Esmyra snorted in response.
“Finally,” Riven called, grinning as he sat on the counter. “The boss and her mighty guardian descend into our humble den!”
“And where did you two disappear last night, huh?” Ren chimed in, the teasing noises erupting from the rest of them.
“Ren, did I say you were allowed to speak yet?” Jenli yelled over her shoulder as she poured tea into a mug.
Ren’s arms flew out to his sides so fast his stool almost tipped over. “It was impossible to not hear them!”
Heat rushed to Esmyra’s cheeks, her eyes slowly widening. She would never hear the end of this from them.
Ever.
“Seems like a dangerous game, Drae,” Samwell chimed in, shocking her. “I’ve heard she leaves no survivors.”
Esmyra rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her smirk as Draevyn laughed softly beside her.
Jak waltzed up to them with a bowl of some kind of porridge, nudging Esmyra playfully as his spoon hung from his mouth. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better now,” she admitted, knowing it was only partly due to what they removed from her spine.
Inside, her heart practically soared. Seeing her crew gathered here,safe and alive and just as insane as they had always been. It filled her with a deep, quiet joy she hadn’t realized she’d missed so desperately, or had ever even experienced at all.
Jak reached up, ruffling the top of her hair as she swatted at him. “I’m happy to hear it. Though, I have to admit, I’m with Ren. We could’vealldone without hearing what went on after.” He gave her a knowing look.
Esmyra’s eyes narrowed and her hand balled into a fist before jabbing him in the stomach.
He doubled over with a laugh. “Alright, alright.” He chuckled, straightening up. Jak then leaned down and whispered in her ear, “They know something was wrong, but not to the full extent. I had to turn them away from the door last night because they were worried. No one will ask questions.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.
He gave her a nod. “But seriously, we need to make a plan now that you’re well again. We can’t hide out here forever.”
Jak was right, they couldn’t hide out here much longer. And she was tired of running.
Esmyra’s gaze drifted over the crew, each of them talking and laughing. A pang of guilt stabbed though her, hating the thought of taking all of this away so soon. But they deserved the truth.
And the truth was, there would never be a place they could hide where Syrena wouldn’t find them. The crew ofThe Night Wraithhad never been cowards, and she would be damned if they started now.
So now, she would rally them the only way she knew how.
Esmyra planted her boots wide and lifted her chin, the familiar steel of command sliding into her voice. “Avast!”
The chatter cut off instantly, the shift in the air palpable. Every head whipped toward her as the crew’s attention snapped like sails to a sudden wind. She stood there, shoulders squared, gaze sweeping across them.
“At least they listen to you,” Draevyn grumbled at her side, and she shot him a quick grin.
“You all know what happened. At least up until you found me,”she began. “But there’s a reason we came here. Jenli not only provided a roof over our heads, but she also did something for me. Something I can’t repay by hiding in forests or sailing only in coves.”
Esmyra glanced down at that mark of twisting serpents binding her to Syrena forever. “I must accept the consequences of my actions.”
Her stare slowly lifted back to them. “Kaelypso wasn’t the only god awakened the day Maerinys rose. Naerysa, the Goddess of the Surface, lives now through my twin sister, Syrena. And she’s no longer content with what she’s taken. The kingdom beneath the waves having risen isn’t enough for her. She’s planning to drag the rest of the world under, to drown every coast, crowning Rymelle in her name.”
She took a step forward, her voice dropping into something darker. “Starting by killing me and taking Kaelypso’s power for herself.”
A ripple went through the room as the men shifted in their seats, muttering curses, their fists thudding against the table.
A violent heat radiated at her side as Draevyn stiffened.
