least five miles away. How could Amara see anything, let alone judge it as beautiful? Still, Renard stuck his chest out like a strutting cock.

Nyssa rubbed her suddenly aching temples. She hadn’t slept the night before. I’ll just close my eyes for moment.

Ellis touched her knee. “You all right?”

She nodded but found her eyes didn’t want to open. His arm slipped around her and pulled her onto his lap. Part of her wanted to protest the public embrace. When her head rested on his shoulder, however, her breath slowed, and the tightness in her scalp eased. Ellis’s lips caressed her forehead. He rubbed his hand up and down her back as she allowed herself to drift into oblivion.

Something jolted her awake. She grabbed the arms of Ellis’s chair to steady herself, then blinked.The Mercutio bumped up against a mooring tower.

They floated in front of a massive hangar. A dozen or so other airships of various sizes bobbed nearby like children’s balloons floating over a circus crowd.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.” Ellis chuckled. “Or should I say, good afternoon?”

She blushed.

Renard pulled the rope to lower the gangplank from the tower toThe Mercutio’s deck.

“We’re headed to Renard’s home,” Amara said. “His family has more than enough room for you to stay there. It’s a literal palace.” She didn’t mask her giddiness at this declaration.

Princess Amara is home.

“I think we’d prefer less flashy, more private accommodations,” Ellis said. “Any recommendations for a good hotel?”

“The Palms, down by the boardwalk,” Renard answered. “It caters mainly to tourists from the Continent, so you won’t draw attention to yourselves there.”

“You should purchase some luggage first,” Amara said. “They might wonder how you got all the way here without so much as a suitcase.”

“Actually, you shouldn’t need to,” Renard said. “The zeppelins usually unload all luggage when the passengers disembark. That would’ve happened before Blythe tookThe Juliet back out. Chances are, your suitcases are waiting for you in the hangar.”

Relief swept over Ellis’s face. “Oh, thank God. I’m not prepared to be poor.”

“It’s as bad as you think it would be.” Nyssa laughed. She had more confidence than Ellis in their ability to make their way in the world. Still, the security was nice.

On the other side of the gangplank, an elevator waited, looking a bit like a massive birdcage. When Renard pulled back the door, she entered and turned around to survey the island.

San Azula stretched before them. Beyond the tethered airships lay the dock, crowded with steamships, sternwheelers, and sailboats flying every imaginable color. Golden beaches curved away from the harbor on both sides. White tents, blue and yellow beach umbrellas, and tourists in ridiculous bathing suits covered the sand. Lines of palm trees waved in a gentle breeze while stately hotels watched over the whole scene.

We’re at least three stories up. I should be terrified. Maybe toppling out of a burning zeppelin is a cure for acrophobia.

She took Ellis’s hand as Renard shut the cage behind them and flipped the lever. The gears creaked, and the elevator began its descent.

Sweat beaded under Nyssa’s collar. She unbuttoned her peacoat.

“So many people.” This wasn’t quite the tropical refuge she’d dreamed of.

“The other side of the island isn’t so built-up,” Renard said. “That side’s mostly plantations, fishing villages, and a few private beach houses. That’s the true San Azula. This is just the playground for the foreigners.”

Nyssa relaxed.

Amara leaned against Renard. “I can’t wait to meet your family.”

“They’ll adore you even as I do.” He smiled.

Sure enough, inside the hangar rested not only their missing bags but the horseless carriage as well. After helping Ellis claim their belongings, Nyssa turned back to bid Amara and Renard a farewell. The young couple leaned against the wall in the throes of a passionate kiss.

Nyssa clicked her tongue. “They do know people are watching, don’t they?”

“I don’t think they care.” Ellis slipped his hand into hers. “Come on. They’ll know where to find us, and I don’t feel like a lengthy good-bye right now.”

Nyssa’s eyes lingered on the couple before she followed Ellis back to the horseless carriage. I don’t think I could ever be that uninhibited. Ellis and I have kissed less than a handful of times. Does that mean I don’t care for him as much as Amara cares for Renard?

The thought that she was possibly deficient in someway, that she couldn’t give Ellis the passion a man deserved, gnawed at her as they drove to The Palms hotel and checked in. Two rooms, adjoining, but decidedly separate.

If I really cared about him, would that be a relief? Maybe there really is something wrong with me.

“Do you want to settle in and take a nap? Get something to eat?” Ellis asked.

She gazed out the doors. The beach ran right up to the hotel. A small open-air restaurant took up the front patio, then, beyond that, sand and breakers. The sun dipped into the water, streaking the sky in mauve and gold. Most of the bathers had abandoned the beach, though a few still huddled around bonfires.

“I’m not hungry or tired yet,”