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D ense moisture hangs in the air, coating my skin and hair with little droplets of water. In the rush of making it through the stone isles, I hadn’t noticed the heavy fog just on the other side.

The gentle roar of the ocean’s currents weaving their way through the isles fades the further we move into the haze. It doesn’t take long for an eerie quiet to settle over the water until there’s nothing but the sounds of the men working the ship.

“Was it like this when you came through?” I whisper to Grayson, feeling uneasy about disturbing the silence.

The dark strands of his hair are coated with mist as he looks down at me. “No. Not quite.”

Tension shoots through my muscles, making my stomach tighten.

“Well, that’s great,” I mumble more to myself than him.

The mainmast sail starts to droop, all the wind that had pushed us over that final cluster of rock has died in an instant.

Squinting my eyes, I try to peer through the dense cloud, but can hardly see the stern of the ship from the quarterdeck. I move to the right side and look over the edge. Ripples of grey water permeate outward from the ship.

“We’re still moving,” I say to Grayson over my shoulder.

Boots hitting the ground sound from behind me. Turning, I see Zaos striding toward Grayson. His palms are splayed open, like they hurt too badly to close. Angry red lines mark the insides of his palms. Rope burn—from that final gust of wind, no doubt.

My own palms itch with a phantom ache. I’ve had that very same burn etched into my hands before. It takes weeks to fully heal, to be able to hold a weapon without pain shooting up your arms.

“How bad is it?” Grayson asks.

“The hull was breached on the port side, but the men were able to get it under control. She’ll hold. For now.”

A sigh of relief wooshes from my lungs and I see that same relief hit Grayson’s shoulders as they finally ease down a little.

Walking back over to them, I feel a slight shift in the air. Almost like a crackling energy that buzzes in my ears and across my skin. Pausing, I hold out my arms and assess them. Wondering if there might be a lightning storm high above us that the fog conceals.

“What is it?” Grayson asks.

Turning my arms over, I bring my sleeves up to my elbows. There’s nothing notable. Not even the hairs along my forearms are raised, but I can still feel the energy.

Strange.

“Nothing. I thought I felt something weird. But it’s nothing.” I tug my sleeves back down, roll my shoulders back and try to ward off the bizarre sensation. It’s probably just my body coming down from the rush.

“Captain! Ahead!” Grayson’s barrelman calls from the crow’s nest.

Straight off the stern, a looming shadow emerges. It’s massive. Craning my neck, I follow it up and up and up.

“What the fucking hells?—”

“Turn her starboard side!” Grayson yells to his helmsman and the shadow shifts to our left. “Drop anchor!”

Shouts ring across the deck as his men release the anchor and we slowly come to a stop. Staggering backward a few steps, I look to my left and right. The shadow stretches as far as my eyes can see through the mist.

As if we were meant to be here in this very moment, the fog starts to drift away.

Hushed voices sound from the deck below, all speaking of the monstrosity before us.

I bring my hand up to my mouth as the final remnants of the haze part, revealing a glittering black mountain, larger than anything I’ve ever seen before.

“It’s . . . beautiful,” I breathe, continuing to stare in awe of the magnificent mountain.

Sunlight skitters across its stone face, shimmering like bright diamonds.

I follow the ebony stone up to a violently sharp point.

I’m not sure if it’s another play of the sunlight or if there’s truly a large jewel nestled at the top, glimmering blazing rays of light in all directions.

Grayson moves beside me and rubs a hand over the small of my back. “Welcome to the Solise Mountains, Little Pearl.”

“Captain, we don’t know what lies within those caves. I don’t think you and Rowenya should venture through them alone,” Zaos says as I place the Serpent’s Key back into the box and secure it in the inner pocket of my long coat.

“I need you here, Zaos. If Blythe gets wind of where we’ve gone, it won’t take him long to reach us. You’re the only one with the skills to captain the Caelestia in my absence.”

Zaos squares his shoulders at Grayson’s rebuttal then let’s out a quiet sigh. “When should I expect your return?”

Grayson clasps him on the shoulder. “I honestly don’t know. If things should go awry and Blythe makes his way through the isles, do what you must to lead him away.”

“You want me to leave you in those caves with no way out?”

Grayson’s brows are drawn as he eyes me over his shoulder. When he turns back to Zaos, his voice is strained as he says, “Yes.”

