Astraeus stared at the map on the large table we sat around for several long moments before his lips tilted upward in a triumphant smile.
“The rebels areatDemon’s Door,” Astraeus repeated, stressing the signed word. “They aren’t being held captive there. They’vetakenthe prison.” He grinned, raising his eyebrows and giving Ronan an appreciative nod.
Marian blinked, processing his words.
“That took some balls,” Astraeus praised.
A spark lit in Ronan’s sapphire eyes, and he flashed a wide grin.
“How long until we arrive?” Kresida asked, the elven War Slayer leaning over the map to get a better look at the location marking Demon’s Door.
“If the princess lends us a bit of wind,” Astraeus said, eyes sliding to Carina, “less than a week.”
“Lyvia,”Vienah murmured as we shuffled out of the room. “Can we talk?”
“Of course,” I mumbled, slowing and matching her pace, unsure why my stomach twisted.
“I just,” she began as the evening sun cast deep orange ripples to the west, “wanted to talk to you about…earlier.”
I offered a sympathetic smile. “Vienah, I don’t care who you sleep with.” I stopped at the edge of the ship and leaned over the rail. A spray of spindrift wafted from below, and I let out a soft sigh. “Be careful, though,” I said, turning to her.
Vienah leaned over the rail next to me. “I know, I know. He’s so…” She shook her head, sucking her lips between her teeth to suppress a smile.
Oh gods. “When did it start?”
“A couple weeks ago. We’ve been keeping it quiet… Didn’t want to make the others uncomfortable. But gods, today... Today we couldn’t stay away from each other. He is…”
I stole a glance as her tongue slid over her lower lip and quickly pulled my gaze away.
“Well, if he’s a good fuck, then who am I to say anything?” I shrugged.
Vienah turned toward me, her expression sobering.
“He’s unbelievable. I can’t stay away. I’m a moth to a flame. He’s unmatched”—she raised her eyebrows and shook her head—“in every possible way.” Vienah held her hands apart and slowly pulled them away as if she were measuring…
I whipped my gaze away, shaking my head profusely. “Nope. No, no. I don’t need that information,” I said, avoiding her eyes. “Just be careful, yeah?” I stared at Astraeus’s men bustling about the center deck.
Raek caught my gaze and glanced at Vienah, rolling his eyes with a soft shake of his head. He’d been rather grouchy this evening, and though I was unsure why, my emotions echoed his.
I turned my gaze east, to where a pod of pink creatures leaped through the waves in a dazzling pattern. I calmed mybreathing and refocused my thoughts as I watched them. They chased one another to the edge of the horizon, their course unpredictable, yet they launched past one another in confident pursuit. Did they know where they were going? Or did their unwavering faith in each other simply lead them to an unknown destination?
I forced my jaw to relax, breathing in a salty gust of spindrift as theHydrasurged through a swell. I reflected on bonds I’d formed, on the warriors sailing with me and the ones we’d left behind. A reluctant admission emerged as the cool mist hit my face. My faith had wavered, these past few months. Some bonds began to crack, others bending and changing while new ones were formed. But despite the continuous evolution of my own pod,I knew where I was going.
