“Oh, no, that’s okay. Thank you, though,” Esmyra said. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
The woman let out a laugh. “Oh, please. I feel likeweare the ones intruding.”
“Where are you from?” Esmyra asked.
Her lips tilted into a smirk as her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. “Not…here.”
Esmyra chuckled. “I didn’t think so. So, another realm then?”
She dipped her chin. “You could say that.”
“Well, welcome to Rymelle…” she dragged out the word. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Lia,” she said with a drunken giggle. “My name is Lia.”
Esmyra smiled. “Hi Lia, my name is Esmi.”
“Esmi,” she echoed. “That’s very pretty. Well, Esmi, the offer still stands. We’ll be wreaking havoc all night.” Her arms lifted out to her sides as she tilted her head, taking a step back. “You’re more than welcome to join. After all, only my friends call me Lia.” She winked.
Esmyra let out a laugh. “Well, interestingly enough, only my friends call me Esmi.”
Lia gave her a dip of her chin. “I knew I liked you. See you around, Esmi.” And then she returned to their table, all the women cheering and laughing once more as they started another round of their game.
There was something so effortless about the way they leaned into each other, the way their glances flicked between one another mid-laugh and how jokes spilled from their lips like wine they’d been drinking for years.
They were a family built not born. And Esmyra hoped they realized what they had.
Her crew had been fierce and loyal, but mostly, they had been her friends. And she didn’t even realize that until it was entirely too late. They would drink together, fight beside one another, and would even die together if it came to it. Was that not what friendship was? Or even what afamilywas?
Gods, she had been so stupid.
She had half a thought to take Lia up on her offer, and her boot shifted forward instinctively. But then something in her stilled, and she turned away instead. Everything she touched or cared for recently had withered away to nothing, and she refused to risk doing that to the group of women.
Esmyra found a shadowy table on the opposite end of the tavern and sat down alone, imagining what her life would be like if she never set out for Maerinys.
CHAPTER 31
Draevyn
The Kraken’s Alehouse was loud; cigar smoke filled the air as the isle’s humidity clung to every inch of Draevyn’s skin. He had been searching all night. Question after question, lead after lead. It all led to nothing but dead ends. Their crews had scattered through the port of Anchorage Cove, looking for any sign of someone seeing or hearing of Esmyra, but no one had come forward since they made port.
There had been no sightings of her, nor was there a trail to where she may have gone.
The weight of yet another failure hung heavy on Draevyn’s shoulders, and that violent ache in his chest was beginning to feel hollower than anything. Giving up wasn’t an option, but he was ready to leave. His mug was nearly empty, and his patience even more so. The last time he’d been at this tavern was the night he met Esmyra. The night she had picked him out from a crowd of criminals, and the nighteverythingchanged.
He stood from his table in the center of the tavern, and as he turned to head for the door, a glimmer in the candlelight caught his eye. He pivoted back to face that shining light, and his eyes flared as they landed on a lone figure across the space, tucked in the farthest corner.
Midnight hair fell in waves down to her waist, and the glacial color of her eyes pierced through the shadows of her hood. A silver mug was clutched in one hand as she fidgeted with it, which was the source of that scattering light. But tracing up that very hand, along the skin of her wrist were…runes.
Draevyn’s breath caught as a cold ripple moved down his spine.
No. It couldn’t be.
He blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. This couldn’t be real…shecouldn’t be real. Perhaps he was losing his mind and hallucinating, envisioning her there, waiting for him in that same booth they sat in long ago.
And yet, no matter how many times he blinked, Esmyra remained. She appeared just as he remembered her, and she didn’t blur or shift or fade away like the cruel mirage he half expected her to turn into.
Esmyra washere. In Anchorage Cove, sitting in a corner all alone.
