“It’s another ship,” Demory explained with a little too much joy.
Its sails were fully unfurled, glinting in the pale moonlight to reveal a black emblem on the fabric.
Christian frowned and peered at the vessel, but it was too far away to see the heraldry. He looked up at the sailor perched in the crow’s nest.
“Is it following us?” Willow asked.
Christian narrowed his gaze, scrutinizing the tiny dot in the distance that both disturbed and intrigued him. “I don’t think so. It’s probably just a coincidence that it’s taking this course. It’s likely heading to a different port.” Still, he wished he knew what the heraldry was on the vessel.
He took Willow’s arm and gathered the blanket, his grip a little too tight. Despite the unease filling him, he tried to school his features into a neutral expression. “We should return,” he said, his voice a low growl.
She seemed to sense his displeasure and nodded, her steps quick as he led her toward the stairs.
“It was a pleasure to officially meet you, Willow,” Demory called after them.
Christian gritted his teeth, and Willow didn’t reply.
Prickles of apprehension kept Christian awake in the ship’s hold, pondering whom the ship belonged to. The captain appeared below deck as the morning sun trickled down the stairs. He locked eyes with Christian before turning his attention to Landyn, who had risen to meet him. The two conversed in hushed tones before Landyn gestured for Christian to join them.
Christian glanced at Willow and found her snuggled in the blanket, her chest rising and falling slowly. He lifted his weight off the mat and padded across the wood floor to Landyn’s side, careful not to make a sound that might wake her.
“There is a ship trailing us,” Captain Fontaine explained in a hushed tone.
Christian nodded.
Captain Fontaine continued, “Franco said the heraldry is that of a black lion surrounded by red flowers.”
Christian’s body tensed, and his heart pounded. “Are you sure it was a lion and not a snake?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Fontaine’s eyes narrowed. “No. It could be a snake. It’s too far from us to tell. Do you know who it is?”
“My father.”
They prepared their horses, saddling them and checking their hooves. As the group continued, Landyn climbed the stairs to speak with the captain.
Willow’s gaze drifted to Christian, who was adjusting his horse’s bridle with a look of worry on his face. She knew he was thinking of the possibility of his father catching up with them. Had his father discovered the book they gave him was a fake? Her stomach twisted with anxiety as she gathered her reins. She had hoped they would have more time to get farther away from him.
Christian met her stare over the curve of his horse’s back and grinned. “Almost off the water.”
She had almost forgotten she was still on the ship. The water she feared so much had become a second priority to her worry for Christian. He was more important to her than her distress. “I defeated it,” she murmured, not quite believing her words.
“You did well, Will,” Raven called.
“For a while, I didn’t think you’d make it,” Sage added, bending to check the cinch on her steed. “You were as white as one of those big clouds.”
Willow couldn’t stop the wide grin that spread across her face, a sense of pride and disbelief washing over her. “I did it,” she said quietly, but an unexpected surge of confidence rose within her, and before she knew it, her words were louder than she intended. “I slayed my fear!”
A smile erupted over Christian’s face.
“Take that, water!” she proclaimed victoriously.
Raven shook her head in disbelief while Sage chuckled softly.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the stairs, and Landyn appeared. “We are to leave as soon as we dock. Fontaine said it should be easy to disappear in Maldon. It’s a busy port.”
Willow’s jubilation dissolved as she looked around their group. The Hawke family had always been difficult to hide, but with three more added, it now seemed impossible.
“Sage, have you figured out where to start? Where we’re heading?” Landyn asked.
