The single word drew up recollections of my dream with Ellira. At the remembrance, a searing fire crawled up my sternum, igniting my throat in a way that felt as if I were burning alive from the inside out.
“I shouldkillyou,” she hummed, her finger trailing down my neck before all five closed around it. “As revenge for whatyourMizani did to me, but it seems I have run into a bit of a conflict of interest, considering you are the child of the prophecy. The one who is supposed to weave our world back together as one.”
“I-I don’t… I’m not?—”
“Right. Your mother warned me you were still living in a state of denial, but do not be fooled, Daughter of the Sea, the Damned do not lie. The veil separating the halves of a whole awaits your awakening, and I’d highly suggest you start working on that,” she squeezed my throat with emphasis, “before we are all turned to ash.”
Ripping away from me, the pain immediately vanished. Knees slamming against cobblestone, I struggled to draw in a breath, a slew of coughs wracking my frame from her onslaught.
“Secondly, I cannot kill you because you are about to find yourself at a reunion.”
“Reunion?” I snarled, my knuckles whitening around the hilt of my dagger. “What thefuckare you on about, you psycho bitch?”
With a simple rotation of her wrist, she raised two fingers and grinned. As if on cue, a bell chimed across the island, a sound that undeniably signaled the approach of…something.
“You may be able to run Rohen Levitte, but you will never be able to hide. Not from a man like Caspian Vayne.” With a resounding laugh, she took a step back, slipping out of the alcove as if she hadn’t just threatened to kill me. “He has arrived to claim what is rightfully his.”
CHAPTER 33
Secrets of the Damned
CASPIAN
No amount of cunt or cock could lessen my seething rage.
The wrath flowing through my veins burned far more intensely than any inferno, and our venture to Raghar’s Spite had only added more fuel to the fire. Why? Because that copper-hairedbitchstill lingered in my mind, and I was nothing more than a traitorous bastard to all those she’d killed for even allowing my thoughts to settle on her.
But I would be a liar if I tried to claim she hadn’t infected my essence.
She’d become the finest plague any land could experience, a virus that had hijacked my sanity to the point of madness. Her existence was far more addictive than the most expensive tobacco or the most flavorful whiskey, and I’d found myself hooked. I would hunt her to the ends of the earth regardless of what it meant, not because I yearned to claim her as my own, but because I would be theonlyperson to put a blade through her chest.
“Captain, we have docked. She is tied down, and Veilmar is yours to explore,” Lionel offered, his statement carrying a bit of weariness because of my displays of uncapped ire during the three days it took usto make land after our visit to Raghar’s Spite. “Is there anything else you would like us to do for your approach inland?”
“No,” I stated with a smile. “Order the crew to divide themselves into two and to take watches on the ship. I want you all to enjoy this island as I plan to.”
Without another word, he simply dipped his chin before making his way from the sterncastle deck onto the main. As his boots drummed down the stairs, my gaze remained trained on his back as he approached the other crewmates. Watching the handoff of information intently, I didn’t bother to glance over my shoulder as a new pair of footsteps approached.
“Caspian.”
“Syoran,” I hummed, gliding my fingers along the leather harness I wore over my white linen shirt, the bishop sleeves flowing with the movement.
Stopping beside me, he joined in my observation. “Do you not question if this is the best plan of action?”
“Executing Rohen Levitteisthe best plan of action. She murdered our men, men who were brothers.Family.” My chin snapped toward him, my lips curling into a sneer. “Are you admitting unfaithfulness to this crew?”
“Gods above, no.” Running a hand down his face, he turned to hold my stare. “But areyoureally doing this for them? Or are you doing it because of this irrational inability to get her out of your mind?”
My tongue pressed against my canine with enough force to pierce. “I can chase the same end goal for multiple reasons.”
“Fair enough, I suppose.”
Not allowing him to prod any further, I shifted the conversation. “Where is Saph?”
“She wasted no time deboarding. Ventured inland as soon as we touched dock.” His eyes narrowed, something like uncertainty flashing within them. “I apologize for making it seem as if I do not trust your judgment, something just feels?—”
“Off?” I posed, watching his chin dip. “Believe me, I’ve felt that waysince the night Rohen carved her way through our sailors. It's clung to the air since—a shift in alliances, an underlying force, the king’s influence—I’m uncertain. Which is why it's important we make quick work of our time here.”
It was a partial truth.
