CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
The snake has been caged, though it took a great deal of his power. The king is weak.
—Correspondence from General Calvus. 61stof Autumn, 071.3E.
Although Tiberius had rescued me from the wild swells of the Thandal Sea, our midnight escape from theHydradid little to prevent me from drowning in my own mortification.
Back in his freshly laundered sea blue coat, Astraeus stalked to where I stood the next morning, cornering me with an icy gaze.
“I’ll say this once. I don’t take kindly to people prying their way into my mind,” he seethed, his eyes darkening in threat.
The phantom intrusion of the Stone Witch’s cackle pricked against my mind, an eerie reminder of her power.I was not her.
I opened my mouth to protest.
His voice lowered further. “From now on, you stay the fuck away. We interact only when needed. You do it again, I’ll find a way to end you. Air oath be damned.”
I bared my teeth at his threat. “I had nothing to do with that dream. I abhorred it as much as you did. Probably more.”
His dark eyes narrowed before dipping to my lips. “I doubt that very much. You may get the fuck off my ship whenever you’re ready.”
He turned, his blue coat floating in the breeze, dismissing me.
My blood raged. “You do not give me orders, Astraeus.”
He stopped for a moment, turning as if he would say more, anger rippling off his powerful shoulders as Tiberius hammered down the center of the main deck. A muscle tensed in Astraeus’s jaw, and I gave him a cocky grin as I stepped past without another word.
Ready?
Ti snorted in reply.
Vulcan cocked a blonde brow at me in question as I approached, and I shook my head. He gave Evony a leg up onto Ti's back.
“I’ll send horses for you. Expect them by tomorrow morning,” I said to Vulcan as he handed me my bow and quiver. I slung them over the twin blades strapped to my back.
Vienah stepped forward in a dusty mauve travel dress.
“You’re sure you’re okay staying on board for another day or two?” I asked.
Vienah nodded, a hint of pink rouging her cheeks. “I’m safe here,” she murmured, glancing at Astraeus’s cabin before turning to me.
“Clear skies for your journey.” She smiled. “I should be able to keep the clouds off for a few hours. Will that be enough?”
I nodded my thanks. “It will. Thank you.”
“Be careful, Lyvia,” she said. “You don’t want to scare them too much.”
Vulcan slid his gaze to her, his brows angling downward in his usual frown. Vienah did her best not to balk under his stare but averted her eyes and reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze in farewell.
“Careful with him,” I warned her again, guilt slamming into my chest at the images my stupid mind had conjured in the middle of the night.
She rolled her eyes and smiled. “Kellan’s not what you think he is.” Her lashes fluttered before she floated to the pirate lord at the helm.
“She’s not entirely wrong,” Vulcan murmured as he finished checking the straps on my blades and quiver.
My head snapped to him.
Vulcan blinked at my reaction before returning his features to their usual scowl.
