Page 79 of A Warrior's Heart

“Think about it, Troy.” Eva’s grim expression worried me even more. “All Lorcan’s wanted his whole life is to live in the surface world. He now has a husband and a son. A beautiful home where he can watch the sunset and lie in the grass, feel the earth on his skin. But if the trident claims him as its owner, the sea will call him home.”

My heart dropped into my stomach. “No. He can use the trident against King James, save our people, and then he can place it in the vault in Avalontis to be protected. He can then return to his son and live his life free.”

“Perhaps.”

“I see land ahead!” Nereus called from the crow’s nest, peering through the spyglass. His hair had grown longer over the weeks we’d been gone, and it blew around his face. “Very distant land, but it’s there.”

Shar stood beneath the mast, looking up at him. Then he started to climb up, his body moving up the ropes like he’d done it a million times. Within seconds, he reached the platform and dropped down beside Nereus.

“Look,” Nereus told him, holding out the spyglass.

The assassin’s mouth was covered, but somehow, I knew he was smiling beneath the face mask.

Heavy footsteps on the deck behind me drew my attention. Kellan approached us, his knee-length coat drifting behind him.

“We’ll reach Whitebridge within the hour,” he said. “We’ll restock on fresh water and food and try to be out of there as soon as we can.”

“You seem nervous,” Malik said, narrowing his eyes at the captain.

“Whitebridge and I have history,” Kellan said. “Back when I crewed a ship of pirates, we made port there once. My crew pillaged the town, stole some goods from merchant ships at the harbor, and a few men were killed. It’s been close to seven years since then, but I’m sure my face isn’t forgotten. If we didn’t need the supplies, I’d keep sailing. But we don’t have enough water to last us until we can reach a different town.”

“Best if you stay on the ship then,” Malik told him. “We’ll purchase the supplies we need. And if trouble does find us…” He glanced at the assassins on the other side of the ship. “We are more than capable of taking care of ourselves.”

***

“You’re going alone?” I asked, grabbing onto the back of Malik’s leather armor.

“Reif and the assassins are in charge of the water barrels. Eva and Nereus are purchasing the food. And I’m visiting the blacksmith.”

“Why the blacksmith?”

He smirked. “Come with me and find out.”

“Come with you?” I glanced toward the town on the other side of the dock. “Out there? With all those humans who probably want to kill us?”

“They may try, but they’ll fail.” Malik grabbed my chin and gave me a light kiss. I melted. The weeks of kissing him hadn’t dulled the power of his lips on mine. “Anyone who dares lay a hand on you will choke on their own blood.”

“What if they try to lay a hand onyou?”

His smirk widened. “Perhaps I need an archer to watch my back. I wonder where I can find one.”

“Fine, I’ll go. But I’m not happy about it.”

“I’ll make it worth your while.” Malik slipped an arm around my waist, bringing his lips close to my ear. His breath tickled my neck as he softly whispered, “I’ll make you see stars when we return to the ship.”

I trembled against him. “If you’re making me visit humans, you better make me see the whole damned night sky, stars and moon included.”

“Deal,” he growled before nibbling on my ear.

Heat swirled in my belly and rippled along my flesh.

Nearly two weeks had passed since the night we swam under the stars and I’d asked him for our first time to be in our merforms. He had touched me plenty, but we had yet to join our bodies. I was in no hurry. I enjoyed being in his arms, having his lips on mine and his hand bringing me to release. And I enjoyed doing the same to him.

Malik grabbed a spare cloak from Ervin and fastened it around his broad shoulders. At my curious head tilt, he said, “To cover my armor and blend in with the humans.”

“I hate to inform you, Mal, but you still stand out like a sore thumb.”

He cracked a smile and guided me forward.