Page 39

The weight of it all feels impossible as I stand at the bar waiting for Harrick to put together a pack of food for Grayson and me to share.

Zaos and him decided it would be best if the rest of the crew head toward the ship while Grayson and I make our way to the east side of the island and meet them there in the morning.

That way we don’t have to travel through town and risk someone seeing my face.

The plan to evade town is a good one, but it does nothing for the growing pit of worry in my stomach.

Blythe seeking revenge is one thing, but now that we have Malihaim hunting us as well, I can’t see a way out that doesn’t include us getting killed.

Most wouldn’t even consider coming after Grayson and the Caelestia , but Blythe and Malihaim have never been rational.

Blythe probably promised him a share of Thaeto’s treasure to ensure he stays loyal to the cause.

I look over my shoulder at Grayson and Zaos talking in the corner next to the staircase.

They speak in hushed whispers so I can’t make out what they’re saying and it makes my blood boil.

The desire for control winds its way through my veins.

It’s the only thing that has kept me and my crew alive this long.

Ensuring there is always a contingency plan should things go awry, and right now the only plan we seem to have is to avoid Blythe and his mercenary long enough for us to leave Emerald Cove.

But that won’t be enough. Not when they inevitably discover where we are and intercept our course to steal the Serpent’s Key. One ship—no matter how mighty—will never be able to stand against the attack from two other ships built for war and come out unscathed.

Grayson may not trust that my crew will stand with him, but I do.

“Harrick,” I whisper, catching his attention. “I need a quill and some parchment.”

His bushy brows knit together and I know he’s debating his loyalties to Grayson against whatever he thinks I’m up to.

“Please.”

He tilts his head at me and rolls his eyes before grabbing a leaf of parchment and a quill from the counter behind him.

“You pirates are a mischievous bunch and I want no part in whatever you have planned against Lord Grayson.” He slaps the parchment down in front of me.

“He’s always been kind to me, treats my inn with care.

Unlike most of the scoundrels who make their way through these parts. ”

“I promise it’s not anything mischievous. In fact, it’s meant to help him.”

If we can stay alive long enough .

I dip the quill in the jar of ink and start writing as Harrick grumbles something under his breath.

There’s only three lines I need to write and once the ink dries, I fold the paper in half, then look back over my shoulder to make sure Grayson isn’t watching. He’s still deep in conversation with Zaos when I turn around and hand Harrick the letter.

“I need you to get this to Amara Linet. She should be making her way onto the island today if she isn’t already here.”

Harrick stares at the parchment in my hand as his throat works nervously.

I drop my head lower and he finally meets my eyes. “Harrick, you don’t know me and you have no real reason to trust me. But I promise you, I am not doing anything that would endanger Grayson or his crew. I’m just trying to make sure that we all survive.”

I see his mind working as his beady eyes flick toward Grayson and Zaos then back to me. He points a thick finger into my face and says, “If you make me regret this, Rowenya Stone, I will make sure no inn on Emerald Cove will ever provide you safe refuge again.”

I nod. “Fair enough. Now, take it before he sees.”

He grabs the letter and stuffs it into the front pocket of his apron.

“Thank you.”

He just grunts then tosses another apple into the pack he prepared for Grayson and me. When he hands it over, I grab it and walk over to Grayson.

Zaos and him pause on my approach.

“I’ve got the food.” I raise the pack, then sling its strap over my shoulder.

Grayson smiles warmly at me. My heart cinches in my chest as I look away. Now is not the time to get wrapped up in whatever this thing is between us.

Zaos breaks the tension as he says, “We’ll meet you with a longboat on the eastern shore at dawn tomorrow.” Then he exchanges one final look with Grayson before heading for the front door of the inn.

We both watch as he leaves. “Such a man of few words,” I joke, but neither of us laugh. Not with the threat that looms over us, like a sea serpent about to strike.

“Are you ready?” Grayson’s voice is low and soothing and I wish I had the ability to be as calm as he is, given the situation.

I snort. “Do I have a choice not to be?”

His eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t respond and I know he’s thinking back to our previous conversation when he told me there is always a choice.

“Let’s just go,” I say, adjusting the strap on my shoulder. “Before word reaches inland.”

