Page 118

I sighed. “It wasn’t quite the same, but the desire to remain on the isle was similar to the contentment of Eilifur. We didn’t want to go. Then, something in that damn sand tried to keep us there.”

We recounted how the sand burst from the shore when we left. The men listened with wide eyes, uncertain what it all meant.

“Seems strange, lass,” Nightseer said. “Too strange. We felt it too. That first night, we couldn’t recall much of anythin’. Never wanted to leave. Next thing we knows, we’re in chains.”

“Not Windswayer,” Tait said through his teeth.

Swordeater rubbed the scruff of his beard. “The traitor be locked up with us at first. They took him when they took Boneseer and Fireweaver. Whatever he done in those moments, he broke his oath.”

Tait glanced at me. “And Mira broke him.”

I picked at a loose stitch on my gown, a slow spread of warmth overtaking my face.

Swordeater and Nightseer barked mirrored laughs, praising their glamour fae lovey for her tricky gifts.

“He deserved it” was all I could muster. I lifted my chin. “Why do they kill fae but let Lena and Windswayer live? They said they needed one more man.”

“Need our blood,” said Swordeater. “We be hearin’ the guards chatterin’. There is somethin’ with fae blood.”

“And Windswayer negotiated something to keep his life,” I said.

Swordeater shook his head. “He did, lovey. Heard talk of it in the halls. Mind you, I didn’t know it be Windswayer makin’ the deals. The mortal king wanted the princess to give ’em more fae blood. Two fae make a fae. Follow me, lovey?”

Tait’s arm encircled my shoulders and pulled me against his side as though the seas might toss me out and steal me away. “You think they would’ve forced Mira and Windswayer to have babes?”

Swordeater shrugged. “Some of those guards spoke of it. Said the sea witch could not be havin’ magical babes, but she has other purposes. Kept sayin’ they needed to find the lady fae. I suspect Windswayer let on that we be escortin’ a princess.”

Bleeding hells. “But…then, Eeva. She…she might be in danger too.”

“The sweet golden lass?” Swordeater’s full brows furrowed. “I can’t puzzle her out. She has another purpose for them and had no look of a prisoner, yet she said somethin’ before we was chained. Said how glad she was to have new folk to meet since most always left without sayin’ their farewells. Felt so sorry for the lass. I swore I’d bid her a proper farewell. Seems I lied, didn’t I?”

“Her desires were friendly,” Tait muttered, “from what I could tell. The others, they all desired for us to be there, nothing threatening. They were careful, as though they knew what I could do.”

“Likely did if they be talkin’ to Windswayer.”

Tait pounded a fist against the rail of the boat. “I should’ve seen through it.”

I pressed one palm against his cheek. “Don’t you dare start blaming yourself.”

He tilted his face to press a kiss to the center of my palm, but his shoulders curved like more weight pressed on his spine.

“They wanted me,” I said. “But, again, Djur wanted one more of you, as well. He said they would allow you all to leave if I remained, along with one man. Any thoughts on why?”

The men shook their heads and we fell into silence for a time, only listening to the lap of the sea against the hull.

“The king’s girl,” Nightseer finally said. “Not certain she knows what goes on either. Said something about her father bringing folk to guide her around the Far Seas before she took her place as a queen. Said no one ever fulfills their duty, so she didn’t right trust us.”

“Zara?” I did not understand anything about Eilifur. Zara was a princess, mortal, but she did seem almost aggravated to dine with fae folk.

But Eeva had been bright, shy, delighted at the thought of new allies at the table. I did not know what sort of manipulation they’d leveled against the woman. There was an ache in my chest. I suspected there was more to Eeva, and I could not shake the thought that we’d left behind someone who was as trapped as the crew.

“Glad you didn’t get taken, lovey.” Nightseer tipped his chin. “Would’ve missed ye.”

I could not even summon a grin in return.

Tait looked heavenward. “They’ll pay. But for now, we get to the Ever. We need to warn the king and queen. We take shifts, aye?”

“Aye,” all the men repeated.