Page 155 of The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny)

Arabella

Land ho!” Captain Brecca called from the helm of the Sky Serpent. Her face creased into a crooked smile, accentuating the thin scar along her jaw. “Meridian Isle, dead ahead. Made exceptional time. That husband of yours knows his wind magic.”

I leaned against the rail, watching the island emerge from the afternoon haze like something out of a dream. Even in autumn, Meridian Isle looked like summer had decided to take up permanent residence. Golden beaches curved around turquoise water so clear I could see schools of fish from here. Palm trees swayed in a breeze that carried the scent of jasmine and sea salt.

Ten hours of flying south over land and now sea, and we’d finally arrived. While Kazimir could portal back and forth to Skyspire between his targets in Valmont, the sheer distance to Meridian Isle meant the Sky Serpent would be my base of operations for the next week or so. Vex and I would be camping on the ship between kidnappings, keeping our new guests as comfortable as possible without allowing them to leave.

Not exactly how I’d imagined my first major solo operation as Lady Blackrose, but at least the weather was nice.

“It’s beautiful,” Vex said, coming up beside me. Her long hair whipped in the wind. “Much nicer than that frozen rock we call home.”

“Kaz won’t like you disparaging his architectural choices.”

“Oh, I’d tell him to his face. Skyspire is magnificent, but it’s also perpetually cold, damp, and trying to kill people with lightning bridges.” She tilted her face toward the sun. “This, however, is paradise.”

A memory hit me just then—sudden and sharp, courtesy of that damned potion. My mother, brushing my hair before bed, telling me stories of an island where flowers bloomed year-round and the water was warm enough to swim in even during winter.

“Can we go there, Mama?” Seven-year-old me, already planning adventures.

“Perhaps when you’re older, darling. Meridian Isle is far from here, but I have cousins there who would love to meet you.”

“Father says islands are for pirates and wastrels.”

My mother’s hands had stilled in my hair. “Your father says many things.”

The memory faded, leaving me gripping the rail hard enough to leave marks. Another thing he’d stolen from me—the chance to see this place with her.

“Are you all right?” Vex touched my shoulder, her relaxed demeanor shifting to concern.

“Fine.” I forced my hands to relax. “Just remembering something.”

“The memory potion?”

I’d told her about it on the way here, needing someone to confide in who wasn’t currently having an identity crisis about being an ancient evil. Vex had listened without judgment, occasionally making dry observations that somehow made the whole thing less overwhelming.

“My mother wanted to bring me here. Father forbade it.” I watched the harbor grow closer. “I’m starting to think ‘because Father forbade it’ should be my new life motto. If Atticus Evenfall hated something, it’s probably wonderful.”

“A sound philosophy.” Vex’s expression turned calculating. “You know, there’s nothing stopping you from moving Skyspire here. The floating fortress is mobile, after all.”

“Kaz would have a fit.”

“Lord Blackrose would adapt. Especially if you asked nicely.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Or not nicely. I’ve seen how he looks at you when you’re being demanding.”

“Vex!”

“What? I’m simply observing that our Dark Lord has very specific preferences when it comes to—”

“We’re about to kidnap people,” I interrupted, face burning. “Can we focus on that?”

Vex grinned. “I can multitask. Discussing your husband’s kinks while planning abductions is practically a Thursday at Skyspire.”

I pressed my hands to my burning cheeks. “How often do people have these ‘Thursday’ discussions?”

“Oh, constantly.” Vex’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Though I shut them down when I’m around. Still, everyone knows that our fearsome Dark Lord is utterly besotted.” She watched me with a gentle expression. “It’s rather sweet, actually.”

The silence stretched between us, comfortable despite the chaos of the ship as we prepared to land. I found myself studying Vex’s profile—the sharp line of her jaw, the way her silver hair caught the light. Today the ends faded to black, like ink bleeding into moonlight.

“How long have you known him?” I asked suddenly.