“She won’t bring the book ashore,” I told her. “We will board the pinnace once she returns. Are you ready?”
As the question left me, I realized that whileshemay be ready to experience her first dangerous task under my command, I certainly was not. My eyes brushed over my sister and I took in the sight of her. Her long auburn hair, normally curled down her back and intricately pinned, was braided over her shoulder. The beautiful, flowing gowns and slippers that made up her attire had been replaced byfighting leathers and boots. My stare lifted back to her face, and when our eyes met, I couldn’t help my smile.
“Of course I’m ready…” She returned my gesture, but it beamed brighter than the sun as the sea breeze whipped the small hairs around her face that fell from her braid. “I’ll go find Gage and let him know we are ready to leave.”
She turned on her feet and followed Veli’s footsteps below deck.
A pulsing wave of comfort shot down our bond, and I turned to my mate as he stared ahead at what awaited us. Moving to his side, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my forehead to his back.
“She will be fine, my Lia,” he said gently. “You worry too much.”
“Avery had never experienced a normal day at the market…and within a matter of weeks, she has led a rebellion across the continent, was under attack several times, and is now about to set foot on one of the most dangerous terrains known to fae-kind. How would you expect me not to worry?”
Amusement flooded me, but I knew the feelings weren’t my own. “Do you have something you’d like to say?” I mumbled as my grip on him loosened, and I stepped around his side.
He looked down at me with a single raised brow. “Interesting that you wish for me to not worry aboutyoustepping on such dangerous soil, yet you worry for your sister who will bewithyou.”
A tiny smirk crept up my face. “Well, that isn’t fair.”
“How is it not?” he asked, amusement slipping away from him.
“Because I have training,obviously,” I answered with a grin.
He rolled his eyes in the grumpy manner that won my heart and moved toward the pinnace that rested at the side of the ship.
Veli reappeared at the top of the stairs, and Gage came around the corner from the stern of the ship. My brows furrowed as I tilted my head to the side in confusion. Suddenly, a glimpse of fiery hair snagged my attention back to the stairs.
“Avery, Gage is over here! Let’s get going,” I called over.
Her eyes widened for a second before giving a nod in response.
I shook my head as my stare moved back to Jace. Lifting my fingers to my lips, I let out a whistle to summon Nox.
His wings sounded thunderously through the air as he emerged from the clouds, descending toward the ship’s deck, causing it to sway violently as his feet touched down.
“Everyone is to stay aboard this ship. No one leaves. It’s not safe for you to step on those lands. Nox will remain here, and to be honest, it may be best to stay out of his way. He gets cranky when I’m out of his sight,” I bellowed to them, and each member of the crew’s faces paled. “Nox, stay here.”
He huffed out a steaming breath through his nostrils at my demand.
“I mean it!” I snapped as I held up my finger.
I turned to face my friends. “Let’s go recruit ourselves a coven.”
Chapter twenty-nine
Veli
The men worked torow us to shore, and with each maneuver of their paddles, a sickly pit of dread dropped further into my gut. The echoes of the splashing waves served as a constant reminder that with each stroke they made, the closer it brought us to our possible doom.
Elianna didn’t take my cautions seriously, and I could claw her eyes out for disregarding my many pleadings. The forbidden princess did not understand the workings of magic, let alone that of a dark nature. Even her siblings, who had witnessed it firsthand, barely had a grasp on it, but they knew to fear what lurked within it.
I could not fault the rightful queen for her desire to seek a better life for her people. After all, that was precisely what brought me into the predicament I have now found myself in.
“Shouldn’t be long now.” Elianna’s words snapped me out of my trance.
I blinked through the haze that covered my distant eyes. Our pinnace was now only but a half mile from the shore of the isles, giving the humans aboard a better view of what lay on the enchanted land.
“It looks so…” Zaela started.
