Total pages in book: 201
Estimated words: 191006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 955(@200wpm)___ 764(@250wpm)___ 637(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 191006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 955(@200wpm)___ 764(@250wpm)___ 637(@300wpm)
“Then Aron better hope he never meets me.”
“He may be foolish enough to show up at Northmost, but knowin’ him, he’ll sail all the way to Westport.”
At least it’s only one ship out of more than a dozen. “Have you seen the priestess?”
“Not since the ruckus at the castle started and the captain dragged her back with him.”
I curse. But maybe Boaz can keep her safe. I fetch an emerald I brought from Ulysede’s vault and place it into Seamus’s palm. “For your help leading them from Northmost to Ulysede. There’s another to match when you deliver them.”
His eyes widen. He quickly tucks it into his satchel with a nod and glances around. “I will do my best.”
I offer another thanks and then rush up the stairs to the navigation deck where Kaders looks ready to piss his pants.
“He tried to sail off,” Jarek explains.
“Aye, ya didn’t say you’d be slaughtering half the king’s guard!” Kaders scowls at the legionary.
My anger flares. “We paid you to take a hull full of mortals.”
“An’ the Silver Mage will never be welcome back after this.” Kaders points to the castle, where an orange glow grows. “You didn’t pay me enough.”
I’m not about to be shaken down by this guy. “We made a deal, and you are going to honor it.”
“This is still my ship!”
“And Her Highness thanks you so much for your service that one of her legionaries will accompany you, to ensure you have no challenges.” Jarek drops a heavy hand on the captain’s shoulder as he nods at Horik.
Horik dips his chin. “It would be my honor.”
Kaders’s face fills with confusion. “Her Highness?”
I slip my mask free for a moment, just long enough to watch the sailor’s mouth drop. “You.” He may not recognize Princess Romeria, but he recognizes when he’s been duped.
Horik clasps hands with his commander. “Until next time.”
“And there will be one,” Jarek answers before we’re moving again, rushing down the stairs. “The ship is almost full. They’ll be sailing soon.”
“Is it safe to have Horik so close to the sirens?”
“Kaders knows those waters and he will not risk his ship or himself. He’ll sail along the shore and cut in before they reach the real danger.” Jarek hops back onto the dock. “We’ve done what we can here. Seamus and his men will take care of the rest.”
The others follow and, together with Pan, we rush down the dock toward the street.
“We need to find Wendeline! We can’t leave her here.” Gracen made me promise to bring her back. “And Dagny’s husband is somewhere. And Annika—”
A deafening screech from above pulls everyone’s attention upward, to the enormous dark silhouette that circles the castle.
My stomach drops. “That’s Caindra.” She’s even bigger than we first thought.
“She’s here for you,” Gesine murmurs, a mix of awe and fear in her voice.
Jarek curses. “And she’ll tear apart Cirilea. We must leave before she has the chance.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he grabs my shoulders and meets my eyes, sincerity in his. “We will come back for the others when it is safe. You and me.”
With reluctance, I mumble, “Okay.”
We rush for the sanctum.
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
ANNIKA
Tyree holds me at dagger point as we watch the mortals flood the many ships and skiffs at the shoreline in the distance, our ship halfway out of Cirilea’s bay.
“You’re destroying my dress, mongrel,” I snarl, fighting the urge to inhale the sweet orange blossom scent of his blood. It may be poisonous, but it smells divine. The worst sort of tease when I’m craving.
Tyree answers by tightening his grip around my waist. “Maybe you shouldn’t have stabbed me with a merth blade.”
“I suppose if you bleed out, it’ll be worth the loss of fine silk.”
His deep mocking laughter curls into my ear. “If only I had a belt. Oh, wait.” He loosens his grip around my waist long enough to untie my sash and yank it through the loops. Wrapping it around his thigh with one hand, he orders, “Tie it.”
He’s already ruined my dress with stains, now he ruins its shape. “With pleasure.” I grab each end and yank as hard as I can over the wound, earning his howl of pain. It gives me just enough leverage to elbow him in the stomach and break free. I get all of three steps before a heavy weight lands on top of me, pushing me down. My face smashes against the ship’s wooden deck floor.
“Where do you think you’re going?” His tone is mocking, his body pressed uncomfortably against mine. “We are at sea.”
“Then there is no reason for you to be lying on me like this,” I force through gritted teeth.
In seconds, I’m hauled back to my feet, and we resume our position of captor and captive, my own blade being used against me as I watch Cirilea shrink.