Jak’s eyes flared as the rest of the crew exchanged wary, confused glances. “What?How?”
“I told you back on the ship before we docked! Esmyra isn’t what you think she is. She’s so much more. A goddess bound to mortal bones.”
Riven scoffed, his silver eyes nearly glowing in the darkness of their cell. “What would her being a goddess have to do with Cyrus’s curse?”
Draevyn met their gazes, jaw tight. “I’m not sure of the full connection. Need I remind you that I was compelled and thrown the fuck out of there before I chased my own damn ship down.” He gestured to his eye, where he knew three deep wounds now markedhis brow from Syrena’s talons. “I was also left with this lovely parting gift from her psychotic sister.”
“So how do you know Cyrus’s curse was broken, huh?” Jak snapped. “How do we know this isn’t just another trick?!”
“Because I saw it!” Draevyn bellowed back, his voice reverberating through the cells as the torches flared.
A heavy silence stretched between them.
Draevyn bowed his head as his fingers curled around the bars. “When we arrived down here, he seemed normal as any man. Even Atlas noticed he wasn’t struggling to breathe.” He shook his head in denial. “I didn’t put all the pieces together at first, butfucking Irah, I wish I had. I left, not wanting any part in the man’s torture.”
“And then what?” Jak interrupted.
Draevyn sighed. “When Atlas came to find me, the sea began to surge. Lightning flashed across the clear skies in the south. I know in my soul it was Esmyra. Whether she knows of his death or not yet, I have no idea.”
“Gods fucking help you when she finds out, if she hasn’t already.” Jak’s words ended in a low, dark chuckle.
“Believe me, I know,” Draevyn admitted, his throat tightening.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Listen, I’m supposedly only down here for one night. My father thinks he’s making an example of me, but once I’m free, I’ll come back for you.”
Laughter rippled through the crew, dark and humorless.
“Oh, is that so? And we’re supposed to just trust you?” Ren said.
Draevyn’s patience was wearing thin, but he held himself back. He needed them to listen. “I didn’t turn you in. My brother captured you before I could do anything about it. But I’m not about to leave you down here, especially when I’ll need your help.”
Jak’s jaw ticked as he put his arms through the bars and leaned against them casually. “Even if we believed you, how exactly do you plan on getting us out? It’s not like we can just waltz through the front gates.”
Draevyn smirked, glancing up at the stone ceiling. “No. But there are other ways.”
Their skeptical silence urged him on. He lowered his voice when he said, “There’s an old tunnel beneath the dungeons. Most think it’s caved in, but I know a way to open it.”
Jak’s eyes narrowed. “And why exactly would you know something like that?”
“Because I’m not as loyal to my father as you think.” He crossed his arms. “I never said this was my first time down here.”
Memories of his childhood resurfaced from when the king used the velsinyte cuffs on him as punishment after he accidentally lost control of his magic that dreaded day.
His confession seemed to silence them for a moment.
Then, Jak cleared his throat. “Say we believe you. What’s the plan?”
Draevyn shifted on his feet, his eyes scanning the faces behind the velsinyte bars. “If I remember correctly, this isn’t the entirety of your crew. I heard the mortals were taken to the city’s prison to await execution. You’re only here due to the velsinyte cell being able to hold you. I’ll have to have my own crew go and break out the others while I come here for you.” He blew out a breath. “But you need to be ready at any moment. I don’t know when this will happen, but I’ll make sure it’s as soon as possible.”
“You mean the crew that captured us and put us in this shithole to begin with?” Riven asked.
“Aye. Those would be the ones.” Draevyn’s brows furrowed at his own use of the wordaye. He suppressed a smirk, noticing how Esmyra had rubbed off on him.
They all exchanged a few wary glances.
Then, finally, a reluctant nod came from Jak. “Fine. We’ll be ready. But make it quick, Phoenix.”
Draevyn exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders. “Good.”
