Page 65 of Daughter of the Dark Sea

What the fuck.

“It’s always an honour to meet a Hydrafort.” He spoke with reverence, his voice taking on that democratic tone he used in meetings. Kora fought the urge to roll her eyes.Such a show off.

“Pleasure,” Bree purred, and Kora’s stomach twisted as Bree fluttered her fan. “Blake Marwood. Champion of the trials. I knowallabout you.”

Since when had Bree been so aware of Blake? Kora gritted her teeth as he chuckled in return. His dark,teasingchuckle. The one he used only with her when they were together in private. It shuddered through her skeleton, conjuring flashes of heat in the shadowy alcove of Cadell Manor. Only yesterday, his lips were upon hers, so close to losing control his trousers were practically ripping at the seams.

Now those lips graced Bree’s hand.

“You flatter me.” Hewinked.

Her veins turned to ice.

“Your reputation is well-known in Talmon. In fact, from all I’ve heard, I feel as though I already know you.”

Kora’s mind raced as Blake and Bree conversed, her friend’s twinkling laugh joining his deep, sultry tones, and Kora clenched her fists, directing her frustration down into the sensation of her nails biting her palms.

Their relationship wasn’t a façade.

They couldn’t tell the world they were together.

They had to flirt with others to maintain the illusion.

She repeated the mantras over and over in her head.

But—Bree?

“Kora, it is acrimethat we’ve not been introduced sooner.” Bree plastered one of her dazzling smiles on, resting her palm on Blake’s bicep, her thumb sweeping over the curve of muscle. Kora’s vision tunnelled onto it.

It was acrimethat she was fucking touching her first mate. That thrumming in her body pulsated into a thunderous beat, filling her ears. Her red haze was unchecked, dampening her rational thought.

“Months and years out at sea makes it hard to go around introducingfriends. It’s not an easy job.” Her sharp tone caused them both to glare at her.

Blake’s face sent a warning look of,watch your tone, don’t give anything away.Whilst Bree’s forced smile spoke volumes:don’t mess this up for me.

“We spent a lot of time apart ourselves, working in different fleets. But now, Captain Cadell is stuck with me as an unfortunate first mate.” Another wink. Why was he winking so much? Did a piece of nobility get stuck in his eye? Despite the joking nature, the words struck a chord with Kora. A stinging chord.

“Oh!” Bree exclaimed, fanning her fan exaggeratively.

Kora hid her scowl as Blake’s green eyes were drawn to the movement of the fan, perfectly positioned in front of her bosom. Bree’s pale shimmering dress accented her rich dark skin, and Kora glanced down at herself.

She was tanned, but short in stature. With curves, yet muscled from years of hard labour in fleets. Her short hair was nothing in comparison to Bree’s exotic braids, and Bree didn’t have a single scar on her body or face.

The seeded doubts surfaced once again.

“You must tell me of your adventures! Kora never tells me any gossip.”

A subtle glance from Blake and their unspoken connection passed through them again, electrifying Kora to her fingertips. Nope. That desire was still there. A Hydrafort does not—could not—know about their exploits with pirates, and skimming the profits off the top.

“I can assure you, it’s not as adventurous as it may seem.” Blake’s lips twitched upwards into a smirk. “It’s a lot of scouting, checking coasts, and carrying precious cargo.”

“How disappointing. I’d certainly like to know more, especially about when you went missing in the Shaurock Sea.” A pause, and Blake tensed enough for Kora to catch a glimmer ofworry pass across his face. Why was he worried? “Perhaps over dinner?” Bree’s tone dropped to a sensual depth.

“Oh, well I’m sure the captain and I—”

“No, no,” Bree shook her head. “Just you.”

Kora blurted out the next thing she could think of before she screamed. “I thought you were working in the barracks today?”