Page 60 of By the Flames of Her Fury

“Was that necessary?" she grumbled, picking up her fallen hat.

“What happened?” I asked. “How long was I asleep?”

“Just since last night. The ship’s medic knocked you out while they stitched your arm. How do you feel?”

Like my shoulder had been sawed off. I glanced down to see it wrapped in gauze, a heavy chemical scent coming from the bindings. A cloth sling was twisted around my neck, keeping my shoulder and arm steady. “I’ll be fine. What about the Grand Dragon?”

“Oh, the ship?” Tessa clicked her tongue. “Yeah, that’s gone. Sucked right up in the whirlpool after we rescued you.”

I rested my head back into the pillow. “Nox is going to kill us.”

“If we ever see him again.”

“Not helping. What about the rest of the crew? Did they all make it safely?”

“Rossa and Kieran are fine.” Her shoulders slumped. “But we lost a few men. It was a crazy night with everyone else trying to get settled. Vera told me the crew here is a little anxious about us.”

At her name, I looked around the sick bay, scanning for her face. The last time I saw her, she was standing over me while I lay on the deck going in and out of consciousness. Now, however, she was nowhere to be found.

Tessa gave me a knowing look. “She was here, you know.”

My gaze slid back to her. “Who?”

“Don’t give me that. You know who. She slept the entire night right outside the door.” Tessa jerked her head toward the door to the sick bay. “I got here this morning, and her hand was pressed up against the wall.”

I cleared away the sudden lump in my throat. “I’m offended you and Kieran weren’t by my side all night, too.”

Tessa snorted. “We’ve got better things to do, like make sure this crew isn’t going to toss us overboard.”

“What’s the verdict?”

“They’re still jumpy,” she said with a shrug, “but we made it clear with their captain that we’re here by Chancellor Bay’s suggestion. We just want peace with the Triad Realm.”

The memory of their captain with his hand wrapped possessively around Vera’s arm came to the forefront, and I scowled.

Tessa raised an eyebrow. “Careful. If your eyebrows get any grumpier, they might break off.”

I glared at her. “I need to find her. I need to see Vera.” I was already tossing the thin blanket off and bracing myself to stand. A deep, throbbing ache radiated from my shoulder and into my collarbone when I twisted my torso.

“Whoa, slow down.” Tessa guided me into a sitting position. “You need to rest. We don’t have magic here to heal you. You could hurt yourself again.”

“I don’t care.”

“Just wait a minute, Ev. You’ll have plenty of time to⁠—”

“I’ve been waiting!” I exclaimed, throwing my good arm out wide. “For an entire year, I did everything right. I gave her space. I respected her choice. I survived without her.” I shook my head. “Don’t tell me to keep waiting, Tessa. I can’t do it anymore. Not when she’s this close.”

Someone cleared their throat by the door, and we both whirled. Vera stood with her arms crossed over her chest, an oversized white tunic tucked into tight leather pants. Torchlight flickered behind her. It made her golden eyes shine brighter, highlighting the streaks of red in her blonde hair. The sight of her always made my breath catch, but this was like someone had punched it right out of me.

“You’re awake,” she said softly.

I merely nodded, mouth hanging slightly open, until Tessa elbowed me in the ribs. I snapped my mouth shut.

“Captain Starke wants to meet with you.” Vera tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “If you’re feeling up to it.”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “I’m fine. We can go.”

Vera led us out of the sick bay and to the quarterdeck. I took in the damage from the day before, the splintered wood, overturned barrels, windswept sails and cut ropes. The deck was packed with crewmembers cleaning and repairing broken lines. It was hard to believe how peaceful the water now looked beneath the high sun, when mere hours ago, it had been ready to consume us whole.