We were both hounds to the king, nothing more than dispensable men whom he happily abused. Even though Caspian had forgotten about the king’s ownership of him, I never had and never would. It was an aspect of life that would haunt me forever, but I would never break beneaththem—the crownandthe otherworldly entities they did business with. They were deities capable of summoning me and mycrew’s return on short notice, as well as the most renowned puppet of the king. Though his men would remember the swift venture back, mine would not.
And that was a secret I was forced to harbor.
Holding his incessant stare, I lifted my chin toward the man who warmed the space beside his throne without addressing him directly—Malrik. “My crew and I witnessed an altercation occurring between your esteemed right-hand and another pirate.”
The king’s brow lifted as he looked out of the corner of his eye to the man I’d referenced. It was an expression that contained a level of knowing, yet there was an underlying flash of question, as if the information I’d provided hadn’t been shared with him.
“And how does any of that serve as a benefit for me or the crown, Alastair?”
The way he said my name made my skin crawl, polluting my essence with each syllable that rolled off his tongue. It’d been whispered against my skin as he tainted my flesh, and he used it as a weapon to coerce the one I once considered my best friend to oblige his every beck and call.
Flicking my tongue against my canine, its sharpened point cut through it with ease. The undeniable tang of copper followed, and I swallowed my life force as a means to keep myself from vomiting. “Perhaps because it was with none other than Caspian Vayne, my Grace.”
The name of the man who’d betrayed me without so much as batting an eye seemed to hold far more value than a chest filled to the brim with gold ever could, the king perking up as soon as it fled my lips. It was the reaction I’d expected as soon as I stepped into his throne room.
Caspian had become impossible to pin down, roaming the seas freely while the Royal Guard failed to find the king’s most valuable treasure. That was, unless hedesiredto be found.
But I was about to steal the breath from Caspian’s lungs and deprive him of the joy that came with exploring the vast waters without the weight of expectation—just as he’d done to me.
I didn’t give a fuck anymore. I wanted him tosuffer,and I wouldn’t stop until Caspian Vayne became a shell of who he once was.
“Oh?”
Nodding, I finally pulled my attention away from the king, finding Malrik’s glower settled on me. My lips curled into a sneer, my tongue clicking against the roof of my mouth as I leaned against the black pillar beside me with an indifference that only seemed to piss him off more. “It’s a shame the man you are supposed to trust to protect your lands, to protectyou,failed to inform you of Vayne’s appearance on an offshore isle a little over 2,200 knots east of Wraelira.”
“You fucking?—”
The king cut Malrik off before he could continue. “Of what benefit does that boy have in exploring an undocumented land outside of our jurisdiction?”
“Not a damn clue.” Shrugging, I gestured toward the man who, like me, had followed Caspian into uncharted territory. “Perhaps Mr. Ravelle would be sokindas to inform us of his decision not only to chase him, but to set foot on such an island without so much as considering the repercussions it could have had for your reign.”
My manipulative nature settled, and the king shifted to look at Malrik. “Well? Do you wish to explain yourself, or shall I order for your head?”
“M-My Lord, this is all a misunderstanding.”
“What is there to be misunderstood?” I interrupted, my jaw feathering as I continued to prod, testing the waters with only one aim. “As far as I’m concerned, your decision to sail into an unknown region and engage in conflict while representing the crown puts us at potential risk for war. Does it not?”
“You speak as if I had my men draw up the royal emblem amongst our sails.”
“Royal emblem or not, any logical being knows a royal ship when they see one.”
“Yousailed those waters too,Seridean.” Malrik spat, his agitation molding into building rage.
“Yes, as apirate. A criminal.Not the king’s most renowned.” My brow lifted, and I folded my arms over my chest and pushed myself from my perch. “Ido not bear the weight of royal tethers.You do.”
“Is that what you tell yourself?” Malrik crooned, his query digging into an infected and festering wound. “Let’s be frank here, Ace. You are nothing more than a lapdog to the crown, only valuable to the king because of your prior relation with Caspian. If it were not for your friendship, you would’ve been dead a long time ago.”
His words struck me far harsher than any whip could, and I reacted without thinking. Curling my fingers around one of the hilts of the numerous blades resting on my hip, I freed it from its sheath, throwing it toward the dais. Its metallic texture gleamed amidst the shadows as it found its mark, sinking into Malrik’s shoulder to completion.
“Ah, fuck!”
My lips parted, and I went to speak, but the blooming presence of a bone-chilling cold halted me. Its iciness coiled around every inch of my body, paralyzing me down to the very marrow of my bones. Hands slithered over my skin, and while the touch was smooth, it ignited every warning bell in my subconscious.
Something isn’t right.
A feminine voice, equally chilling as it was harmonious, flooded the space. “He’s a feisty one, isn’t he?” Snaking around me, her lengthened fingernails danced across my skin before she fully stepped into view.
Ancient carvings covered every inch of her ashen skin, wrapping her in languages from other realms. Countless earrings adorned her pointed ears, their length coming to rest just above her shaven head. Beside them, horns protruded from her forehead, curling back to wrap around her skull. The silk cloak she wore did little to conceal her body, her pebbled nipples visible beneath the sheer fabric.
