Page 238 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

“Who I am is of no consequence.” He straightens. “You, on the other hand, are of very great consequence, it seems.”

I force myself to hold his gaze, refusing to cower.

His eyes are a clear, bluish-green hue, reminiscent of the shallow ocean tides along the coast of Astloria. They’re…beautiful.

I swallow the bile crawling up my throat and say, “I’m no one important.”

His lips twitch. “Come now, sea star. We both know that’s not true.”

I frown and finally drag my gaze away, unsettled by the intensity in his stunning stare and the taunting nickname.

The cabin comes into focus. It’s smaller than the captain’s quarters on the last ship I was on, but it’s finer, too.

Silver knobs adorn the drawers fixed to the wall, as well as the hinges and clasps of the traveler’s trunk to my right. Cresting waves are carved into the surface of the trunk. Hand-painted scrollwork traces the edges.

Near the bay window, a modest bed is tucked beneath the sill. A plush, silk-cased pillow rests on top of a thick blanket, tucked neatly under the edge of the mattress.

Everything here is high quality. Neat. Not what I imagined for a pirate ship.

“Where are we?” I ask.

“On one of His Highness’s finest sailing vessels.”

My head snaps up. “M-marek’s ship?”

Am I the Fae king’s prisoner?

The male’s upper lip curls, revealing a sharp fang. “Absolutely not. Every soul aboard this ship would sooner drown in a tempest than serve that usurper.”

What?

My gaze flicks to his ears once more, confirming he’s Fae.

He is.

And yet…he doesn’t like the king?

The stranger reads my reaction like I’m an open book. “So, it’s true. You know next to nothing about the world.”

My pulse pounds in my ears as I straighten my spine. “I know plenty.”

“Do you? Well, that’s a relief. I was beginning to suspect the stories of the famed human healer were exaggerated.”

He grins, and the pleased expression illuminates his features.

Heat creeps up my neck.

He’s your captor, Elara. Control yourself!

I close my eyes and think.

This male knows I’m a healer, but he called me human. He could be tricking me, or he might not know I’m part Fae.

Either way, I’m resolved not to admit anything. At least not until I know what’s going on.

Once I’m confident I can look at the handsome stranger without succumbing to distraction, I open my eyes.

“Did the mayor’s wife ask you to abduct me?” I ask, tone flat, hoping my directness will dissuade the male from lying to me.