Page 43

I wake to the echoing clap of thunder and heavy rainfall.

Peeling my eyes open, I blink until they finally adjust. The cavern is darker than it was when I fell asleep in Grayson’s arms. Wetter too.

A light mist hangs in the air and when I look up, I realize it’s coming from a gentle rainfall sprinkling through the small holes peppering the cavern’s ceiling.

“It’s almost time for us to leave for the coastline.” Grayson’s voice is raspy. He must have woken up not long before me.

His chest rises and falls with even breaths at my back and I don’t want to move from this place. Not when his arms are wrapped around me and the warmth of his embrace will be traded for danger that threatens to take what is ours.

Ours .

What a strange thing to think about Thaeto’s treasure as belonging to the both of us. How much has changed in these few weeks.

Then again, is this not what I had hoped for—in some sense, at least?

So many years of my life have looked the same.

Every day I did Red Beard’s bidding, even as it cost me and my crew our dignity and reputation.

Despite the entrapment, we always chased after our freedom.

After a life we desired. But as I lay in Grayson’s embrace, I begin to wonder if there is more to this life than simply releasing myself from the shackles of my father’s mistakes.

If there might be some chance of . . . happiness.

“I still haven’t translated the riddle,” I say before placing a kiss on Grayson’s forearm.

He holds me tighter and I feel his lips move to the top of my head. “We will figure it out once we get back to the Caelestia . But we should move now while we have the cover of the storm. Blythe has likely dispatched members of his crew to search the island already.”

“There aren’t many who know about the caverns,” I retort.

“That is true. But I would not put it past him to send people through the jungle, thinking we might try to hide and wait him out.”

Begrudgingly, I lean forward and rise to my feet. When Grayson stands, his hand comes to the side of my face. My eyelids flutter at his touch.

“Risking your life is not something I’m willing to do,” he says.

“This entire venture is a risk to my life, Grayson. You can’t start making decisions just to protect me.

If you do, we will never make it to Thaeto’s treasure.

” I grab my weapon’s belt from the ground and strap it onto my hips, resting my hands on the pommels of my daggers. “I can take care of myself.”

I watch as Grayson does the same. His longsword juts out at an angle beyond his hip as he adjusts the belt on his waist before moving to strap the bandolier across his chest. The jewel-encrusted dagger glimmers in what little light shines through the ceiling holes.

The piece is stunning with a large blue sapphire nestled in the side of the pommel and a beautiful leather wrap with etched waves lining the hilt.

I wonder if he got it from a prize he won or if he had it made for himself.

“I told you before.” He steps closer so I have to tilt my head back to look at his face.

Most would run away or cower to the floor in such close proximity to Grayson Tyde, but all I can think about is the small gap that keeps me parted from him.

“You are mine , Roweyna Stone, and that means your life is no trivial thing, easily cast aside or toyed with. I will protect you and you can try to fight me on it, but I promise it will be a fight you won’t win. ”

“Territorial brute,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.

“There you go again with wildly inaccurate descriptions of me. I thought we talked about this.” His smile is equal parts breathtaking and mischievous.

“Yes, yes, I know. Lord Grayson Tyde is charming and handsome and smart.”

Lowering his lips to mine, my stomach flutters and all the jest leaves my mind. There’s only him and the unwavering desire to rip off all of his clothing and take my time tasting every inch of his delectable body.

His lips move against mine as he says, “Not Lord . . . Captain .”

I pull back and smirk. “You’re right. We should head for the shore.”

Kneeling, I start to roll up the bedroll and make sure the Serpent’s Key and the golden box are placed in the pack before I swing it over my shoulder.

“You are a viciously cruel thing.” Grayson chuckles as he takes my hand and we start moving toward the entrance of the eastern tunnel. “Denying me the one title I wish more than anything to hear pass between your sweet lips.”

“You told me yourself that it is my darkness that draws you in the most. So, vicious and cruel I will continue to be.”

“And here I was thinking our little game would end, but I think I like playing even more now that I have you,” he purrs next to my ear.

“You think that now, but just wait until I really have you cornered.”

