Page 116 of Of the Stars and Sea

“Yes.” I tilt the tablet to the side, trying to avoid the glare off the shiny surface from the light above. “It says, ‘When threebecome one. Where it all began. A curse. Not just of a god, but of the land.’”

Turning toward Grayson, I look into those bright oceanic eyes. A smile plays on his lips.

“Where it all began,” I whisper, a grin splitting my lips as well.

“Not just of a god, but of the land.”

“Fucking hells,” I breathe, feeling a maniacal rush soar through me. “The treasure is buried in The Barren Wastelands.”

Chapter 28

“Ican’t believe we got it!” I beam at Grayson as he paddles us through the final stretch of the cave. A faint glow peeks around him, making it look like he’s radiating light. “Seraphina and her sisters certainly seemed happy when we left,” I add.

“They were spellbound to protect the tablet for thousands of years. I’m sure we were a welcomed surprise.” I watch as his chest expands when he brings the paddle shafts toward himself.

A thrill skates down my spine as the realization of what we’ve just accomplished sets in. “Do you think it was the Witch Queen who bound them?”

Grayson tilts his head to the side, thinking. “She would be the only one capable of crafting a curse powerful enough to entrance a water nymph, let alone three. They possess their own great abilities powered through their connection to water. There’s no other creature I’m aware of who would be mighty enough to subdue them.”

“So, we make our way to The Barren Wastelands then.” I rub my thumb over the surface of the tablet. The lettering is etched into place, creating grooves that are rough against my skin as I stare at my golden reflection.

“It is a dangerous place.” Grayson’s voice lowers an octave.

I look up at him through my lashes. “It is a good thing I have you by my side then.”

He smirks, but the smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He’s worried. And he has every right to be. The Barren Wastelands didn’t come by its name arbitrarily. To protect himself from the wrath of the Witch Queen’s daughter, Ujun destroyed her lands. Leeching all life from the earth that granted the Queen and her coven their powers. He worried that the very curse the Queen placed upon his brother would be bestowed upon him as well by the coven’s heir when the cost of the curse was her mother’s life.

As legend tells it, Ujun bringing the blight upon the once lush land of the Dark Moon coven drained his powers, so he climbed atop his father’s empty throne in the heavens and fell into a deep slumber in an attempt to regain his strength.

There hasn’t been a sign of him since.

“The crew will be pleased.” I glance at the tablet. “I have a feeling this is our last clue, that we will find Thaeto’s treasure once we arrive on the mainland.”

“Given what the inscription says, I’d bet to say you’re right. But there’s still a thr?—”

A loud boom echoes through the tunnel.

I slip the tablet into my coat pocket and peek around Grayson, who shifts to look behind himself at the tunnel’s exit. “What the hells was that?” I ask.

Grayson and I scan the exit, but the sunlight shines too bright, making it difficult to see out. Another boom sounds and we look at one another.

“That’s cannon fire.” His luminous eyes grow wide.

“Blythe,” I breathe, my voice trembling. “He’s found us.”

“We need to get to the ship.” Grayson starts rowing faster. His arms moving at a rapid pace, pulling us closer to the beaming light.

Tugging my coat close around me, I pat the sides, making sure the box and tablet are safe.

“We weren’t gone that long. How did he catch up to us so quickly?” My heart lurches into my throat.

“He must have deduced where we went, given the limited options, and trailed us.”

The longboat glides over the dark water as I watch Grayson’s broad chest expand and contract with every movement. The outline of the triangular exit starts taking shape and I hold my breath, hoping we aren’t about to see theCaelestiasurrounded by two ships.

We just need a little more time to get back to the ship and find a way to evade their attacks.

“Rowenya.” Grayson says my name and I look at him, feeling that quivering fear start to rattle my bones. “This is not our end.” He says the words with such earnest that I cling to them, hoping they will remain true once we leave this tunnel.