The swim felt endless, every stroke through the churning black water dragging her further into exhaustion. But through it all, she felt Draevyn. He was always just behind her, his presence like a shield. When a wave crashed too hard, his hand steadied her back. When her arms burned, she caught the sound of his voice urging her on. She wasgrateful for it as the adrenaline quickly abandoned her, taking her strength with it.
Is this what it’s like to be mortal?If so, this fucking sucked.
Jak threw ladders over the side, and she grabbed the slick rope with trembling fingers, the sea pulling at her legs as she climbed.
A wave almost ripped her off, but then Draevyn’s hand was there, gripping her waist as he lifted her up. They climbed together, water streaming off their clothes, until her fingers reached the rail. Jak was there a moment later and pulled her the rest of the way before Draevyn hauled himself over the edge behind her.
Esmyra collapsed against the wood, chest heaving as she stared up at the stars. The crew stumbled aboard one by one.
They’re alive.We’realive. All of us are here.
And as she turned her head, meeting Draevyn’s whiskey gaze through the dripping strands of her hair, she saw that same raw relief reflecting back in it.
Water pooled beneath them as the crew staggered around the deck surrounding them, coughing up seawater while catching their breath. Draevyn shoved himself to his feet and reached for her.
Esmyra took his offered hand, but pain exploded up her arm the moment he slightly pulled. She hissed through her teeth, stumbling as he brought her upright. His brows knitted immediately, his expression darkening as his grip shifted to her elbow to steady her.
“What—” he started. His eyes dropped to her swollen and bruised wrist, the skin an ugly shade beneath the newly dawn-lit sky.
“The guards broke it when they were dragging me away.”
Draevyn’s jaw clenched, and for a heartbeat she swore she felt the Phoenix’s fury simmering off of him. He cupped her wrist with careful fingers, as if touching something sacred and fragile, but she didn’t miss the murderous look in his eyes.
“They’ll pay for that.”
His words left her unsteady, and the promise in his tone was as sharp as the blade at his hip. And she believed him.
Draevyn had come for her. He was reckless but relentless,throwing himself into the chaos she caused to reach her. The way he held her waist now, so gently it almost undid her.
Confusion clawed at her.
Part of her wanted to shove him away, to spit venom at him until he vanished from her sight. Esmyra couldn’t help but believe that everything she loved was either destroyed or ripped away from her. Her father. Her ship. Her life. And if she could spare Draevyn from that destructive fate, she would do so.
Sheshoulddo so.
But another part, the part that remembered their shared night beneath merlights and a stolen kiss at the lagoon, had her aching to lean into him—to lean into the Phoenix’s fire and let it consume her.
Her lips quirked to the side. “They’ve already paid for it.”
Draevyn’s grin grew ear-to-ear as his eyes searched hers. “That’s my girl.”
Esmyra couldn’t deny the subtle fluttering of her heart.
Jak leapt down from the quarter deck then. “All hands on deck and get to your posts! This isn’t over yet, and the last thing we need are those creepy sea-fucks catching up to us.”
What the fuck are we going to do now that Maerinys is after me too?She always knew they would search for her eventually, but she never expected Draevyn and her crew to be in the danger alongside her.
“Do we have a heading?” Ren asked.
“Land,” Esmyra, Draevyn, and Jak said in tandem.
Ren and Riven gave each other an odd look and joined what remained of their crew in readying the ship.
Jak appeared at her side without a word and draped a heavy blanket around her shoulders. The warmth of it was jarring against her chilled skin, and she pulled it tighter as the faint glow of dawn bled across the horizon.
“Thanks, Jaky,” she said as she sat on a coil of rope near the rail, watching the sun slowly climb.
“Aye.” He winked. “Good to have ya back, Captain.”