Wind whistles through the tunnels of the cavern as we near the center and I’m thankful for whatever storm is brewing along the horizon as it keeps the sticky heat at bay.

Grayson guides me around the dark corner, placing his hand at the small of my back. His fingers dance along my spine, sending a cascade of shivers over my skin. My mind wanders to the feeling of his mouth against mine and heat gathers at the apex of my thighs.

Will it always be this way when he is near? All thoughts emptying from my mind except for the ones of him .

His presence makes it nearly impossible to think of anything else and it bothers me.

I try to stow away the complicated feelings I have for him. Try to ignore the way my body reacts to his touch as the cavern opens up before us.

My breath hitches. “Blessed stars,” I breathe. “It’s beautiful.”

Grayson pulls my hair to the side and kisses my neck. His lips are soft against my skin as he moves upward to the bottom of my ear.

“Beautiful, yes. But it holds no candle to you, Little Pearl.” My eyelids flutter as he lets go of my hair, the strands sweeping across the back of my tunic and corset.

I stand there, unable to move, my body stricken by his touch.

He watches me with prying eyes and a smirk dances over his lips.

He knows exactly what he’s doing to me. There’s no hiding the impact he has on my body, and for the first time since we left Harrick’s inn, I realize we’re completely alone.

“Come, now.” He extends his hand and I take it.

We walk along the path we took only this morning to meet with Seger and Hawke, but everything looks different now.

The cavern is washed in silver moonlight shining through the holes in the ceiling.

White light illuminates the crystals and they all shine different hues of purple.

The water filling the basin in the middle of the cavern is a pristine mirror reflecting the images of every crystal lining the walls and ceiling.

It makes it look as though the entire space is filled with shimmering amethyst.

Grayson stops in an alcove just before the eastern tunnel. I slide the pack off my shoulder and gawk at the scene before me. “I’ve never seen the cavern at night.”

“Not many people have ventured this far across the island. How many times have you come here?” Grayson asks, shoving off the larger pack and bedroll Zaos found for us before we left.

“A few times.” I wander to the edge of the water and look down, staring at my reflection. “My father showed me every inch of this island when I was a little girl. He told me I should know all the secrets of my home.”

“Smart man.” I hear him rummaging through one of the packs behind me.

“He was. Which is why it always surprises me that he let himself get entangled with someone like Red Beard.” I sigh.

Grayson’s boots scrape against the cavern floor and even if I couldn’t hear his approach, I would know he’s standing right behind me. The air between us always seems to hum with crackling magick. Maybe he truly has put a spell on me with the immortal blood that runs through his veins.

I turn around and look into his face. The stardust in his eyes seems to glow brighter with the moon’s light shining upon them.

But it’s not the stunning portrait of the heaven’s-kissed ocean that makes my heart skip a beat.

It’s the way he’s looking at me. Like he’d sail to Esoros this very moment and take his sword to Red Beard’s neck if I asked him to.

“Every choice we make is like throwing a stone into the ocean; it’s ripples are carried farther than our eyes can see. Your father loved you, Rowenya. He never would have dealt with Red Beard if he thought doing so would come back to haunt you.”

I huff. “You say that like you knew him.”

Grayson’s eyes flick to somewhere across the cavern.

“No.” He takes a deep breath in. “But I’ve made many decisions over my lifetime and there have been a lot of consequences I wish I could have seen before I made them.

I think your father would have done the same if he was able to go back in time. ”

There is no bravado in his words. No indication that I am speaking to Grayson Tyde—the most feared pirate to ever sail the Aelynthi Sea.

No. In this moment, I am speaking to the true Grayson. No hint of that stone mask in place.

It’s still difficult for me to observe the changes in him and not question if everything he’s told me is a lie to gain my compliance.

But that tug in the center of my chest .

. . the quiet voice reassuring me that following him is the right path .

. . There’s something pure about it. Like the white light of the stars in the heavens, twinkling with every silent prayer made upon them.

I am meant to be here, in this moment with him.

“Here.” He holds an apple out for me. “You need to eat.”

“You’re always so bossy,” I grumble, taking the apple from him. “You do realize that I’ve made it thirty-six years without the likes of you around to help me survive.”