Kaelypso was a nightmare incarnate.
“Your father drowned screaming. Your queen is next,” she hissed, voice echoing. “And when I come back, it will not be tothreatenyou, princeling. Unlike your brother, I keep my promises.”
A gust of sea-salt wind slammed the balcony doors open behind her with a deafeningcrash. Maroon curtains whipped in the air, the fire in the hearth snuffing out in a breath.
Atlas was frozen where he stood as she lowered herself to the ground and strode to the terrace.
Glancing over her shoulder, Esmyra gripped the balcony’s railing. “War isn’t coming, Atlas. It’s already at your gates.”
He blinked, and then she was gone.
CHAPTER 23
Draevyn
Draevyn moved swiftly through the castle’s corridors, the hood of his cloak tucked tight as his boots were silent against the stone. He looked up to the windows. The mist fogging the glass could work to their advantage once he and the crew fled the castle.
This plan to break Esmyra’s crew free was absolutely mad, but he was out of options. They had to get to her before she sank deeper into Kaelypso’s wrath and Syrena’s talons.
Draevyn was certain of one thing: Ifhecouldn’t reach her, then only her crew could.
After her first visit to the castle, reports came in that she arrived on a ghostly ship of onyx wood and tattered sails. It was then Draevyn knew she had somehow raisedThe Night Wraithfrom the depths, and she likely thought her crew was dead.
The dungeons were just ahead; all he needed to clear now were three turns, two flights of stairs, and an iron door.
And a velsinyte-barred cell.His teeth clenched at the thought.
Draevyn rounded the last corner and strode down the stairs but came to a sudden halt only a few steps from the bottom.
Fuckinghells.
Two guards stood only feet before him at the entryway, guarding the iron door.
“Prince Draevyn,” one of them said, frowning. Draevyn’s head reared back at the title. “You’re not authorized to be down here.”
“I’m just checking on something. Won’t take long.”
“Orders are to deny entry,” the second guard admitted. “Even if it’s you.”
Embers burned at his fingertips. “Not even the captain of Lephyrin’s sea fleet? Who brought these fugitives here to be imprisoned in the first place?”
“King’s orders, I’m afraid,” the guard admitted, his eyes drifting to Draevyn’s hands.
King’s orders.Draevyn’s jaw tightened.
Of course. His brother clearly didn’t trust him still, or in the least suspected he was planning something.
He took a slow breath, steadying the conflict in his chest. These men had sworn oaths to his family and kingdom, but this was bigger than that. Esmyra was still out there. And her crew, the only ones who would fight for her aside from him, were rotting in chains because of what he’d done. They were his only chance.
“You’re saying King Atlas has been crowned for barely a day and has given specific orders to not let me into my own godsdamn dungeons?” he snapped, his voice holding a growl.
The guards’ grips on their weapons tightened, a slight tremble in their hands giving away their fear. “Indeed. It’s to make sure the crew can’t lie and trick you into going after that monstrous sea witch.”
A fury-filled blaze erupted within him, thrashing and just waiting to be set loose. The veins in Draevyn’s neck tightened, his teeth clenching to the point of pain. “What did you just call her?”
“A monstrous sea?—”
The man didn’t have time to finish his sentence.
