Page 16 of The Stolen Crown

Calista tapped the tiny nose of her sleeping daughter. “No. I merely had to pause and scold my wild one.”

“Ah. Mira’s ignoring the signs again?”

“Gods.” I let my head fall back. “It has been so lovely to see you both, truly. Now, safe journey home.” The king and queen laughed softly when I scooped up the sleeping babe. “I’ll take my walk to the Borough with Vera, thank you very much. She does not scold me.”

“Well, she can’t speak yet, so…” Calista slipped one of her hands through Silas’s now-free arm.

“She will have more pleasing manners than her mother and father, surely.”

We took a curved path around the shore and nearby docks. At the next bend, my heart leapt to the back of my throat. The Sea Void was straight ahead.

On the deck near the rail, the crewmen held up silver mirrors while they trimmed their beards or picked between their teeth.

I looked at none of them. Like a damn traitor, my gaze found him at once. And what an unfortunate glance it was.

Tait Heartwalker held a black tunic in his hands, seemingly inspecting a seam on the arm. He was naked from the waist up. Sun kissed his skin and his dark hair was free from the headscarf he often used to keep hair out of his eyes.

Gods, he was a beautiful disaster.

Handsome to the point of pain with a sour disposition of equal measure.

Tait did not leave his ship often, only, it seemed, to pluck me free from the grasp of a sea singer. With the Ever King’s intentions to keep us bound as sailing companions, I was certain Erik wanted to haunt my days with his cousin’s wretchedly aggravating beauty.

For vengeance, I planned to replace every dark shade in the Ever King’s palace with something odiously cheerful.

As though he sensed my gawking, Tait’s head lifted. Those blood-and-honey eyes went wide at the sight of me for a mere breath, then narrowed in sharp regard. Another moment and he strode across the deck, out of sight.

“Oi! ’Lo, lovey.” Swordeater leaned over the rail. “We be preparing to dine with you regal folk in a few chimes. Queen came herself to invite us.”

I blinked. The sea fae were attending the revel? Well, dammit.

My smile was rehearsed, poised, and always friendly. Like a proper princess. “I can hardly wait, Swordeater. I do hope you’ll save a dance for me.”

“Aye, lass.” He clapped a hand on the rail of the ship. “Already had more’n one lady be askin’ if Heartwalker will take to the floor.”

Heat prickled up my neck. It was nothing like jealousy. Not in the least. It was surely annoyance such a glowering man would be clouding all the delight in the ballroom this evening.

“I daresay it will be a sight if he finally braves a dance with someone.”

Swordeater barked a loud, raspy laugh, repeating my words over his shoulder to the rest of the crew. I hoped Tait heard them.

He might, at last, dance with me, and I could look into his eyes and perhaps gain a bit of insight why the man held me in such disdain.

And I would also know what it felt like to have his hands—no, gods, it didn’t matter what those hands felt like.

I bid a short farewell to the crew and tried to hurry on my way, but Calista stood in my path.

“Like I said, my wild one,” she whispered, “take heed of those signs. Your tale is only beginning.”

6

The Illusionist

Filib was missing his head. For it had been delivered to my wing in the royal house.

This had to be some sort of twisted jest. A strip of parchment trembled in my grip, written in an elegant pen, three simple words: For your revenge.

Revenge?