Page 31 of Soulgazer

My fingers have barely curled over the bottom rung when Faolan hauls me back.

“What are you— Faolan! Stop that, are you—Stars o’ fire, you can’t just throw me over your shoulder and—”

My voice grows progressively higher as I push at Faolan’s arm and back, trying to right myself, but it’s no use. The waves glint mockingly below my face as he tightens his arm across the backs of my thighs, shoulders trembling on another bout of laughter, and begins his climb.

Eleven

My fingers knot fiercely in the back of Faolan’s shirt as he flings one leg over the railing, jostling me sharply. For just a moment, I see only stars and ink spread across the night as his hands find my hips, guiding my body free from its perch. Then the still air shatters on a burst of hoots and whistles as my entire face goes hot.

“On your feet—there’s a good girl,” Faolan murmurs once my bare toes meet the deck, but a smirk belies his gentleness. He’s bloody proud of the spectacle he’s created. I’d step back from his chest—or shove him away, possibly—if I could trust I wouldn’t collapse after that climb. But when I open my mouth to tell him as much, a clear, low voice cuts through the din.

“Faolan, lad, what in the shade’s realm do you think you’re doing?”

Before I can move, Faolan twists me round, fitting my back snug against his chest so that I’m still reeling when the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes upon steps forward.

Ríona Kiara is as memorable as her cousin. I’ve seen her before, of course, but not since I was a girl and never as close as this. Her hair is cut short, nearly shaved bare along the sides, save for adark red tousle of curls the wind clearly adores. Muscles flow in perfect tandem beneath the taut lines of her shirt. When she tilts her head, her green eyes bear a haughty mixture of curiosity and skepticism.

“Thisis your girl with ocean eyes?”

I want to fling myself back over the railing.

Eyes burrow their way into me from every direction as the tattoo pulses beneath my dress, fresh cuts scraping damp fabric until all I want to do is tear it off, toss myself to the ground, and screamI am not this girl.

Faolan releases me, and for a moment I consider following through, until a heavy weight settles over my shoulders in place of his hands. A weight smelling of salt and whiskey, stitched with fine threads into deep green fabric dyed a shade more earth than emerald. His coat.

I’m wearing the Wolf of the Wild’s coat.

Stepping half in front of my body, Faolan winks at me and slips his hand around mine.

“She’s the one, Kiara. I’d stake my life on it.”

His conviction is staggering. Suffocating.

I grip the coat as the queen of Ashen Flame takes my full measure, brow cocked and eyes narrow. Faolan strokes my smallest finger with the edge of his own.

“Very well, then.” Kiara kicks one foot over the other, dropping back against the railing with a sigh. “It’s yours to lose.”

“We both know I’m no good at that.” Faolan grins, and I feel the lights dim when he lets go of my hand. Kiara cocks her head to the side, noting the gesture, then whistles once as I rub it against my wet skirts. A man wearing a brooch of her house’s sigil steps from the shadows, a small wooden chest in hand.

“And you’re sure you want to go through with this part as well?”Kiara flicks the chest open with a light touch, withdrawing a strip of fabric from inside. “You already got the girl on your ship.”

“A deal’s a deal. You of all people know that.”

“Then approach, little wolf.” Kiara’s lip curls like she’s tasted something foul. “Daughter of Dermot.”

It is the way she says my father’s name that finally steadies my legs from the coltish wobble they’d borne since our climb.

Faolan’s hand falls to my lower back, guiding me across the deck on bare feet until we’re standing before Ríona Kiara. He trails his hand down my arm to hook at the wrist, catching my fingers firmly in his. I am powerless to do anything but stare at the unfamiliar calluses stamped across his palm, the tiny scars littering his knuckles.

I don’t know these hands. I don’t knowhim.

Stars, what am I doing?

Kiara steps closer, a full head taller than me, and reaches for the long, bedraggled ribbon still dangling from my hair. Much of the color has bled free from the silk, leaving it a pale shade of pink. Next, she takes the flexible cord woven with three strands of leather from Faolan’s hair, so it falls thick with curls just past his shoulders.

It’s only then, cords wrapped round her finger, that Kiara stops. Looks him in the eye.

“This is your last chance to change your mind, Faolan. It’s a lot of trouble to cause over…”