Page 34 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

“Or,” another voice cuts in, “you could distract yourself with me.”

Darius appears at my other side. Windblown hair makes him look even more roguish than usual, as does the open neckline of his dark tunic, exposing the top of his pale, muscular chest.

“Train with me rather than subject yourself to this brute and his dated combat strategies.”

“Those outdated strategies are the only reason you still draw breath,” Draven counters.

Darius laughs. “How about we let the lady decide who she wishes to pass her time with?”

Teasing dark eyes meet mine. “What will it be, Elara? Sparring with Draven and getting knocked on your ass? Or spending time learning defensive maneuvers with a male who knows how to care for a female?”

He waggles his eyebrows.

I drop my head to hide the annoying blush heating my cheeks and notice how Draven’s fingers flex.

“Elara?” Darius prompts.

I lift my chin. “I’ll stick with Draven, thanks.”

Darius’s jaw drops, then he laughs. “Oh, man, brother. Perhaps I’m not the threat to you-know-who.”

“You’re an idiot,” Draven mutters, leading me away before his instigating brother can reply.

He releases my arm the moment we reach the door. He ducks through the opening. Several inches of space separate the top of my head and the doorframe when I follow.

My hands brush either side of the narrow passageway for balance as Draven leads me past a stairwell that goes below deck. We pass two doors on our right before stopping in front of a broad, tall door at the ship’s rear.

“Here you are.” Draven swings the warped wood inward. “Jaxon’s already put your belongings inside.”

I step past him and blink. The cabin is larger than I expected. A heavy oak desk is bolted to the floor in front of the windows facing the sea, offering a dim view of the white-capped waves thrashing below. Nautical maps are nailed to the walls.

A door sits beside the open closet, and a narrow bed with dark blankets is tucked against the other wall, as if this cabin is used more for business, with sleep as an afterthought. My bags are placed on top of the mattress. A small chest sits at the foot of the bed.

I take it all in with a raised brow then turn back to Draven. “You’re telling me the captain offered up his personal cabin?”

“Trust me, the money was too appealing to pass up.”

I suppose so.

I lift the bread roll still in my hands. “Thanks again for this.”

He inclines his head. “Eat. Rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”

The latch clicks as he closes the door.

I sink onto the bed, surprised by the softness. I’d been expecting a lumpy mattress like the one back home.

Home.

Can I even call Verdanthia home anymore?

Moisture burns behind my eyes.

Even if I wanted to return, I couldn’t. General Ironheart runs things now.

Lev’s father has never liked me, but now that I’ve escaped with the help of Fae, I’m officially his enemy.

Ferria and I will never be welcomed back to the place where we grew up—the place we shed our blood, sweat, and tears to help our neighbors.