Atlas’s head reared back. “You’re going after her too?”
“We’re going after many things.” Esmyra shrugged. “I have a twin to kill and possibly a world to save. Your wife just also happens to be in the same direction.”
Draevyn couldn’t hide his smirk as he watched Atlas fall on the wrong end of her irritation.
Jak shifted against the mast, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn’t bother hiding the weight of his glare as it cut straight into Atlas.
But then Jenli’s voice threaded through the tense air. “The Blood Moon has connected Esmyra to her sister, and if she’s not defeated by day’s end, Esmyra could be lost.”
Bile climbed up Draevyn’s throat at hearing the words so casually.
“Or Syrena!” Esmyra interjected. “She could be lost too. Tits, I don’t plan on going down that easily.”
He turned to her then and offered the softest smile he could muster. “We know, Wildfire.”
Atlas’s eyes darted between them all. “I’m not following.”
“You don’t have to,” Draevyn snapped. “All you need to do is stay out of our way.”
Atlas let the silence stretch until it nearly snapped before exhalingthrough his nose. “What if I told you I have a peace offering that may just have you trusting me. At least in this.”
“I’d say that’s pretty fucking doubtful.”
“And I’d say I think you’ll change your mind.” His eyes flicked from Draevyn to Esmyra, weighing them both.
Draevyn’s brows furrowed, suspicion sharpening every line of his face. “We don’t have time for your games, Atlas.”
Every second leading to the peak of the Blood Moon counted against them.
“This is no game, Brother,” Atlas answered. “Just proof.”
Esmyra’s eyes narrowed. She cast a glance at Draevyn, her shoulders lifting in a shrug that saidmay as well.
Draevyn’s jaw worked, chewing back every curse in his throat. “Fine.”
Atlas turned sharply on his heel, cloak snapping with the motion as he strode toward the hatch leading below deck.
They reluctantly followed.
The brig reeked of damp wood and old iron. With a point of his chin, flames lit the torches on the walls, their light glinting off rusted bars. Esmyra slowed as she and Draevyn stepped into the room, their eyes narrowing at the sight waiting within the cell.
A man sat slumped against the wall, wrists cuffed in heavy iron. His once-fine clothes were torn and stained, though the cruel set of his mouth hadn’t softened. Even seated, there was a venomous arrogance in the way his chin tilted upward, as if chains and confinement were beneath him and it was only a matter of time until he found his way out.
Varis.
Esmyra let out a small hiss, recognition flickering like lightning in her eyes.
Draevyn stiffened, every muscle locking as his gaze fixed on the prisoner.
Atlas folded his arms loosely across his chest. “When you abandoned Lephyrin, the advisor position needed to be filled. Someone had tostep into the gap.”
“AndVariswas your first choice?” Draevyn’s voice cracked the air like thunder, reverberating off the walls.
Atlas bowed his head. “I made a mistake.”
“A mistake? You trustedhimafter everything we saw growing up?”
Varis smirked faintly from the floor, lips curling as if he found the family quarrel amusing.
