Page 61

Esmyra

T he next morning, Esmyra woke to the soft glow of merlights filtering through her window, imitating the transition from night to day. Her mind was still clouded, groggy from a restless night, but as she blinked the sleep from her eyes, the memory of everything came flooding back.

Arriving in Maerinys. The dinner. Her and Draevyn’s argument.

She groaned and sat up, rubbing her temples. The conversation had been tense, as it typically was, and the frustration still gnawed at her, knowing she would likely have to answer more of his endless questions.

But what stuck with her even more than their exchange was the way his stare had lingered on her. Beneath all the anger and the mistrust, there was something she couldn’t quite place in his flame-fueled whiskey eyes—something that unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

She didn’t want to think about it, and couldn’t afford to. He was still a liability, a reluctant ally at best. The last thing she needed was to be distracted by whatever the hells was going on between them.

Esmyra was more than aware that men noticed her.

Though it was rare, she had taken lovers to her bed over the centuries.

However, all it took for that to end was one man who made it known he wanted her for nothing more than a position aboard The Night Wraith.

She never allowed herself to get close to anyone after that—always keeping them a talon’s width away.

But she wasn’t used to anyone looking at her the way Draevyn had, and she sure as hells wasn’t prepared for whatever feelings it stirred.

No. She couldn’t let herself go down that path.

Focus , she told herself. There were bigger things at stake.

They had to find a way out, to escape with the proof they needed before they were tangled up in whatever power struggle was brewing beneath the surface in this sunken kingdom.

The lies they’d fed the council were a temporary shield, but they couldn’t keep spinning those forever.

They needed a plan, and they needed one fast.

Esmyra knew the next step would be gathering information, seeing how the magic allowed everyone to survive this long.

And then there were the matters of the queen—her twin —and everything she entailed.

Something inside of Esmyra was desperate for the queen to be telling the truth, and all signs pointed to the fact that she was.

Before she could spiral deeper into her thoughts, a soft knock on the door pulled her back to the present. She cursed under her breath, knowing she would never know peace as long as these godsdamn maids were strutting about constantly.

“Come in,” she called, her voice still groggy.

The door swung open, and Briar appeared, a smile beaming ear-to-ear. “Good morning, Esmyra. I hope you slept well.”

Briar moved to her wardrobe, pulling out an intricate gown that made her cringe inwardly. She’d never get used to this. The silk, the jewels, the soft fabrics—it was all so far removed from her world of leather and salt.

The maiden set the dress down before waltzing into the bathing chambers and began preparing a bath. Esmyra reluctantly stood from her bed and stretched, her muscles still tense from fighting the krechuums, the natives, and the hold of the velsinyte the day before.

Gods, how had all of that only been a day ago ?

“Queen Syrena is requesting you at breakfast shortly,” Briar announced as she stood in the bathing chamber’s doorway.

“Aye,” Esmyra sighed, before following her into the room.

Briar worked quickly, guiding her into the bath, and she tolerated it in silence, her thoughts elsewhere.

What would today entail with Syrena? She had so many questions and wasn’t even sure if they would be appropriate to ask. How did Maerinys sink? How had they survived? How and why were they separated at birth? The questions and unknowns were endless.

And then her mind flickered back to Draevyn , and the heat of his stare. Warmth pooled in her belly, and she shook the thought from her mind, shuddering as goosebumps prickled her skin.

“Is the water too cold, Esmyra?” Briar asked, startling her.

“No,” she rushed out. “It’s fine. My mind just…drifted.”

She nearly rolled her eyes at herself.

Once Esmyra was bathed and dressed in another robe-like gown, Briar said, “The queen awaits you, my lady. Azarian already accompanies Her Majesty, but if you don’t remember the walk to the great hall, I can accompany you and Sir Draevyn.”

They were allowing them to roam around together? Alone ? Thank the gods.

“That won’t be necessary. I remember the way,” she announced while moving to leave the room.

With every step she took toward her bedchamber door, her mind was a raging storm.

Esmyra knew the part she would have to play today—smile when needed, lie when necessary.

But as she stepped into the hallway and met Draevyn’s gaze as he leaned against the doorframe, she couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to get significantly more complicated.

Especially with him.

He pushed off the wall, his footsteps falling into sync with hers as they began their walk down the corridor.

The silence between them was thick, strained, and she sensed his eyes on her.

She ignored it at first, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

But, of course, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut for long .

“I see they’ve made you their own personal doll once more,” he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. His tone was casual, but there was an edge to it.

Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she said, “Apologies if my skin is distracting to you, Draevyn.”

He smirked. “It’s just a little strange seeing you dressed like that.”

“Trust me, this isn’t by choice,” she admitted, pulling at the sage fabric of the gown with obvious distaste. “But since we’re playing this little game, might as well look the part.”

Draevyn was silent for a moment. “Though I suppose you’ve always been a bit of a chameleon, blending in where you wouldn’t otherwise. A whore in a tavern. A lady of nobility at a ball. A pirate…” His words trailed off. “A fucking wall .”

Esmyra couldn’t help the sharp laugh that left her. “Perhaps I just prefer to keep people on their toes.”

Draevyn let out a low hum, almost as if in agreement, but there was an underlying tension to his words when he spoke again. “You should be careful, though. People are watching. Especially Syrena.” He glanced at her, his voice lowering. “Don’t let them see you as something you’re not.”

