Page 119 of Of the Stars and Sea

Grayson runs his thumb along the bottom edge of my lip. “But once we are through this, I will spenddaysmaking my favorite sounds come from your pretty little mouth in appreciation for what you just gave me.”

“Mmmm . . .” I hum. “If I would have known what calling you Captain would giveme, I would have done it a lot sooner.”

Grayson snickers. “My wicked little thing.”

As Grayson lays his mouth against mine, another cannon fire sounds. Then a moment later, screams erupt all around us.

Chapter 29

“Starboard side!” a man yells from the deck below.

“Blythe’s ship!” another screams.

A jolt of panic races through my body as Grayson and I part, both of us scanning the mist to the right of the ship.

“There!” I point off the stern. In the distance, there’s a shadow of a ship and it’s headed straight for us.

“Like I said, we’re in the middle of a battle,” Zaos deadpans. Then he moves to the quarterdeck railing and starts shouting orders at the men below.

“Not helping, Zaos,” I chastise and Grayson laughs. “Andyou”—I jab my finger into the center of his chest—“aren’t helping either. This is no laughing matter.”

We both turn around and take our places next to Zaos at the railing. The moment the warmth of his hands leave my body, I feel a chill cling to my skin.

“It seems Blythe discovered the eastern side of the passage is the less deadly of the options.” Zaos grips the edge of the railing, his knuckles turning white as he looks over at the looming shadow of our enemy’s ship. It’s growing closer, but seems to be turning east. He’s probably maneuvering around one of the isles.

“What do we do now?” I ask Grayson. “You said the western side of the passage is a death trap.”

A breeze flutters through Grayson’s dark locks and I watch his mind work as he assesses the situation. After a few priceless moments, Grayson finally says, “We only lower the foremast and make our way to the western side.”

“The foremast? But Captain, it’s already taken a big hit from the storm and we won’t be able to evade with those as our only sails.”

Grayson looks at Zaos. All the light has winked out of his eyes, leaving only primal determination and focus. “The goal is not to evade, Zaos. When we make it into open water, we will have two ships trailing us. Ships that are working at full speed. They will rally at our sides and take us down.”

“You mean to wound one of them while we navigate the isles,” I say.

Grayson turns toward me and nods. “Yes.”

I swallow the dryness in my throat and look down at all his men. All their lives are at stake and there’s not a single one who wouldn’t gladly forfeit theirs to ensure the prize is won. Including Tommy. He’s high on the rigging with Collin, ready to take orders from our captain.

“Then let’s not wait any longer.” I look back up at Grayson. “Give the order.”

His gaze lingers on me for a moment. And another. Then he looks out over the bow and shouts, “Hoist the anchor! Lower the foremast sails! We move west!”

My fingernails bite into the wooden railing as I grip it with all my might. The weight of the golden objects in my coat hangs heavy over my shoulders. Everything we’ve worked for comes down to this fight. If we cannot win against Blythe, the treasure will be his and our lives will be forfeit.

For whatever stars may be listening, I send up a silent prayer that every soul on this ship will see the other side of the isles. That we will make it through this fight and it will beBlythewho plummets beneath the waves.

Wind gathers in the sails and we start moving. “Fucking hells, the fog is even thicker now,” Zaos mutters as the Solise Mountains disappear behind us and we move further into the haze.

“It’s another deterrent, isn’t it? The fog?” I ask Grayson.

“To protect the mountain, yes.”

I shake my head in wonder. Whatever power it draws upon must be great, indeed.

A damp coat covers my face and hair as we continue through the mist. Grayson commands his men to ready themselves at the gun ports and I feel that familiar rush buzz through my veins at the threat of a battle being so near.

An ache starts to form in the space between my brows as I squint intensely, keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of another ship, knowing that Blythe has another in his employ.