Page 30

“It is good, Rowenya, that you have discovered the Serpent’s Key is a puzzle box.

” He looks at me now and I find myself wishing to play the game we always seem to find ourselves in.

Not this seriousness that’s taken over, bearing its weight down on my heart.

“How long do you think it will take you to unlock it?”

I retreat my offering to him and look down at the artifact.

“My father used to bring me puzzle boxes to solve after every venture he sailed. It didn’t take long before I could open them within a few minutes.

” Sighing, I start turning the box over in my hands trying to uncover where the next trigger release might be.

“I have a feeling this one will take longer than the others I’ve worked on, but I will get it done. ”

“Yes, I know you will.” There is a solemn note to his voice and I want to ask what he’s thinking, but I keep my lips tightly shut. “There is a matter I must tend to.”

Something shifts in my chest. “You’re leaving?”

He nods once. “I have one of my men standing guard at your door.”

“To make sure I don’t escape,” I say, pointedly.

He doesn’t respond and I roll my eyes. “Great,” I mutter. “You could have at least allowed Tommy to come ashore with us to keep me company while you gallivant around the island.”

His lips widen and it’s the first time tonight I’ve seen him truly smile. “Who says I’m gallivanting?”

I toss my hand in the air. “What else would you be doing with that mischievous bastard?”

“I heard that!” Zaos’s rough growl is muffled through the closed door.

“You were meant to!” I shout back in a sing-song voice.

Grayson runs a hand over his face. “Can you not poke the bear?”

I pout. “Awe. Poor you. Poor Captain Grayson Tyde. The most notorious pirate in all the realm who has to deal with his broody quartermaster who doesn’t like to have any fun.”

Dark locks fall into his tanned face as he shakes his head and chuckles.

I pretend that his laughter doesn’t raise goose bumps along my arms or make my stomach flutter.

He lays a hand on the doorknob and, before he opens it again, he says, “Collin is right outside. If you need anything, let him know and he will have someone bring it to you.”

I sit back on the bed and cross my legs before leaning back on my hands. I don’t miss the way his gaze rakes down the length of my body, stopping momentarily when he gets to the curve of my hips.

“Aye-aye,” I respond with a salute.

His entire body stills and something shifts on his face.

“What?” I ask.

He snorts. “For a moment I thought you were going to call me captain .”

I laugh and slip down onto my elbows, getting comfortable with the way his gaze tends to my every movement. “I wouldn’t call you captain if the hells had frozen over and the old gods had risen from their slumber.”

A flash of his canines glimmers in the lantern light as his lips curl. “We’ll see about that.”

Then he slips through the doorway and I’m left all alone.

Standing by the window, I see the moon is high in the night sky.

With the waning lantern lights around the street, it’s hard to make out all the stars like I can while on the open sea.

A few stragglers from surrounding taverns stumble out of the doorways to try to find their way back to their home or an inn for the night.

Turning around, I walk back toward the bed where my belt and twin daggers are strewn across the duvet, along with my bloodied tunic and pants that desperately need a wash.

The night air billowing in from the open window is sticky from being so far inland.

The ocean’s breeze is faint compared to being on the beach and the heat was making it difficult to think, so I peeled the layers off until I was down to my undergarments.

The thin fabric across my breasts and covering my bottom is much lighter, but a glistening sheen of sweat still coats my skin.

There hasn’t been sign of Grayson’s return. Hours have passed since he left with Zaos. He said he had matters to tend to and all I can think about is the busty blonde named Cassandra.

Not that it’s any of my business, I remind myself. Grayson might have let me in on a secret to pacify my disdain for him, but that doesn’t mean there’s something between us other than pure bodily attraction.

He has a right to fuck whoever he wants. As do I.

Even though the thought of him with her makes my head swim with anger. Her perfect face was like that of a siren’s. And her body. Gods . Even I couldn’t take my eyes off those breasts and the hourglass figure beneath them.

She seemed to know Grayson, though, and perhaps that’s what bothers me most.

Not just that she’s perfect—but that she’s perfect and knows him. Perhaps he’s bedded her already before, not once, but many times. Ugh. I cannot think of it.

To avoid thinking about it, I’ve been working to unlock the puzzle box pattern within the Serpent’s Key. For hours. And now I have a headache.

Groaning, I pick it back up from where I tossed it onto the bed earlier.

Turning it over in my hands, I start pressing my fingers into the grooves along the sides.

Since Grayson left, I was able to release three more notches.

The box is no longer seamless, as two of the notches were pushed in and the other two released outward.

As I continue to work and pace about the room, my mind wanders to stories my father told me of Thaeto’s treasure.

During the Heavenly War, after Olayra and Viryon fell through a rip in the stars, their two sons were left to rule over the world.

Being the older brother, Thaeto was the natural successor, but Ujun had always been jealous of him.

So he bided his time and waited for the perfect moment to strike, and once he did, there was a great darkness that covered the world as the two brothers fought over who would take their parents’ throne in the heavens.

Thaeto was loved by many. He ruled the sea and also the wind. He granted much favor for fishermen who respected the creatures of the water providing them with bountiful rewards.

While Thaeto had ruled with love, Ujun ruled over the land through fear and famine. Thaeto saw his brother’s missteps and did what he could to ensure the safety of all people—both seafaring and land-dwelling alike.

