I woke with a jolt, my skin prickling with an insistent itch. The scent of gunpowder still clung to the tattered wedding gown I had worn in the Verelen palace, along with streaks of dried blood and clumps of sand plastered against my skin.
Unable to stand it any longer, I gently pried Xavier's wing from where it had been draped protectively across me, shielding me from the sea breeze. Rising to my feet, I padded toward the shoreline, intent on washing away the filth clinging to me.
The air was damp and cold, heavy with a faint morning mist. Judging from the dim light and stillness, dawn could not be far away. I should hurry before the others wake.
I stripped off every piece of clothing and set the bundle on a nearby rock. The first touch of seawater against my toes made me draw in a sharp breath.
Cold. Bone-deep cold.
Just a quick rinse.
