Page 151 of Facade

Shit.

Bells rang, men cursed and yelled, the sound of cannon balls being loaded clanged through the air.

“Starboard side!” Gideon yelled.

I leaned over just in time to see something huge and shimmering shoot past beneath the water.

“Steady!” he ordered, face stern.

My eyes strained as I searched the water, an eerie silence settling over the ship. Only the sound of waves lapping against the side filled the void, the subtle groaning of wood.

“FIRE!” Gideon shouted.

Cannons boomed in unison. The ship shuddered as recoil rocked the deck, and I stumbled.

“RELOAD!”

Even Ryker grabbed a bow and quiver, wincing as he knocked the arrow. Not that I was watching him.

I leaned over the side of the rails in time to see that shimmering in the water slow, a small head popping out with three sets of teal eyes locked on mine.

Just like the head on King Raul’s wall.

The scaled head tilted to the side, the sun making its scales sparkle in the most alluring color of lavender and blue as it blinked and studied me. Its serpentine body moved with the waves, like a snake. Its feather-like mane surrounded its narrow head with patches missing, scars telling a story of many battles.

My mouth ticked up in a smile as I looked at this creature before me. The beauty of it. And a powerful feeling that it didn’t mean us any harm at all, but was only curious.

“The beast is this way!” A sailor shouted from behind me.

The creature ducked back under as the sailor raised a bow.

“NO!” I shouted, throwing myself in front of him, just as he let loose his arrow.

The arrow sliced through my shoulder. The same damn spot that had just been healed. My teeth dug into my lip, barricading the scream that lodged in my throat.

A roar bellowed so loud that, had I not known the source, I would’ve sworn it belonged to a different monstrous sea beast.

Ryker’s face came into view, his eyes completely silver as he grabbed that terrified sailor and threw him away from me, down to the deck below, where he landed with a sickening crunch. Sailors fumbled, running to their mate.

“Ryker, I’m fine,” I said through gritted teeth. He turned that silver stare my way, assessing me. Thunder rolled above, clouds blotting out the sun.

“Seriously, it’s okay. Just a little sting.” I tried to smile. But it fell, and it had nothing to do with the arrow sticking out of me.

“Why the hell did you step in his way?” he demanded.

“Because I don’t think that creature is trying to harm us,” I barked, looking out in time to see it beneath the surface, swimming away from us. Relief flooded me, although I couldn’t explain why I felt relieved to see it disappear to safety.

“Damn it, Evanee.” His jaw flexed as he carefully touched the arrow.

I hissed in pain. “Just do it.”

His jaw tightened as he snapped the arrow and pulled it so fast, I hardly had time to process it.

A raw cry ravaged my throat as I leaned my forehead against his bare chest, and he pressed fabric against the wound.

The smell of cedar and leather instantly relaxed me. And something else… banana? Regardless, only one word bounced incessantly through my mind—Friends.

“Sir, I apologize for my sailor. He—”