Page 9

Esmyra

T he moment Esmyra faced the crew aboard the ship, all eyes were on her, as if they had never seen a woman among them.

A whistle shot out from the far edges of the crew, and her gaze whipped in its direction.

She wanted nothing more than to reveal her true self, but doing so too early wouldn’t prove useful.

The man who mocked the way she spoke on the dock was eyeing her warily, as if he could sense who and what she was. Or, perhaps, he just believed the usual bullshit that most pirates had—that having a woman aboard their ship would only anger the gods.

What men failed to remember was that the seas were once ruled by not one but two goddesses, Kaelypso and Naerysa.

Draevyn threw his leg over the rail and then stalked up next to her. “Everyone, this is Esmi. We’ll be escorting her to our next port. You’ll treat her as a guest of the royal house.”

She subtly glanced down at the ring adorning his finger, which contained flames wrapped around an intricately drawn R—the seal of King Barrett Rowe.

Her eyes flicked back up to him to find that his gaze was now on her, watching her intently.

“All hands on deck!” he bellowed, his eyes never leaving hers. The crew leapt into action, dispersing across the ship to their designated assignments. Moments later, the sails unfurled, and the ship was soaring across the waves.

Esmyra seemed to be the only one who noticed a small shadow fly overhead as it eclipsed the sun, and she watched as the owl landed atop the crow’s nest.

“Showoff,” she muttered, suppressing a grin as Jak hid in plain sight.

She stood before the captain with her arms crossed behind her back, the sea breeze blowing her thick, black hair around her face as the gulls called their songs overhead.

“And is there an assignment for me, Captain?” she asked sweetly, almost taunting.

He sucked on his front teeth. “Come with me. I’ll give you a tour of the ship.”

Draevyn offered her his arm. Esmyra raised a brow in suspicion, wondering how this would all play out since she barely had a plan. She didn’t have time for this—or the patience. However, if there was any chance of getting Draevyn alone to compel him, it may lay within these next few moments.

She linked her arm through his, and they started at the bow before circling around until they were at the stern. He brought her to the quarterdeck, where his first mate manned the wheel in his absence. She took note that it was the irritating man who was aboard the pinnace with them.

Esmyra offered a smile, but it went unreturned, and for a brief moment, she imagined shoving him overboard.

“May I steer the boat?” she asked as her fingertips played along the rough wood of the wheel.

“Absolutely not,” the man answered.

“Samwell,” Draevyn scolded, releasing his hold on her arm.

Samwell gave him a wry grin. “Draevyn.”

Her eyes flared as the name finally slipped from someone, even if it wasn’t the captain. While this whole time she knew exactly who and what he was, she had to play these next few moments carefully.

“Was that necessary?” Draevyn shot at Samwell .

“You alright there, Esmi?” Samwell taunted her. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

When she lifted her chin to meet their stares, she found that Draevyn’s whiskey eyes were watching her beneath furrowed brows—the gold in them shone brightly, mimicking the blaze held within him.

Esmyra knew she wasn’t the only predator aboard this ship, but she needed to make sure that he believed himself to be the only one.

“Esmi.” Draevyn’s voice came out as a deep growl, snapping her out of her trance.

“Yes, I’m fine, of course. Though I’m happy to finally know my savior’s name.”

“Hm,” he grunted out. “Sam, take her to the galley, where she can be put to work. And keep your mouth shut while you’re at it.”

The fucking galley ? He planned to put her to work in the kitchen? She knew men were the most moronic of creatures, but even she hoped he would’ve been slightly more original.

Irritation surged in her. She really didn’t have time for this . She could practically hear Jak’s mocking laugh from up above.

If only her father could witness this now.

Samwell escorted her below deck and to the kitchen, where their cook was hard at work, chopping vegetables for the stew that nearly overflowed the pot atop a roaring fire.

“Tommy,” Samwell greeted.

“And who be this, Sam?” the older man snapped, barely giving them a glance over his shoulder.

“Your new assistant. Captain’s orders, I’m afraid.” Samwell placed his hand between her shoulder blades and gave her a small shove into the room, which had Esmyra clenching her teeth to reel in her anger. “We’re providing her safe passage to our next port.”

“Drae’s picking up strays now in pirate coves? What’s gotten into that boy…”

Samwell cleared his throat. “My thoughts exactly.”

“You know,” she interjected. “I’m right here.”

“Well aware. Now, be a good little lady for Tommy here, and perhaps you’ll survive the journey across the sea.” Samwell turned his back to her and stormed back up the steps.

“Was that a threat?” she called up to him, but went unanswered.

Letting out a huff, she wondered if all this trouble was worth it. She should’ve just compelled Draevyn at the damn tavern and risked being caught. Her crew could’ve easily slain his—but then she would never find all the answers she sought regarding Maerinys.

