“Does she know that you love her?”Billy raises his eyebrows.“Why would she when I didn’t? It wasn’t like I read in books. A thunderclap.Eyes meeting. Tortured glances. With Arsinoe it was more like . . . having coldwater poured down your back and learning to enjoy it.”“And does she love you?”“I don’t know. I think she might.” He smiles. “I hope she does.”

Arsinoe does not move. She stares them down to the last and lets the mask do its job. Until Billycomes ashore.Her heart warms. He does not seem weak or injured.Billy stands below the cliffs and looks up at her. He bows, deep and slow, and the crowd murmurs.Arsinoe holds her breath.He bows only to her.

I’ll be back soon. But . . . justin case I die, I want you to remember that you could have kissed me that day inthe meadow.

“This is how it will be,” Billy says, his voice low. “I will taste for you, and Iwill smile. I will appease my father.” He feeds her another bite of sweet apples.“And I will be back with my Arsinoe before she can even miss me.”