“
He pulled back, dropped his hands, feeling unspeakably awkward. What did you say after a terrible kiss? He’d never had cause to wonder.
That was when he saw Kuwei standing in the doorway, mouth open, eyes wide and shocked.
“What?” Jesper asked. “Do the Shu not kiss before noon?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Kuwei said sourly.
Not Kuwei.
“Oh, Saints,” Jesper groaned. That wasn’t Kuwei in the doorway. It was Wylan Van Eck, budding demolitions expert and wayward rich kid. And that meant he’d just kissed …
The real Kuwei plunked that same listless note on the piano, grinning shamelessly up at him through thick black lashes.
Jesper turned back to the door. “Wylan—” he began.
“Kaz wants us in the sitting room.”
“I—”
But Wylan was already gone. Jesper stared at the empty doorway. How could he have made a mistake like that? Wylan was taller than Kuwei; his face was narrower too. If Jesper hadn’t been so riled up and jittery after the fight with Kaz and the argument with his father, he would never have confused them. And now he’d ruined everything.
Jesper jabbed an accusing finger at Kuwei. “You should have said something!”
Kuwei shrugged. “You were very brave on Black Veil. Since we’re all probably going to die—”
“Damn it,” Jesper cursed, stalking toward the door.
“You’re a very good kisser,” called Kuwei after him.
Jesper turned. “How good is your Kerch really?”
“Fairly good.”
“Okay, then I hope you understand exactly what I mean when I say you are definitely more trouble than you’re worth.”
Kuwei beamed, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “Kaz seems to think I’m worth a great deal now.”
Jesper rolled his eyes skyward. “You fit right in here.
”
”