“I thought you were headed to the fleet,” I say to her, accepting the hug that she gives me.
“I could hardly call myself Captain if I left behind someone taken from my own ship. Plus, that lover of yours is quite convincing.”
My heart skips a beat at hearing Ronan called my “lover,” but I suppose it’s true. “Thank you. I appreciate you helping me.” I know how she feels about Selara.
“Who is this?” she says, looking at Seth.
“My brother,” I say without thinking.
Octavia draws her sword. “The one who had you kidnapped?”
Seth ignites a flame on the tip of his finger. “I’d really suggest you don’t. It’s been a terrible night. They made me destroy my own tent.”
I gape at Seth. I think he actually believes that the worst thing that happened tonight was himvoluntarilydestroying his own tent, which he said was no big deal at the time.
He’s insane.
But he’s also undeniably useful. We likely wouldn’t have made it through the camp without him, and if he can reveal some of his and Adria’s plans to Ronan’s war council, we have a real chance of ending the fighting.
I place my hand on Octavia’s forearm. She flinches, but she doesn’t lower her blade. “It’s…it’sfine. We’re a complicated family.”
Octavia hesitates, eyeing me to confirm I’m acting of my own free will. I nod to her, and then she shrugs. “You know what? I understand completely. Wait until you meet my aunt.” Then she turns to Ronan. “Your Majesty. ThePegasusis yours.”
I can’t feel any of Octavia’s feelings—I can’t even feel the girl we saved anymore, Prima, although she’s onboard the ship,having agreed to let us take her to Faros to see if she can reunite with her family there. But I recognize the look Octavia gives Ronan, and I know exactly what she’s feeling—attraction.
Oh, he won her over, alright.
Jealousy flares in my chest. I know Octavia understands our relationship, and although I haven’t known her long, she doesn’t seem like the type to get involved in anything too messy. I also know that she’s far from the only person to be attracted to Ronan. I’ve seen the way others are around him, at court and elsewhere.
And yet, after a week apart from him in which they’ve clearly met, in which they’ve clearly spoken and established some sort of mutual trust and respect, I can’t help but feel jealous. Jealous that they spent time together. Jealous that they admire each other.
Ronan raises his eyebrows at me. I’m certain he can sense my envy.
He smiles politely at Octavia, carefully avoiding making too much eye contact with her. “Set sail. Land us as close to the city on the southern bank as we can make it by daybreak.”
“Yes, sir,” says Octavia. Then, as he turns his back to her to join me, she looks at me, mouthinggood godand giving me a gesture of approval.
I laugh, the tension loosening from my shoulders as I understand her admiration. I can hardly blame her for wanting him. It’s difficult for me to be near him without wanting him, and I’ve had him.
Several times.
“That feeling you just had,” Ronan whispers to me, his voice a caress against my ear. “That will drive me to madness if you’re not careful.”
I feel the pulse of his desire as it flows between us, echoing in my own feelings.
“Is there somewhere we can go?” I ask him. “Below deck?”
“Yes, but—” He braces himself against the overwhelming wave of our mutual desire. Then he reaches for me, cradling my head in his hands. “Are you alright?” He looks out over the ship’s railing to where we fought near the docks.
“I am now,” I say, reaching up to kiss him.
Somewhere across the deck, Seth retches even though we haven’t gotten underway yet.
Ronan returns the kiss tentatively, his feelings still troubled.
“Let’s talk about it,” I say. “Lead the way.”
Ronan leads me to a staircase midship, and I stumble down the stairs after him as the boat takes off from the dock. He catches me by my waist, and though I’m worried by his shift in mood, I can’t stop a pulse of heat from running through me at his touch.
