Page 38

I said nothing.

Another grunt of annoyance. “Doesn’t matter. Won’t change that you are the most…the most…”

“Ah, can’t summon the words to describe me.” I tightened my hold on the handles of the helm. “It happens to many a lady.”

She released a slight shriek and each word burst from her mouth in a frantic rush. “The most sour, insufferable, and unlikable ass I have ever met.”

Over my shoulder, I met her gaze. “Please, I beg of you, no more. I am so wounded, I don’t know how I will go on.”

Mira rolled her eyes and tilted her face at the sky. Gods, I wish she’d leave, along with her slender, smooth throat.

“All right. I’m going to begin again,” she said after a drawn pause. “Forgive me for my behavior with the sea singer. The first time, I mean. When we were in the Ever.”

“What are you—”

“When we were in the House of Bones and Filib took me in the trance the first time.”

“I recall. I don’t know why you’re bringing it up.”

“Because it is the moment that I assume brought such great offense to you. It is the only moment I can think of for why you detest me now.” Mira paced, attention still on the sky. “I mean, your resentment is at the point that my presence brings you to such outbursts against your own friends.”

“Friends?” My lip curled. “Crewmen are not—”

“I did not intend to…to fall all over you in such a way, Hearttalker. I certainly did not intend to cross paths with the creature again.”

I wasn’t even certain she knew I was attempting to speak.

She waved her hands as she rambled. “Honestly, if you must know, I don’t believe such an unwitting action deserves this…this vitriol you hold for me. It was unintentional, a mishap, as some might say. Yet you hold it against me.”

Mira stopped her pacing. She lifted her chin in a touch of defiance, almost braced for whatever sharp words I might spit back.

She believed my avoidance was because of Filib’s first attack? In a way, I suppose she wasn’t wrong. On that night, the first true crack in my carefully controlled purpose split through me like a maelstrom in my soul.

Words failed me.

For a long, endless silence, it felt as though the very night air crushed down on us.

At long last, Mira lowered her gaze to the floorboards. “Let me be plainer. Is the first incident with the sea singer the reason you hate me?”

Blood pounded between my ears. I wanted to leap over the bleeding rails.

I had to say something, anything, save for the truth of how she was actively torturing me. How her voice drew my regard in a crowd. How her scent was the only thing that raced my pulse. How if I gave in to any of it, soon enough, Mira’s life would be worse for it.

I sharpened my voice with intention. “It is not my hatred that is a threat.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Not so many months ago, you despised all sea fae.”

Her lips parted. “I might as well say the same for you. Did you not despise earth fae?”

She could not see through my flimsy reasoning. I spoke harsher, clearer. “Months ago, all I wanted was to ensure the Ever King kept breathing and did not fall to traitors. That has always been my concern.” I tugged the golden pocket watch from my trousers and let it swing in front of her face on the delicate chain.

Mira swatted the watch aside. “My concern was much the same for my own folk.”

“Ah, but it was you who hated the sea fae the most during the war.”

“No, that isn’t—”