I swallow the knot in my throat and run my damp hands over the sides of my pants. Grayson might have seen the Solise Mountains, but he’s never ventured inside the caves. There is no telling what ancient creatures may lurk there in the darkness.

The Serpent’s Key led us here and the treasure may be hidden somewhere deep in that beautiful stone. But what great power would stand guard over a god’s treasure?

Shaking my head, I try to think of anything else.

It is not the time to allow fear to overrule me.

Zaos crosses his arms over his chest. “I just need to say that I have always done as you’ve commanded of me, but I do not agree with this plan.”

Grayson’s hand drops from Zaos’s shoulder. “I know. And I am thankful that despite your disagreement, I know I can count on you to carry out the order.”

Keeping my distance, I let them have their moment before Zaos leaves and it’s just us in Grayson’s room.

I loose a long sigh. “Well, here we are.”

“Here we are, indeed.” He tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear and my mother’s pearl clinks against one of the other metal cuffs. “Are you ready?” he asks.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I think back over the last month and all that has happened since the first moment I saw Grayson on the docks.

From the hatred and fear I had for him, to the joyous light in my chest that grows brighter every time I look at him.

So much has changed. Yet, one goal has always remained.

Find the treasure. Secure freedom for myself and my crew.

Once I open my eyes, I feel a quiet calm settle over me. “Yes, I’m ready.”

“You have the key and the box?”

I open the lapel of my coat and pat the inside pocket. “Right here.”

“Good.” He nods. We stare at each other for a passing moment before his fingers grip my chin and he tilts my head back.

Stepping into my space until I can feel my chest brush against his upper abdomen, Grayson takes his other hand and weaves it into my hair.

“I have waited a thousand lifetimes for this. For you. Our story does not end here, Rowenya. Do you understand?”

A chill skates down my spine. He’s afraid. Afraid of what lies within those caves and what it might mean for our survival.

Reaching up, I grasp his wrist, letting his warmth seep into my palm. “This could never be our end, Grayson. We haven’t had enough time.”

Taking his hand away from my face, I kiss each knuckle.

He shudders, then pulls me into him and kisses me.

It’s a calamity. Two stars hurtling towards one another from across the heavens.

We’re a mess of tongues and teeth as I stand on the tips of my toes, reaching my arms around the back of his neck to get closer.

A flush of heat passes through my entire body as he deepens the kiss. Slowing his movements, his tongue caresses mine, his fingers gently massage the back of my head, sending an array of tingling sensations all the way down to my toes.

When he pulls away, I’m left breathless and still wanting more. But time is waning and each second that passes is one more moment that brings Blythe closer.

Grayson places one final kiss to each corner of my mouth before taking my hand and guiding me through the door.

“How’re your hands?” I ask Collin as he secures the paddles inside the longboat.

He raises his palms. They’re raw, and blood lines the outer edges of where the skin was rubbed away, but they aren’t open anymore. Doc’s healing potion has worked quickly.

“They’ll heal up nicely, I think,” he says before cleaning away at some of the dried blood.

“That’s great.” I pat him on the shoulder.

“Miss Rowenya!” Tommy’s voice sounds from behind me. I spin around as he runs up to me, his shaggy hair bouncing into his eyes with each step.

“Tommy!” I smile at him. “Keep an eye on Zaos while we’re gone. You know he’s meant to cause trouble now and again.”

We both glance at Zaos, who’s looking even more grumpy than usual as he scowls at me.

Tommy gulps loudly and I laugh. “Don’t be afraid of him. He’s not as bad as he seems.”

I move out of Collin’s way as he works with a few other men to haul the longboat over the side of the ship.

“Miss Rowenya, I wanted to give you this.” I look down at Tommy’s open hand where an old, rusted dagger lays in his palm.

“What’s this?” I ask, taking it from him and eyeing the blade.

For all its ruin, the blade still sits straight in the hilt.

Running my finger along the edge, I wince when it cuts into my skin.

A bead of blood pools on the tip of my finger.

I wipe the crimson away on the side of my pants and look back up at him.

“It was the knife I fought with in the cages. I figured it must be lucky if it kept me alive during all those years. I want you to have it. For protection.” Tommy’s gaze skirts the top of my head, trailing upwards to the enormous ebony stone behind me.

Tears prick the corners of my eyes at his gesture. “Tommy, I . . .” Wiping away the stray tears with the back of my hand, I take in his sweet face. “Thank you. I hope I won’t have to use it, but in the case that I do, I know it’ll protect me.”