Page 25

If they were found in Winter’s Realm, by law, one of three places had to take in the trapped humans: a noble house, the House of Wisdom, or the Tower of the Living and the Dead. In short, a place that could feed, shelter, and protect them from others who might use them for more nefarious purposes.

Sometimes those humans became paid servants rather than slaves. However, that was incredibly rare. In Winter’s Realm, power was everything, and humans had none. That fact had always made me uncomfortable, and even more so now that I was married to Neve.

Neve had been a slave in the Blood Court. Did she recognize those on board? My attention strayed to the scar on her right temple. Had a cruel vampire given her that scar? I still wasn’t sure why she hadn’t used the balm I’d gifted her to erase it. She’d done so with her other scars. But to bring it up felt too familiar.

“To what do we owe the pleasure, Prince Vale?” A vampire with long blond hair and a jagged scar across his right cheek cut through the crowd to stand in front of them all. He bowed. Belatedly, the others bowed too, but I focused on the vampire who had addressed me.

He was better dressed than the other sailors and the badges on his red uniform told me he was an officer.

“I’m here to speak with the captain.”

The vampire cocked a sandy blond eyebrow. “That’d be me. Captain Barvo, at your service. To my cabin, then?”

The captain waved for us to follow through the crowd of sailors and humans to the upper deck. I took in the area. There were fewer vampires milling about up here—only five.

Five, plus the captain, we can handle. But if the whole crew attacks. . .

Many of us were trained soldiers, but vampires were formidable foes. Their incredible speed alone made me wary of fighting them. I swallowed, hoping that the Clawsguard, Sian, and Filip were ready for anything. And that the sailors Vidar and Sayyida put on alert were close enough to hear if something went amiss.

“I’m afraid the cabin I use for work is small, like most spaces on ships. Only two of your soldiers can fit inside, along with the gentlefae, of course.” The captain gestured to Sian and Filip.

I chose my best fighters and directed the other ten to remain outside. They fell into a line before the door. If the captain found that suspicious, he didn’t let on, only opened the door and waved us inside.

Captain Barvo’s cabin was sparse, decorated in the colors of the royals he served, but with a distinct flare I assumed was all his own. The captain seemed to have a bit of an obsession with warmer climates. Images of a lush and green jungle that were more suitable to the farthest flung Southern Isles of the Summer Court thanthe Blood Kingdom hung on the walls. He’d even managed to squeeze a hammock into the corner of the crowded office.

His desk took up the most space, a vast expanse of honey-colored wood littered with maps and papers. One map caught my eye.

It was an old one, depicting the Islands of the Shadow Fae. Those islands no longer existed. They’d disappeared, along with the Shadow Fae, during Queen Sassa Falk’s reign. Of all things, why would he have that on his desk?

“A personal obsession,” Captain Barvo said when he spotted me eyeing the map of the Shadow Fae Isles. “They had so much gold, some of it might still be in the sea. When I’m not sailing for the royals, I do love the rush of a treasure hunt.” His eyes twinkled. “Have a seat.” The captain offered me the better of the two chairs opposite him.

I ushered Neve into one chair, taking the more worn seat, which earned me an arched eyebrow from the captain. But he said nothing as Sian and Filip flanked us, and the two Clawsguards permitted into his office stood behind.

“I’m intrigued as to why the Warrior Bear himself would be visiting us.” Captain Barvo, now seated, leaned forward to place his elbows on the desk and tented his fingers. “Rumor has it you don’t much like ships, Prince Vale.”

Internally, I cringed at the embarrassing truth. Though I was in the army, and sometimes had to sail with the Royal Nava to help fight off pirates, I did not relish lifeon a ship. My fear of being submerged in water was one of my weaknesses.

“I prefer the back of a horse,” I admitted. “Though it’s not unknown for me to grace a ship’s decks.”

“Of course not.” The captain gave a small smirk. “So what brought you to mine?”

“This ship is under diplomatic protection, correct?” I asked. “No blood or blade will be drawn when docked in other kingdoms?”

“This isn’t starting off well.” Captain Barvo leaned back, and his arm dipped closer to the dagger he wore before he caught himself.

“Answer the question,” Sian barked.

The captain glared at my friend. “Correct. This is a diplomatic vessel. We shall draw no blade. Nor blood—save for the purposes of nourishment, of course. A necessary caveat for those of my order.”

At my side, Neve stiffened, but Barvo didn’t notice, wasn’t as attuned to her as I was. No, his eyes drifted back to me.

“Of course.” I cleared my throat. “Now that we’re clear on that, I regret to inform you that your prince has died.”

The captain’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

“Prince Gervais met his death last night,” I said without hesitation. Weakness could not be shown here.

“How?” The captain’s voice took on a dangerous growl. “Under royal guest rights, he was supposed to be safe.”