Page 77 of Blackheart

“I can’t believe any of you are alive,” he finally said, a grin spreading across his face.

I scoffed. I should haveknownhe’d be here the moment Dronis said there was a ship coming. He survived the games with an intensity that almost hadmescared of him.

“Did you all travel here together?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Some of the way. I was alone for a bit until I found their group,” he motioned to Trista and the others.

Groups.

“Is Luna here?” I asked.

After every ache and tear, it would be worth it. This ship would be our fresh start. We could have our fight and be done with it. I would tell her everything I’d learned, and how I had burned the Blood Prince, killed a Warlock, and been shot not once, but twice. Even if she could be selfish and hurtful, she was my sister. Not by blood, but by choice.

Trista reached for my hand with solemn eyes. “I haven’t seen her since the Waywards. I thought she’d be… with you.”

I looked at Beck. He shook his head.

Riven squeezed my shoulder. Trista narrowed her eyes at the brief moment of affection. I’d tell her later that it wasn’t like that. I was just an oath to him.

I glanced back at the land. It felt wrong leaving Drakington knowing Luna could still be there, but she’d left me first. By crossing the Sea of Blades, I was helping her, whether or not she would ever know. There would be a home for the Dark Natured, even if I had to be shot by a thousand arrows to build it.

The voyage began in the evening as planned, and the first night was beyond what I had expected. Riven was right about me having a room on the ship. The bed was made with grey covers and fit from wall to wall, leaving little space to walk around when the door was open. There was no other furniture or private place to relieve myself, but that was fine.

A shared pot was just down the hall, and that was more than I’d had in days. Above the bed was a porthole window that revealed the night sky and noisy waves.

I lay at the foot of the bed, content to watch the bladebreather occasionally pass by.

If anyone on the ship knew I was Xavian Steele’s sister, they hadn’t treated me differently because of it. The room was the only indicator they might have known.

Riven had his own room as well, though, while Trista and Arielle shared one.

Sleep claimed me early the first night. My body had demanded it. I dreamt of soothing darkness, my mind finally granting me a break. I would have slept an entire day away if thunder hadn’t woken me the next afternoon.

Wrapped in my charmed blanket, I peeked out the porthole. The skies churned with hues of deep grey and blue, lightning flashing in the distance.

By the time I dressed and left my room to seek Trista and food, the boat rocked so wildly that I was running back for the pot.

I flew down the wobbly hallway right as Riven opened his door. I had no time to stop, even as he called out to me.

Just as I could not hold it any longer, I gripped both sides of the pot, retching as the ship swayed. Riven placed a hand on my back.

“Are you okay?”

“Don’t touch me,” I snapped. I heaved again, sweating. Arms shaking.

“Ever?” he asked, lifting his hand off my back.

I didn’t have the capability to answer or dwell on what he meant. Instead, I silently begged the Mother to make the sickness stop.

Only once I was certain I had nothing left to expel, I stood, sighing in relief. I was about to apologize for snapping at Riven when a commotion sounded above deck.

The worst scenarios invaded my mind.A Sapphire attack. Drakers.

I bolted past Riven, running up the stairs as he followed.

On the deck, the commotion continued to grow.

“She’s lost her damn mind!” a man yelled.