“Was no threat, lady,” Tommy called, making her turn back toward him. “Sam is all talk. He’s just protective of the captain, is all. Besides, I’m sure you’re aware by now that you’re under the protection of the crown while aboard.”

“Aye,” she answered. “It appears so.”

Esmyra stalked over to Tommy and rolled up her sleeves, the crimson runes covering her arms on full display. “What can I assist you with, Tommy?”

His eyes traced over the markings. “That’s quite the mark, missy. How long did that take? And with such an odd color.”

She cleared her throat and surprised herself by giving him an honest answer. “I don’t remember. Was a long time ago, I’m afraid.”

His stare drifted up to her face. “You don’t look a day older than twenty-five, darlin’, but it’s none of my business.”

“Just good genes, perhaps,” she offered.

He let out a chuckle and gave her a wink. “Aye, perhaps.”

There was something oddly comforting about Tommy. He reminded her somewhat of her father when they were behind closed doors, when he could let his ruthless mask fall—something she rarely did herself.

Once silence blanketed the galley, aside from the soft sounds of his knife hitting the cutting board, she grabbed the handle of another and began chopping in tandem alongside him. She couldn’t remember the last time she ever participated in something so… normal .

Perhaps she never had.

Hours came and went while down in the galley with Tommy, and he told Esmyra of his times at sea.

How he was once a self-proclaimed pirate turned privateer and offered his services to the crown after the great Captain Cyrus Blackwood and his crew ravaged his last ship, just before an unknown creature beneath the waves sank it down to the depths beneath the cover of night.

He was left marooned on an island until he was found by Lephyrin’s sea fleet days later.

The siren within her grinned, but Esmyra flinched—the man’s words describing the sea monster forced an odd feeling resembling guilt crawling up her spine, knowing that monster was her.

“I wasn’t aware that a ship under a king’s command would harbor such men,” she stated as they finished cleaning the pots and pans.

He lifted a brow as he looked her way. “And what do you mean by that?”

She gave him a knowing look. “The captain is the Phoenix . It isn’t assumable that he would sail with the likes of… privateers .” A quick wink was shot his way. “Once a pirate, always a pirate, I’m afraid.”

Tommy’s brows furrowed, and he placed the pot he was drying down on the counter. “I gave up that life long ago. And you listen here, darlin’…if you know what’s good for ya, you won’t go around saying those kinds of things.”

“And what things might that be?”

“What you called the captain. We don’t speak of that name aboard his ship. It was a name placed upon him by no choice of his.”

Did the Phoenix fear his flames? She wondered if such a thing was possible.

Draevyn Rowe was the only creature in known existence who wielded power just as great as she did—somehow even more destructive.

His flames were rumored to incinerate everything in their path.

Only half a thought from him would have anything turned to ash in mere seconds.

So why would he loathe his name?

Footsteps stormed down the stairs, catching both of their attentions. Samwell appeared in the doorway. “You’re relieved of babysitting duty, Tommy. Hope she wasn’t too much trouble. ”

“She was a breeze compared to what you menaces were like when you were young.” He waved her off. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Aye, Tommy.” She turned toward Samwell and shot him a glare as she made her way to him. “And where will I be going now?”

She was praying to the lost goddesses that it was somewhere away from people. She had to scour the ship for anything useful and rummage through Draevyn’s mind while she was at it. However, the bastard had yet to come anywhere near her.

“Captain set up a little room for you to sleep away from the crew. Felt like you’d be more comfortable that way. Now follow me,” Samwell called over his shoulder.

Her brows furrowed as he stalked up the galley’s stairs. The infamous Phoenix was far from what the rumors had described, and everything he’d done since they met had contradicted those claims.

Samwell directed her to a room on the deck with a tiny cot on the floor. “It’s all we could do on short notice. Now, don’t leave this room. It’s dark and the sea can play tricks on you. Someone will fetch you in the morning.”

Esmyra snarled. “Fetch.”

“I would assume that’s a better thing than what I’m sure you’re accustomed to in cove brothels, no?” A lift of one of his brows, accompanied by a dark smirk, gave away his mocking amusement.

The death grip held on her temper was slipping. “Do you have a problem with me aboard this ship, Samwell?”

“To be determined.”

“Is the captain your lover? Are you upset I moved to seduce him last night?” she taunted.

He huffed out a laugh. “No. He’s my friend and the captain. Just making sure he doesn’t do anything foolish because he laid eyes on a beautiful, mysterious woman in a foreign isle.”

Esmyra took a step closer to him and watched his body tense, as if he had to force himself to resist taking a step back. “Are you always threatened by women, Samwell?”

His eyes roamed over her slowly. “Only the ones I can’t read. And so far, you’re at the very top of that list. ”

The corners of her lips curled at his answer.

“Stay in the gods-damn room,” he barked and then slammed the door in her face.

The room plunged into darkness, but her wicked smile remained. With only a blink of her eyes, the tiny space was illuminated with a subtle teal light as she finally allowed them to shift.