Violent wind whips the bottom edge of my long coat back and forth as I lift the top over my head to shield my face from the onslaught of rain. Grayson does the same next to me as we finally break through the edge of the jungle and find the eastern shore of Emerald Cove.

“There!” Grayson yells over the roar of the storm. “Do you see it?”

He points to the horizon of water where sheets of rain billow in the wind. Squinting, I look at where he points and make out a shadow of something tall and wide off the shore. The Caelestia . And in the foreground is a longboat peeking over the white capped waves.

“How are we supposed to make it back to the ship in this storm?” I call out to him.

Water drips from the long strands of his hair as he looks down at me. His entire face is wet from the rain. Somehow, he looks even more beautiful as the shadows of the gray sky darken the sharp planes of his face.

His canines flash as he grins. “You wound me, Little Pearl if you think this storm will prevent me from getting you safely back to my ship.”

I roll my eyes and chuckle. “If you’re wounded this easily, I’m afraid we have a long road ahead of us if you wish for me to be by your side.”

“Always steering me straight for the edge.” I just barely hear the click of his tongue before a flash of lightning skitters across the sky.

We both look up as a thunderous boom shakes the sand beneath our boots.

“Come on! The storm isn’t going to die down anytime soon.” I follow his lead down the seemingly endless stretch of beach toward where his men in the longboat aim to reach us.

Every step I take is heavy with the wet sand clinging to my boots and my sodden clothes weighing me down. The ache in my lower back throbs from last night’s sleep, but I keep trudging forward, knowing there is comfort and rest waiting for me on the Caelestia .

Halfway down the shore, the winds pick up and a dancing devil whirls to my right—a mixture of rain and sand twirls together in a wide funnel.

I stare in awe at the strength of the elements and the ominous beauty that surrounds me.

The funnel sways to the right for a moment and then .

. . Fucking hells. I’m not quick enough to shield myself with my coat as a blast of sand kicks up into my face.

A sharp sting hits my cheeks and forehead from the pelts of sand. I start coughing from the bit that flies into my mouth.

“Rowenya!” Grayson’s voice is sharp with concern.

Blinking rapidly to clear my eyes of the sand and water, I wipe my face and mouth with my coat, getting the larger clumps of sand off my face. “I’m okay!” I shout back as the last bit of sand blinks out of my vision.

“They’re almost to shore. Not much further now.”

I look out at the sea and note his men are a lot closer now. Waves barrel forward, crashing forcefully onto the shore. With each one, his men steady their oars just above the crest and push down as the wave moves past them.

I follow Grayson through the storm, pushing out further toward the coastline to meet where, eventually, his men will bring up the boat.

The wind is surreal. I’ve never faced such weather, with mighty gales so fierce, they feel like a physical shove.

Every muscle in my body screams at me to stop and I find myself slowing despite the voice in my head telling me to move faster.

My feet sink into the wet sand and my legs burn with the effort to keep moving forward.

A strike of lightning spiders across the dark clouds, washing the world in a bright white light that hurts my eyes.

“It’s getting worse!” My scream dies in the wind, but I see Grayson peer over at me.

“We’re almost there. Keep moving, Rowenya! Keep moving!”

Another crack of lightning shoots down from the sky, this time hitting the water just beyond Grayson’s crew.

Water sprays upward where the strike hit and I see his men turn around.

In all my years, I’ve never seen a storm this rageful.

It’s as if the hells have opened up and bled into the sky, casting its evil down upon us.

My heart races and every fiber of my being is on alert as more lightning webs its way down.

A strike lands a few hundred feet to Grayson’s left and I feel my throat start to swell with panic.

Shifting my attention to my breath, I focus on each step forward as we start to pick up the pace again, nearing the shoreline.

We’re so close. If I can only push a little more . . .

Just above me, the sky beams with white light.

I follow it up, up, up into the array of dark clouds.

And then I see it. A single line of crackling energy shoots downward and I know in my bones it’s meant for me.

Shock stills my movements as I just stare at the beautiful beacon of light that races toward me with unparalleled speed.

Time slows as tree-like branches bolt outward from the main column.

There is no stopping it. Not the scream caught in my lungs or the burst of energy that screams at my legs to move . The world is washed in white light. I can’t see anything else, but I feel the heat on my skin as it comes crashing down.