The two share a look, neither of them taking a single step inside my quarters.
“Fine,” Vanth grumbles, pointing at a basket in the corner of the room. “You have five minutes to fill that with stuff, wrap that wound, and change into more ...appropriateattire. If we’re doing this, we have to be out of that baybefore we lose the remaining light and yournaïvetedamns us all to a watery grave.”
He pulls the door closed before I can say another word.
* * *
My button-down is rolled to my elbows, my tight, waist-high pants offering an extra layer of pressure for my bandaged thigh. Sporadic gusts of icy wind whistle down the callous steps behind me, assaulting my ears, threatening to toss me down the cliff and no doubt take out my spear-wielding guards on the way.
Every few steps, I steal a peek over my shoulder, half expecting to see Rhordyn charging after me.
“Can you guys move any faster?”
Vanth grumbles something and they both quicken their pace. Hard to be sure, but I think they might be getting sick of me.
The basket I’m carrying is light, only full of essentials. The fact that it’s all jammed inside a pillow slip that smells of Rhordyn should be entirely discounted.
I know I was supposed to burn the thing, but I kept thinking of reasons not to.
I’m not okay.
These wet, slippery stairs feel like increments toward the gallows. Like I’m being led to an execution block and not a boat destined for a foreign territory where I’ll be sworn in as a High Mistress, surrounded by people who aren’tmypeople.
Tanith, Cook, Shay,Kai... I’ll even miss the grumbling gardeners. I’ll miss the trees and the flowers and the bushes I’ve grown from seeds. I’ll miss the view from my spot where I’ve always felt safe despite my haunting past ...
My stomach churns.
The rain has abated. If I were the sign-seeking type, I’d believe this is right, even though my heart is screaming for me to turn back andrun.For me to hide in my tower, lock the door, and never come out.
My boots finally hit the sand—boots I wore to prevent from sinking my toes deep and grounding myself. I can’t afford to dig new roots when I’m nursing the nubs from the ones I’ve recently severed.
Our hurried footsteps dent the sand as we sweep around the bay. We’re almost at the jetty when Baze steps out from behind a jagged line of rocks that have always reminded me of shark teeth.
My heart slams to a halt. My feet do the same.
He’s dressed in black leather pants and a loose cotton shirt only half tucked in. Three buttons hang open at the neck, as if he got dressed so fast he had no time to put everything in place.
He pushes back the disheveled flop of his hair with a dash of his hand, revealing eyes that appear almost black, reflecting the dark smudges stamped beneath them.
My brow pleats, gaze falling to the wooden sword hanging from his fist ...
I mutter a curse.
“Take this to the boat.” I shove my basket toward my closest escort while holding Baze’s stare. “I’ll be right there.”
“He’sarmed,” Vanth hisses, refusing to accept my belongings.
I glance sideways to see him white-knuckling his wooden spear, blue eyes narrowed on Baze.
“You’ll be fine.” I push my basket at his chest again. “Just take this.”
He snatches my things and thrusts them at Kavan. “No, I’m worried aboutyou.”
Oh.
“Well ... that’s sweet.” I sweep my hand around and weave it under my shirt, retrieving the Ebonwood sword I’d stashed there.
Baze’s eyes narrow, and he begins to stalk forward.