Her steps faltered as annoyance shot through her veins. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

His eyes flicked down the hall, then back to her, his expression turning serious.

“I’m saying…we’ve got enough to deal with without them thinking you’re some perfect little princess they’re clearly trying to paint you as.

They’ll use it against you. And I don’t trust any of them.

Especially not your sister.” The way he said sister made it clear he didn’t believe it for a second.

The weight of his words settled over Esmyra, and for a moment, she considered them. But before she could respond, his gaze lingered on her a bit too long, something almost possessive flickering behind his eyes.

It wasn’t the first time she’d noticed it—how he watched her, or how he tensed whenever she met his stare.

“Don’t get too comfortable. I don’t want you to see this as something it’s not,” he added, his voice a bit gruffer, as if he was warning himself as much as her.

She let out a sigh as her eyes narrowed on him, earning a small grin. “Aye.”

They continued walking, the tension between them palpable, until they reached the grand doors of the dining hall. Two guards, clad in shimmering, scale-like armor, opened the doors without a word, revealing the grand breakfast spread laid out before them.

The room was even more elaborate than she remembered from the night prior, the table long and set with enough food to feed her entire crew—fruits she had never seen before, platters of seafood arranged in beautiful displays, and cups filled with something that sparkled like liquid gold.

Syrena sat at the head of the table. Her eyes gleamed as they entered, a soft smile on her lips. “Ah, you’re here. Good morning,” she greeted, her voice smooth. “Please, sit. We have much to discuss.”

Esmyra and Draevyn took their seats without saying a word, and the queen’s attendants began serving them immediately. Esmyra halted her scoff, remembering she had to play the part.

Syrena clasped her hands together, her gaze flicking between them. “I trust you slept well?”

“I’ve had better nights,” Draevyn muttered under his breath, earning a sudden snort from Esmyra. She kicked him under the table as she tried to reel in her amusement.

Syrena’s smile didn’t falter, though there was a subtle tightening around her eyes.

“I apologize for my palace not being what you’re accustomed to aboard your ship, Sir Draevyn.

” Her words trailed off as her doe eyes looked him up and down from across the table.

“Perhaps you can take a nap while I take Esmyra.”

A low sound, almost growl-like, brewed in Draevyn’s chest. “And where will you be taking her?”

Esmyra’s head subtly tilted to the side at his sudden overbearing protectiveness—acting as if she wasn’t just as powerful as he was.

Syrena took a sip of the bubbling, golden liquid in her glass before saying, “I don’t think that’s necessary for a common sailor to know. However, I assure you, she’s in safe hands.”

Esmyra didn’t appreciate the way either of them were speaking of plans regarding her. Her lip curled back. “And what exactly do these plans entail?”

Syrena turned her full attention to her. “We’ll be delving into your magic today and you will learn more of Maerinys. That is, of course, if you desire.”

Esmyra blinked. “What does that mean?”

The queen leaned back in her chair. “You and I share a bond, a unique connection to this kingdom and its magic. But there is much we still don’t know about your potential.

I have…ways of exploring that, of helping you tap into what lies dormant within you.

I’ve been one with Maerinys since our birth, while you’ve been beyond the surface.

I would like to see what kind of power you hold. ”

“You believe she has more power within her?” Draevyn asked with a raised brow as he met Esmyra’s stare, who assumed her face appeared just as confused as his.

“What do you mean, you have ways to explore that?” she asked.

“Nothing to fear,” Syrena said lightly, though her tone was anything but reassuring. “With time, we’ll discover just how powerful you truly are. But that requires trust.”

Time . That was something she certainly didn’t have.

Esmyra exchanged a quick glance with Draevyn once more, feeling his unease radiating beside her. They both knew trust was a word that carried weight between the two of them, and neither gave it freely.

Syrena must’ve sensed where her mind wandered. “You have nothing to fear. We’re bound by the same blood. I have no reason to harm you. In fact, I want nothing more than to see you grow into your true potential.”

Her words were sweet, but they left a bitter taste in Esmyra’s mouth. Everything in this life was a game—politics, power, manipulation—and she had always been someone’s pawn. But, for now, she had no choice but to play along, to keep her cards close, and wait for the right moment .

Esmyra took a bite of the odd-looking fruit atop her plate and leaned back in her chair as she stared at her twin. “Well, if there is more to the powers within me, I assume it would be best to delve into them where they originated,” she said carefully between bites, refusing to break eye contact.

“I’m so glad we agree, Esmyra,” Syrena replied as she gracefully stood from her seat. “Maerinys has always thrived on unity. Divided, we fall, after all.”

Divided we fall. Those words settled into her, and she couldn’t help but think they had a deeper meaning.

Draevyn’s hand brushed Esmyra’s knee, and she froze at the sudden heat of his touch. She turned and met his stare, and found flames thrashed behind his irises—a silent acknowledgment of their shared suspicion.

“Esmyra, let’s take a walk and I’ll show you more of Maerinys and answer any questions you still have.

” She turned to Draevyn. “As for you, do try to stay out of trouble. I would hate to have to waste resources and have guards on you at all times.” A smile tilted her lips, but it didn’t meet her eyes.

“That won’t be necessary,” Esmyra interrupted, a bit of challenge in her voice that earned her sister’s curiosity. “He’s trustworthy.”

She swallowed thickly, knowing the weight of the words she spoke.

“Excellent,” was all Syrena said before she guided Esmyra out of the room, leaving Draevyn behind in the empty, great hall of the castle.