Page 97 of Claimed By the Depths

Kael blew out a breath, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “Fuck.”

“Syoran, Kael, I need you to believe me when I say⁠—”

Cutting Lorelie off before she could finish, I shot back, “I’m not the fucking one you should be apologizing to. What was said is said, I just hope time is taken to recognize the implications of what was shared.” I directed my attention to Ignis, who seemed to recoil beneath the weight of my anger. “Whether spite, slipping truth, or who gives a shit what else, you’ve now blanketed the morale on this ship with nothing more than spite and anguish.”

Extending a hand to Kael out of instinct, I clenched my jaw the second I acknowledged my stupidity. He was still mourning, still processing Percy’s death, and it was selfish of me to offer such⁠—

His calloused palm wrapped around mine, leveraging me as a counterbalance as he stood to his full height. Casting his gaze between Lorelie and Ignis, he sighed and offered what I, too, knew was the truth. “Just give them time to process. I think they’ve always understood the implications of their roles as Divari, but haven’t had it spewed at them with such harshness. We will reconvene in the morning.”

At the dip of both of their heads, he pivoted on his heel. Hand still grasping mine, he tugged slightly as he motioned toward our awaiting rooms with a soft smile. Unable to stop my own from forming, I squeezed a little tighter in an attempt to ingrain this moment in my mind before trailing after him across the deck.

For I would follow him anywhere.

CHAPTER 50

Weapon, Shield, and Wall

CASPIAN

With a gentle nudge, the door to my quarters swung open. Where silence once would’ve greeted me, the steady drum of booted feet storming across the wooden planks replaced it. It confirmed her presence—and with it came ease—fire nipping at her heels as she paced the room.

“I’m so fucking done with this shit!” she barked, running her fingers through her tousled waves. “I’m sick of the lies, the secrets, the godsdamned bullshit! We are not martyrs for them to just use, and if that’s what they expect, I will purposefully oppose them and bathe in their tears while their pitiful realm rots.”

“Ro.”

“I’ve been fighting my entire life! Thrust into trauma all for what? For Ellira? For some bigger purpose? Fuck the prophecy, I want to live. For once, I want to exist without expectation or demand.”

I tried again. “Ro.”

“But no, the weaver of fate, whatever the fuck that means, decided otherwise. There is no such thing as peace, not when our lineages are tied to selfish gods who don’t give two shits about what happens to us.” Scoffing, she pivoted and began walking back toward me. “They care for us? Fucking lies. They’re incapable. All they care about⁠—”

Hand curling around her waist, I dragged her toward me. “My deadly little siren, your wrath is potent and valid, but the words you speak are filled with lies,” I hummed, kissing the side of her head. “You care too much, and that is why you are upset.”

She swatted my chest, unmistakable power billowing from her. “Don’t you dare sit here and lecture me, Caspian Vayne.”

“Then what would you prefer I do? Listen to you talk yourself into a spiral? You’ve hardly been granted the space to express your emotions, and the only one you are familiar with is ire. It is where you find comfort because it is all you’ve known.” My fingertips ghosted over her back. “Tell me, darling, what about this makes you angry? Does it have to do with you instilling trust in Ellira and her failing to cradle that?”

Emerald irises lifted to meet me, a slight glimmer rippling across her gaze. “Stop talking.”

“Why? Because I’m right?”

“Because you’re infuriating!” she shouted. “Because where other men have wasted no time silencing my complaints, you have only listened. Because where I’ve been met with harshness, you’ve validated me. Because you’re… Sorva is killing you, Caspian.”

I brushed a fallen strand behind her ear. “Keep going.”

“Your voice has been stifled, and the man I met in Seirdra’s Veil is not who I’ve come to know. I just got you,” she whispered, her knuckles whitening as she fisted my shirt. “Your truth, kindness, and the depths of your essence, and I… Every part of me longs for you, and that terrifies me, because not once have I felt this way about another. Never have I acknowledged fear of losing someone because I’ve never had anyone, and learning that my mother guided me to you just to have plotted your demise… I fucking can’t, Cas.”

“I hear you, baby. I hear you.” Pressing my lips to her pulse point, my nose grazed her jaw. “All you feel, every emotion, I share it. I can sense your heartache, and I need you to know that you are not alone.” Another kiss. “You have never and will never be alone again.”

Weaving her touch through my curls, she forced my head away from her. Concern still lingered within her stare, but something more potent had joined it—desire. Eyes devouring me, she examined every inch of me as her hand swept down my neck before settling on my shoulder.

“Kneel.”

Guttural need consumed me, and without pause, I dropped down on one knee. Peering up at her, I wrapped my arm around the back of her thigh and hoisted her thigh flush against my chest. “Gods above, you will be the death of me.”

Touch unmoved, she caressed my collarbone on her descent. A finger settled under my chin, and she tilted my head upward, the corners of her mouth curled. “I believe you told me you would crawl for me. Yes?”

My tongue ran across my bottom lip. “Yes.”