Clad in a loose, long-sleeved linen blouse that’d been cropped to reveal her abdomen, the quality of the twinned leather straps of her belt—one cinched around her hips and the other around her waist—became easily admirable. A silken version of Alastair’s bandana rested beneath the lower of the two, clashing against her dark breeches that were adorned with matching leather accents. Her thick, dark curls tumbled to her waist, contrasted beautifully against her honeyed skin.
Mocha eyes greeted me first with an apologetic glint before they settled on Alastair, a disapproving scowl replacing it. “What in Ysalyne’s name are you doing?”
He released a groan. “Why must you always interfere, little fang?”
“Why must I always have to intercept your wavering temper? Oh, I don’t know. Why don’tyouenlighten me?” Her hand settled on his wrist, her fingers unable to even close around its girth. “I will not utter an ask, Alastair Seridean.”
As soon as the last sentence left her rosy lips, he lowered the sword. Percival followed suit, setting the cleaver back on the table. Even with its sharpened edge removed, Alastair’s glare remained, penetrating my soul with an intensity that matched, if not surpassed, his displayed desire to carve into my flesh. Sliding the weapon back where it belonged, he gazed at the woman once more, and something within him softened.
They stared at each other for a handful of seconds that felt a little too long before she elected to pull away. Turning toward me once more, she offered a friendly smile. “I apologize for him; he happens to run a bit hot ninety percent of the time.”
“I do not?—”
The raising of her hand cut him off. “I’m Leilani Kapule, theoretically the second in command on this ship, but as you just witnessed, I’m the one who runs things around here.”
“Isn’t Alastair the captain of this ship?” I questioned, hoping to earn some form of acceptance in addressing his title.
“Yes,” she crooned, the corners of her mouth curling mischievously. “Butgood boysknow when to kneel.”
Percival choked on his coffee, fumbling to raise his arm in time to prevent any of it from spewing between his lips. “Ave Seirdra,” he mumbled.
I grinned at his commentary, refusing to pull my gaze away from the woman who’d not only just identified herself but humiliated Seridean in the process. “I suppose you’d be correct in that matter.”
The singular word came from Alastair and Percy simultaneously. “Enough.”
Leilani released a laugh that seemed to breathe life into the room. “I think we will get along just fine, Prince.”
“Kael,” I replied. “Please, call me Kael.”
“Well,Kael,” she emphasized with the unspoken promise that she’d respect my request. “Welcome to theScarlet Tempest."
“What do you mean you justfoundher?” I asked, sweeping over the unconscious woman once more.
Her vibrant ruby hair was still damp, confirming the crew's claim that they had found her at sea. The rest of her body was dry, not a drop of water clinging to her clothing. I presumed the blue tunic she wore, along with the light brown breeches perfectly fitted to her lean thighs, had been gifted to her by the woman who stood beside me.
But none of those observations were why my attention remained so honed in on her appearance. No, it was because Iknewin the marrow of my bones that I’d seen her somewhere.
Why is she so fucking familiar?
“That storm we sailed through?” Leilani started, leaning against the wall. “Apparently, it spat us out along the coast of Thornebay just shy of Darswyth. I have no clue how exactly, considering the allotted sail time from deep within The Blooming Tide to here should’ve taken twelve days to complete. We did it inone.”
“Wait, what?” Percy questioned, the comment drawing forth the concern I hadn’t vocalized. “How is that even possible?”
“It’s not.” Alastair drummed his fingers along the hilt of his sword. “Well, it shouldn’t be. It seems the gods were determined to get us here, whether to find her or to put us closer to the treasure, we aren’t sure.”
“The Eyes of Ellira.” My words came as a mere mutter.
“Eye,” Alastair corrected, everyone’s attention snapping toward him.
“What in the gods’ names are you talking about?” Leilani’s booted foot nudged against the wall as she pushed herself from it, that irrefutable glower returning. “What secrets have you been keeping?”
“Not secrets. I needed confirmation.”
“What’s the fucking confirmation?” she snapped, her voice rising.
Without an audible reply, he merely pointed at the woman on the cot.
“Her?” Leilani jutted a finger into the center of his chest. “What the hell are you on about?”
