Draevyn took a step into her and took her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look up at him. “Don’t even start. I need to get you out of here.”
“You’re out of your godsdamn mind if you think I’m running from him,” she growled as she jabbed a finger into his chest.
“Just like how you weren’t running from me, huh?” He winked.
She placed her hands on her hips. “That’s different.”
“Sure it is.” Draevyn grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him, running back to the alley they bolted out of. “They can’t find you. Wecan only assume they have velsinyte. I need to find Atlas and ward them off.”
Esmyra shoved and pulled and clawed at his hand that had a death grip on her wrist, but he wouldn’t let up. “Let me go, Draevyn!”
“Not a chance in this life or the next, Wildfire.”
She rolled her eyes to try to hide the fact that her heart erupted into endless fluttering at the words.
You still don’t trust him, she reminded herself. Regardless of everything, she couldn’t allow herself to go down this road again. Especially so quickly.
Down the winding streets, soldiers were already swarming. Uniformed in dark leathers and steel, they spilled through alleys, barged into taverns, and shoved aside market stalls. Voices barked orders as some of them drew their blades. Their once tight formation broke off into chaos as they stormed the isle.
All around them, people ran. The pirates and rogues of Rymelle were scattering like birds, firing their pistols at their attackers as wide-eyed courtesans screamed and fled.
Esmyra’s pulse thundered. “They came forme, Draevyn. I have to stop this.”
He stood at her side, equally frozen as his eyes darted in all directions, taking in the sight. “No.Iwill stop this.”
She turned her head sharply toward him, but he spoke again before she could. “Velsinyte, Esmyra. They have it in all forms, and I’m not letting you anywhere near it. I almost lost you to it before, and I refuse to let it happen again.”
“Listen to him, Esmi,” Kaelypso pleaded.
In all her nine-hundred years, she had never been a fearful woman, but she knew he was right. One wrong move and she could be killed. Her stare drifted down to her wrist, and she gulped. She still didn’t know what would happen because of the soul bond.
If she died, would Naerysa and Syrena own her soul? Both hersandKaelypso’s?
“Personally, I would prefer to not find out.”
Esmyra snorted as Kaelypso continued to try to insert her opinion. “Aye, I gathered that.”
Draevyn gently took her wrist and guided her back to the outskirts of the building they fell through. “Stay here. Please. I’m here with your crew, and I’ll send them here to get you and bring you back toValorfor safety.”
Her eyes flared. “My crew?!”
Esmyra thought of Jak, Ren, and Riven. She believed them to be captured or worse, but Draevyn had them here, in Anchorage Cove. He had brought what remained of her family as he searched the realm for her.
“How? I thought they were dead!” She wanted to shove him for not telling her sooner.
Draevyn chuckled. “It’s a long story. Turns out we can all agree that we have one common ground. And that’s you.”
She pursed her lips, trying to hide a grin.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure we still all hate one another,” he joked. His eyes lit up as a subtle laugh slipped from her.
Then deep horns sounded across the port, filling her stomach with dread as the warning of the ambush echoed.
“I won’t let them ravage this place, Draevyn.”
“I will come back for you.” His eyes softened before turning from her. His gaze fixed on the sea and the sails that filled it from edge to edge. “Just let me fix this.”
And then he took off into a sprint and disappeared into the dark.
