Page 50 of Virelai’s Hoard (The Dagger & Tide Trilogy #1)

When Riley spoke, it was so quiet Sable thought she made it up in her head. “I thought you’d hate me, too.”

An uncomfortable knot tied itself in Sable’s stomach. Her thumb circled Riley’s shoulder as she thought about what to say to that. Riley didn’t look at her. “Why would I hate you?” she asked, though she thought she knew already.

Riley shrugged, her arms looped lazily around Sable’s waist, cheek pressed against her unwounded shoulder. Her warm breath left Sable’s skin feeling damp. It was pleasant. She wished they could stay like this for a while. “Because I freed her.”

Sable sighed, leaning her head back against the wall. “We wouldn’t be alive now if you hadn’t. I should’ve told you to do it.” But she’d been too damn proud to, and it had almost cost them everything.

Riley nodded against her, her fingers now tracing the inside of Sable’s thigh.

The movement stirred a pleasant warmth in her belly. She should’ve thought to take her pants off, before. After a moment, she added, forcing the words past her throat, “And I don’t think Calla hates you.”

The statement got her a humorless snort in reply. “Right. She probably doesn’t think about me at all.”

Sable’s gaze darted from the ceiling to the black leather gloves abandoned on the floor in front of the door.

The first time Riley had taken them off to fuck her, Sable had thought Riley knew what the gloves meant.

Sable sure was intensely aware of it. The captain didn’t just hand out gifts to anyone, and certainly not these kinds of gifts.

Gifts every pirate on this ship could tell at a glance where they came from– who they came from.

The gloves were a claim. Was Calla aware of it?

Sable didn’t know. It certainly wasn’t any of her business, and she would let the two of them figure out whatever this was at their own pace. So instead of saying anything about that, she asked, “Do you want her to?” She couldn’t help herself. It was morbid curiosity.

All of this time, she’d thought Calla didn’t want anyone. But maybe she just didn’t want Sable .

Riley looked up at her then, and it was Sable who wouldn’t meet her gaze.

“Yes.” The word came out wrapped up in a sigh. Then, softer, Riley’s fingers still on her thigh. “Does that bother you?”

It did, but not for the reason Riley might think.

Sable shook her head, still staring at those gloves, their black stark against the wooden floor.

“I’m not a possessive lover,” she said, not checking to see whether Riley was disappointed in that.

An unbidden thought came to her, and it slipped past her lips before she could catch it.

“Likely Alaric’s fault. My brother. He had both a girlfriend and a boyfriend, and I grew up thinking that was common.

” It wasn’t, not on the mainland, but Vareth’s makeshift rules rarely followed them across the seas.

Riley tensed up all at once–pulled away from Sable. Sable didn’t hold on, arms resting at her sides as she frowned at Riley.

“Alaric?”

Sable’s frown deepened.

“Your brother? That was his name?” Riley’s eyes met hers, alert, searching her face.

“Yes,” Sable said, straightening up. “Why?”

She didn’t want to talk about him. There wasn’t anything to say. He left her–abandoned her in the search of the same treasure Calla was chasing now. And he died. End of story.

“I think I saw him,” Riley said carefully, as if she didn’t want to spook her.

Sable’s jaw locked tight. “I don’t think so, seeing as he’s–”

“Dead. Yes. I know.” Riley winced, then the words spilled out of her like she was scared Sable would stop her before she could say them.

“I saw his ghost. On that ship. The memories are fuzzy. I wasn’t sure if it had really happened or I’d made it up, or–” She took in a sharp breath.

“Before I blacked out, he said your name. Told me to say he’s sorry?

And that you should move on? He’s their captain. ”

Sable searched Riley’s face for any sign she was lying, trying to play some sort of cruel joke on her.

As if she was reading her thoughts, Riley said softly, “He had your eyes. And crossed scars on the backs of his hands, matching.” She paused, concentration settling on her face as if she was trying to remember more, and eventually her shoulders deflated in defeat.

“He seemed… kinder than the others. Looked pleased when Eryx and I refused to sink the Moonshadow. I guess I know why now.” Her voice trailed off, uncertain.

Sable didn’t know what her face was doing, her vision unfocused, her ears ringing so loudly the sound almost covered Riley’s voice.

They’d told her he was dead, his ship and his crew sunk to the bottom of the sea, but there had never been a body, no personal items, nothing to prove Alaric hadn’t just lied to her–disappeared off to some pirate cove in search of a more exciting life than being stuck in Vareth to care for his younger sister.

She’d told herself he’d simply left her, because that thought had been easier to stomach than the truth.

Then, slowly, a final piece shifted into place. The mist, tightening into tendrils to throw Thorian overboard just as Sable was sure he’d split her head open. It had been Alaric; she knew with certainty now. He’d saved her. Even beyond the grave, he tried to look out for her.

Riley shuffled away from her. “I think I’ll just… go.”

“Stay.” The word slipped out of her. A whisper Riley could pretend she didn’t hear.

But Riley froze on the spot, startled.

And then… she stayed. Settled back against her side, fingers tracing light patterns into Sable’s open hand.

Eyes trained on the ceiling, Sable did what she’d never done before, not since the news of his death came. She talked about her brother. And Riley listened.

***

In the morning, Riley was gone, her side of the bed empty and cold when Sable turned to check. It didn’t come as a surprise, not really, but an echo of that coldness settled in her chest as she got dressed for the day ahead.

The dull ring of the bell above deck made it past the layers of wood, and it could only mean one thing. They were there. This nightmare of a trip would soon be over, and then… It was anyone’s guess what would happen.

Up on deck, she joined Calla’s side.

“Captain,” she greeted.

“First mate,” Calla said in return.

They hadn’t talked about it, but they didn’t need to.

This brief acknowledgment of each other’s titles put them both neatly in the same places as before.

Nothing changed. Nothing ever would. Sable followed Calla’s gaze, out into the distance, at the jutting rocks surrounding what looked like the entrance to a cave, partly underwater, its dark maw drinking up the flowing sea.

They would have to take the longboats there, and hope it wouldn’t swallow them.

“Captain? Sable?”

Both of them turned their heads to Kittredge, who was wringing her hands, her face the bearer of bad news.

Calla just raised her eyebrows at her.

“Did either of you see Riley this morning?”

Sable frowned. “No.”

“Why?” Calla asked.

“I think she’s gone,” Kittredge blurted.

Sable blinked at her, not understanding at first. Then, slowly, the words sunk in.

Calla’s fingers tightened on the railing. “Count the boats,” she said, her voice like stone.

“I already did.” Kittredge shuffled on her feet, looking out worriedly at the jutted rocks. “We’re one short.”