“I thought you were on my side!” Calem whined. I raised my hands in apology, but giggled just the same.
“Calem,” Noc said, voice still light but tinged with the hint of a command. “You were a thief before I raised you. You know Harlow. There’s no one better to steal her treasure than you. I bet you can even think of a suitable item.”
Calem hissed. Dragged his nails down his cheeks. “You’re all dead to me.”
Oz couldn’t keep the grin off his face. “Well, how about it? Got any ideas?”
With a begrudging nod, Calem let out a huff. “Yes.”
“Right before we leave, then. We don’t want her to notice its absence until we’re already gone.”
“You owe me. All of you.” Calem made a show at pointing his finger at each of us, and then stormed away toward our quarters.
Oz stretched his hands to the sky as he stood, mirth still evident in his eyes. “We should probably all rest while we can. Stock up on sleep.” He nodded a good night, and then strolled off in the same direction as Calem, leaving me alone with myanam-carafor the first time in days.
Noc grinned as he watched Oz leave, but as his attention shifted back to me, his smile warmed even more. Butterflies took flight in my stomach as I simply stared. He reclined against the wooden railing, muscles stretched tight across his chest, visible thanks to the tight fabric of his midnight-blue tunic. His tousled hair grazed the top of his angular cheekbones, and he ran an errant thumb along his chiseled jaw. He looked like a god, and I almost forgot where we were. I longed to be with him, but our predicament had kept us running. And sharing rooms. And just entirely too clothed.
I let out a steadying breath, and Noc raised a sinful brow. Heat bloomed across my cheeks. I was still flustered by the man I loved—and he wasn’t even trying. For the first time in days, he smirked, and I nearly melted on the spot.
“Come here,” he said, voice smooth and low. I obliged and he wrapped me in a soft embrace, fingers dancing about my waist. Sagging into his chest, I let his honeyed scent envelop me in a blanket of security.
“We need a vacation,” he said.
“Do you think we’ll ever get one?” It was meant to be a joke, but Noc’s answering sigh was heavier than I’d anticipated.
“Yes and no. When we take the throne…life will be different. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
For a moment, I didn’t speak. I simply listened. To the steady beat of his heart. To the cadence of ocean water crashing against the ship’s bow. To the creak and groan of ropes and flapping canvas sails. The sounds of the night were soothing, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging inside me. I’d agreed to become the queen of Lendria, not because I was eager to take the throne, but because standing beside Noc was something I’d always do. Ruling was still so new to me, and I had little in the ways of guidance. Even so… I glanced upward and caught Noc watching me. He believed in me. He and all the Charmers and assassins. Maybe we could actually change things for the better. For all Lendrians. The churning uncertainty in my mind lessened, and I smiled.
“I know it won’t be easy. But we’ll do it together.” I placed my hands against his chest. “You know, we never celebrated becominganam-cara.”
He tilted his head, a question in his probing, ice-blue stare. “What does that entail?”
“A celebration that spans several days. Lots of food and dancing with friends and family while the sun’s out, and lots of personal time for us at night.” I bit my lip and looked up at him. “It’s nice. Kaori would perform a private ceremony for us, too, with tea from the sacred liefera plant found near the falls of Hireath. It’s not as stuffy as it sounds, and the little sweets are delicious.”
Noc grinned. “Is that why Calem suddenly drinks tea?”
“Probably.”
Pinning my chin between his fingers, he brought his lips just inches away from mine. “Sounds similar to a royal wedding celebration in Wilheim. When all this is over, we’ll blend our traditions and the whole country will come together. And we’ll get some damn private time.”
He kissed me then with enough passion that adrenaline flooded through my fingertips. Looping my arms around his neck, I slanted my lips over his and relished in the feel of his tongue intertwining with mine. A delicious tingling spread over my skin as his fingers dug deeper into my hips, and a wondrous moan slipped from the back of his throat.
He pulled away a fraction, breath heavy and tantalizing against my neck. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I traced the crescent-moon scar along his cheek. “You sure we need to wait until then for this ‘private time’?”
“I’m sure we’ll find a moment before then, but as for now…” He glanced around, taking stock of our surroundings and the crew. Drawing attention to ourselves was the last thing we wanted. Both to preserve Noc’s identity and to keep the spotlight off us so it was easier for Calem to steal when the timing was right. “Come on. Let’s get some rest.”
As much as my body rioted at the idea of merely sleeping beside him, I followed him without complaint. There would be time for us eventually. For now, I could take solace in the feel of his hand in mind. In the feel of his chest against my cheek while we slept. It would have to do. And when the time was right, I’d keep him to myself until I was satisfied several times over.
Sixteen
Yazmin
Fury pumped through my veins as my booted feet slammed against the tile. We’d only just returned to Wilheim, and already I found myself pacing in the Queen’s Respite. Varek and Darrien were somewhere in the castle—the king fuming and going on about our failings, Darrien apologizing profusely and acting like a subservient aristocrat rather than a deadly assassin. Somehow, Leena had outsmarted the Prentiss. She’d survived. And while Noc visiting another ruin site made Varek furious, it had little effect on my plans.
That’s right. Breathe. This is all inconsequential.Exhaling deeply, I slowed my progression and stared at the hauntingly beautiful tree. When Varek learned I could’ve pursued them with the help of one of my flying beasts, he’d been outraged. But the risk was too great. There was no way for me to transport all of us, and I refused to put myself in jeopardy, attacking them alone or with minimal forces. I had important work to do here, like raising Ocnolog and finding the missing Charmers. Fortunately, pacifying Varek simply meant transferring another lowly beast—this time, without any conditions—as a show of my continued “devotion.” His greed outweighed his anger, and he’d dismissed me without another harsh word.
