Just silence.
Draevyn tightened his grip as his fury pulsed, demanding more. Demanding an end that would echo what this monster had done to her—what his own father likely would’ve done to her.
“Send the king our regards.”
With a guttural snarl, Draevyn braced his boots against the floor andwrenched.
Bone splintered, muscles tore, and Varis’s charred frame gave way as his spine ripped free into Draevyn’s fist. The body crumpled forward with a sickeningthud, collapsing on the ground in a lifeless,bloody heap. The flames sputtered out as smoke curled from the gaping wound until the last ember winked out.
Draevyn stood there, chest heaving as blood dripped from the gleaming length of bone in his grasp. For a long moment, the brig was silent, aside from the faint hiss of cooling flesh and the distant waves beyond the ship.
Finally, his gaze lifted again, straight to her. Esmyra hadn’t moved, her face completely still. Her eyes, though, tracked the ruined body on the floor before flicking back up to him, unblinking.
Her lips lifted in the faintest smile before whispering, “Thank you.”
Draevyn blinked, the fire still pulsing in his veins. He gave a slow nod, unable to say anything aloud yet.
The realm thoughtshewas a monster, but they hadn’t seen what he would do in her honor. Whatever darkness lived in her, Draevyn would meet it with his own. Esmyra deserved vengeance, and he would deliver it. If she wanted screams, he would wring them out of every throat. If she wanted blood, he would paint her seas red.
Because anyone who laid a hand on her, anyone who eventhoughtof hurting the Phoenix’s Wildfire again, would learn that her fury may be blistering flames…but his was a fucking inferno.
CHAPTER 62
Esmyra
The climb back to the deck was silent, but Esmyra didn’t feel a shred of guilt for what they’d done. And she knew Draevyn didn’t either.
She had demanded justice, and what he’d dealt to Varis was nothing less. She could still feel the echo of Draevyn’s fury in her bones, the heat of his vengeance burning on her behalf. It filled her with gratitude, feeling protected for the first time in her life when she had never needed it before.
Draevyn’s love wasn’t shown in the whispering of sweet words or stolen kisses hidden beneath sails, but in fire and blood.
When they stepped onto the deck, the crews straightened instantly, their eyes sharp with curiosity and unease. She met their gazes head-on, unflinching and shoulders squared.
Esmyra turned toward Atlas, who lingered behind Draevyn near the stairs. “We’ll be joining forces with Lephyrin’s fleet to finish what we set out to do,” she continued, now speaking to the entirety of what remained of their men. “I have accepted the new king’s apology and offering of peace, and I hope he accepts this as mine. Together, we’ll end this.”
The members of her crew grinned, voicing their need for their own vengeance as Atlas’s men exchanged wary glances.
Movement caught her eye then, shimmering just beneath the waves and floating wreckage.
Her brows furrowed as she stepped closer to the railing. Extending her hand, she called to the sea, and the water rushed upward in a spiraling column. Slowly, it carried the shape up to her as water droplets slid down its length like blood beneath Malya’s Moon.
Esmyra’s eyes narrowed as she reached for it, the water evaporating and leaving behind a spear. Its shaft was crafted of obsidian, its blade teal and gleaming, etched with runes. She recognized it immediately as Azarian’s after seeing it barely an hour ago, aimed at the man she loved.
Her hand trembled slightly as she stared at it, rage and resolve tightening her chest.
I’m going to drive this spear straight through his fucking skull.Her lips curled at her thoughts, and Kaelypso purred in delight within her.
“Jenli,” she started without taking her eyes off the spear.
Footsteps sounded as she took a few steps up to her. “Yes, Captain?”
“May I have the shard?”
Jenli reached into her pocket and pulled out the velsinyte shard, wrapped in a black cloth.
Draevyn took a step forward as they all watched. “What are you up to, Wildfire?”
In one swift motion, she twirled the weapon, placed the blade’s tip on the floorboards, and stomped down on it, snapping the tip clean off.