It is said that Thaeto loved his brother so deeply he was not able to see the darkness that crept into Ujun’s everlight—his immortal soul—until it was too late.

The great darkness that Ujun cast upon the world to distract his brother was Thaeto’s undoing because he cared for the people’s suffering so deeply.

As Thaeto fought and battled the creatures that rose from the hells to protect the Southern Realm, Ujun met with the Queen of the Dark Moon witch coven.

He vowed to protect her people from the great darkness if she were to place a curse upon his brother that would put him into a deep slumber.

The Witch Queen was desperate to protect her kin, so she used the power of her everlight to place the curse on Thaeto. The cost was her life.

And Ujun did not keep his promise to the Witch Queen for fear that her daughter’s overwhelming grief would lead her to curse him .

He burned their homeland until everything that was once green and beautiful had turned to ash.

With the witch’s connection to their land severed, their powers were no longer a threat to him.

Satisfied with his victory, Ujun crawled back to the heavens to sit upon his throne and keep a watchful eye over the world he had changed forever while his brother was forced to remain asleep—leaving his treasure ripe for the taking for anyone brave enough to claim it.

And what a treasure it will be .

With a gentle caress, I slide my finger along one of the lines until I feel another click. A fifth release triggers as another rectangle shoots forward from the right side of the box.

Still, nothing happens. The Serpent’s Key remains closed and I groan in frustration. A soft rap hits the door and then Collin’s voice rings through the air. “Everything all right in there?”

I go to open the door and lean against the frame.

Crossing my arms over my nearly bare chest, he raises his blond eyebrows in question.

His green eyes don’t steal a single glance at the bright gold rectangle dangling from my right hand—just as Doc didn’t care to look at it either when he was stitching me up in my room on the ship.

Mildly insulted, I notice they don’t roam my half-naked body, either.

“No, Collin. Everything is not all right.”

“Is there something I can help with?” His throat bobs and I wonder if he thinks I am about to make a run for it.

“When is your captain coming back?” I peer around his stocky frame to look down the hallway, finding it dark, with only a few lantern lights still lit.

His meaty hand rests on the pommel of his sword and now I certainly know he is waiting for me to make a move to evade him. Much to my own surprise, I plan on staying in this room all night. “He did not say, milady.”

I bristle. “How many times must I tell you men to stop calling me milady ?”

He bows his head. “Sorry. Rowenya.”

“Thank you.” I pat him twice on his chest and he scowls at me. “Could you fetch me a shot of rum?”

His frown deepens and I have to fight against the laughter rising in my chest. With his long bushy eyebrows and ruddy cheeks, he looks so grumpy, it’s comical. “Captain ordered me to not leave my watch over your room.”

I snort. “Well, your captain also told me that all I had to do was let you know what I needed and you would fetch it for me.” He grumbles something under his breath. “What’s that? You’re going to head downstairs and ask Harrick to pour me a shot of rum?”

The space between his brows sets into an even deeper wrinkle. “Do you promise to stay here?”

“A pirate’s promise. I swear I will stay right here.”

His eyes turn to slits as he assesses whether or not I’m telling the truth.

I have no doubt Grayson informed him that he is to provide me with anything I want, but he seems to be grappling with whether or not he should trust that I won’t use his absence as a chance to slip away with their prized possession in my hands.

“All right,” he spits, pointing a finger in my face. “But don’t make me out to be a fool, Rowenya .” He glares at me one more time before turning around and slowly making his way down the hall.

“Any faster and you might break a hip, Collin!”

He throws his hands in the air and curses at me before turning and disappearing down the staircase.

In the silence, with the door wide open and no one to see me make a run for it, I contemplate my options.

I’d intended on staying in the room under Collin’s supervision until Grayson arrives back from whatever the hells he’s doing.

But now that I am alone and the Serpent’s Key is still in my hand, that part of me that always yearns to be set free bangs on the walls of my mind, screaming at me to run.

Glancing toward the bed where my weapons and the rest of my clothes lie, I wonder if I would have enough time to don everything before Collin makes his way back to the narrow stairwell.

It would be close.

Every foul thing Red Beard forced my hand to do for the sake of earning even a fraction of my freedom back tastes bitter on my tongue. All week I hoped for a chance at escape and the moment has actually come.

I peer down at the Serpent’s Key. The spiraling script of the old language sparkles in the near lantern light.

It’s weight bears down on my will. I have the answer right here, in my hand.

All I have to do is run down those stairs and out the tavern door.

It would take a while for Grayson and his men to find me in the mountainous jungle that covers the center of the island.

Maybe even long enough for Amara and Wells to make it into the bay sometime tomorrow.

My father showed me every inch of this island when I was a little girl. There are caverns in the center of the island, hidden from most who dare not venture into the wilds.

Yes , the voice inside my head seems to beckon. Run!

Without another thought, I dart for the bed and quickly dress.

Throwing my tattered tunic over my head, my breaths quicken as I don’t bother tucking the bottom into my trousers before I strap my belt and daggers onto my waist. My leather coat whips through the air as I fling it around my shoulders.

Once my arms are through, I ensure the Serpent’s Key is secured in the inside pocket before I turn around and head for the door.

I move to take my first step and stop. My blood runs cold as a large shadowy figure lurks in the doorway.

The lantern light flickers across Grayson’s darkened face as he strides into the room.

I swallow against the dryness of my throat.

“Going somewhere, Little Pearl?”