“Thieves!” The word sounded out in numerous screams, over and over.
I ripped the oar out of one of my sailor’s hands after witnessing his pathetic attempt to help us escape.
“You’re fuckinguseless!” I snapped as I shoved him off the boat, sending his body into the black abyss beneath us.
We rowed vigorously as angry, screaming, drunken sailors followed suit in their own pinnaces and came after us in the cove.
Once we finally reached the ship, we ascended its side using rope ladders. My fingers deftly gripped the gunwales as I heaved myself over the edge of the deck. What should have been executed with precision came undone almost instantly.
I pushed myself to my feet and quickly inspected the deck of the ship and was surprised no one appeared to be on board.
“Stupid fucks,” I muttered with a grin as I shook my head.
I made my way to the stairs that led to the upper deck to man the wheel when I shouted, “To your posts, now! The ship is ours, gents!”
Fuck, that felt good to say. I never wanted to travel across the continent by land again.
I reached for the wheel, feeling the pricks of the splintered wood beneath my calloused hands, and grinned. “Hello, beautiful,” I whispered.
Out of nowhere, a shadow appeared from the far corner, startling me as I caught a glimpse of it.
I reached for my sword instantaneously and swiftly moved to block the blow of my assailant's blade. The clouds moved across the sky, and the moon cast its light upon the brute that greeted us when we initially arrived in Tortunele.
Our blades pressed together in a struggle for power, each of us forcing all of our strength into its hold. “I knew you were going to be trouble. The second you said Ravenne, it was clear you couldn’t be trusted. And it didn’t even take a day.”
As he prepared to strike once more, I reacted quickly by entwining my leg around his, using the force to throw him down onto the wooden deck—a trick I had seen Elianna use too many times to count. Maybe the broad knew what she was doing after all.
“Any last words, you ugly prick?” I taunted him between my teeth as I held the tip of my sword to his chest.
He let out a cackle of triumph as if he wasn’t staring at the end of his life at the edge of my blade. “You’re just like your father.”
My smile faltered, and my jaw locked as a tense silence filled the air. A moment later, with a swift, silent strike, I drove my sword through his gut and ripped it clean across. He gurgled on his own blood as his body went limp beneath my stare.
My gaze moved to the ships that were rowing after us in the harbor to see that they were already nearly a half mile behind. I turned to the ship's wheel to see William manning itin my place.
I approached him silently. The only sound was the echo of my boots as it made contact with the deck.
“Apologies, Captain,” he began. “We were running out of time.”
I scratched at my beard as I peered back at the cove we sailed from for a final time. “Don’t you ever fucking disobey me again,” I barked. “Now get rid of the body.”
He gave me a curt nod and heaved the body up and over the rail.
A thundering splash filled the sea air a few moments later, and my eyes followed him as he stalked down the steps to tend to his post on the ship. William was mouthy, but he was useful.
With the tide on our side, we set sail under the cover of darkness, leaving the cove behind us as we embarked on our journey back to Isla. The sound of waves, as they crashed against the hull, felt as if the sea were welcoming me home.
Chapter twenty
Elianna
Alaia was everything Iimagined and more. I couldn’t believe how much the mortals had built in just over fifty years, entire cities and towns, farmlands, and ports alike. It was magnificent. My eyes lingered on Jace as he guided us across the land and through the streets of Anerys.
General Vern had sent out a message to alert all soldiers that there would be an influx of citizens that were both mortal and fae once we arrived. While the stares were bothersome, I knew they wouldn’t last. The people had every right to be wary of us, and of me. They had three Valderres in their city, for gods-sake. If they weren’t cautious,Iwould’ve questionedthem.
With soldiers as their escorts, families with children were led to temporary homes, ensuring their comfort as they awaited news about their future living arrangements. In the evening, Commander Cadoria was expected to make an announcement about his long-awaited return to Alaia and thesecret weaponhe had brought with him.
As Leon moved to help the soldiers, we followed Lynelle to her home—Zaela and Jace’s old home—on the outskirts of the city.
