“He’s about to receive a huge sum of money, and he’s sulking.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Sulking? I should be the one moping around the ship. Not only is my time in your crew over, but I misread a moment last night, and now I’m mortified, sad, and slightly seasick from all this rocking.”
Bowen smirked and placed the rest of his cards face-up on the table. He’d won again. I discarded my cards into the pile with a disgruntled snarl.
“You could always stay on,” he said, shuffling the deck. “Pay off your debt and join us on the next hunt. We’re heading out again after I settle up with our benefactor.”
I had thought about it, tossing and turning all night. Sure, itdidn't help that the mattress was lumpy and filled with straw, but mostly, my mind wouldn’t stop racing.
Gods, what was I thinking? All the teasing, the games, the way Gavin looked at me, it was purely physical flirtation. Pent-up desire from being on the road for too long. And there was nothing wrong with that! Until I went and made it awkward by catching feelings.
But even though Gavin had set boundaries between us, we were still friends. Treasure hunting was a cutthroat trade, and people you trusted were few and far between. I could figure out a way to keep business and pleasure from making figurative eye contact. I’d already been doing it with a sliver of success for a year.
However, I’d probably still search for his mysterious family crest. Privately, of course. No need for another rejection unless I found the damn thing, and could shove it—politely—in his face.
But in the end, all I'd done was lose sleep. Because none of that mattered. I needed to focus on rebuilding my family’s legacy. Signing a document and walking away wasn’t enough. The house was in ruins and required a complete reconstruction. I’d likely have to hack my way through the overgrown gardens just to reach the front door.
Trading my future for another risky endeavor where I'd have to bury my emotions didn't seem like a brilliant plan.
“Maybe one day.” I pushed out of my chair, steadying myself as the ship took a nosedive. “I have other things to take care of first.”
“Well, you always have a place with us. All you have to do is send word. I mean it. The next hunt won't be the same without you.”
“Thanks, Bowen. I didn't know what to expect when I joined your crew. But I'm glad I did.” I glanced at the pile of cards and cleared the ache from my throat. “I think I’ve lost enough for today. I’ll see you at dinner.”
He nodded quietly, looking like he had more to say, but I slipped into the ship’s passageway and headed for the cabin I shared with Cass.
We were one day into a weeklong journey, and as much as I loved the sea—preferably from the beach and not a boat—there was something about its vastness that left me unsettled. As if I might step off the edge of the ship and vanish forever.
A chill danced along my spine. I wasn't usually so superstitious, but there was a foreboding quality to the air, or maybe it was just my thoughts of the future.
Everything would feel clearer once I was back home.
I spotted Cass walking toward me in the passage. She’d traded in her treasure-hunting gear for a simple blue long-sleeved dress. A leather satchel hung from the belt at her waist, and she wore her blonde hair loose. The strands were windswept from being above deck.
“How’s Reid?” I asked, slowing in front of our cabin door.
Cass winced. “He has a headache the size of this ship, but he’s up and moving at least. I caught him wandering around and dragged him back to bed. I think the tonic I made helped, even if he said it tasted like moldy leaves submerged in swamp water.”
“And how does Reid know what moldy leaves in swamp water taste like?”
“Exactly.” Cass braced herself against the wall as the ship rolled. “How about you? Do you need a tonic as well? I couldmake one with magic-infused valerian root. You’ll sleep for a week and wake up when we pull into port.”
“Tempting, but no thanks. Once I get my sea legs, I’ll feel better.”
“Marin Nichols, she can swim like a fish, but put her on a boat, and she’s a washed-up mermaid.”
“Very funny. I’ll remember this conversation the next time you fall off a camel.”
She gasped. “That happened once!”
“It was twice, but who’s counting?” I grinned, only to realize there might not be a next time.
Cass noticed and sighed. “I can’t believe you won't be with us on the next hunt. The five of us have spent every day together. I'm going to miss you.”
“I know, me too. But this was always temporary. You can visit me when you get back. I should have most of the cobwebs cleared away by then.”
“Visit? I plan to commandeer a room. You know I hate staying with my wretched older brother when we’re in Ever. It’s half the reason I’m heading out again. I hope he contracts a wasting disease while I’m gone, and I inherit the estate.”
