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Five
Havana
Sunlight caressed me awake. I yawned and stretched, slowly waking to the strange room around me. Memories of last night flooded my mind and explained the sore muscles in my body. How was it possible to get sore from a storm? Though, being tied up for hours probably explained it.
With a groan, I tossed the blanket off, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
What was I doing here?
Biting my thumbnail, I tapped my foot against the floor. It was one thing to travel on a ship alone, but with a dark fae captain? The dark fae differed from the surface fae. They lived below in the Underground, owed no allegiance to the surface folk, and their magic was as wild as their attitudes. If Leon found out I was the first daughter of King Tarsios, he could ransom me for a year’s worth of gold or dump me off the side of the boat and pretend he never saw me . . . because just associating with me could cause instant death.
Sometimes I wondered if my father had once been a pirate with his cutthroat attitude and short temper.
So, I’d play the role of naïve runaway and hope no one would ask questions.
The soft cotton rubbed against my arms, and I grabbed my bag off the floor. Since I had to travel light, I only packed a handful of dresses and undergarments and my most prized possession.
Hidden within the folds of a sunflower color dress sat my bracers. I’d taken them off last night before going to sleep. They’d keep me safe from any unwanted advances.
I undid the straps and slipped the leathers on. The bracers reached from my wrist to almost my elbow with the mechanism on the inside of my wrist. The golden yellow sun emblems shined from the incoming light. Once on, I grabbed the yellow dress and climbed into it. The flowing sleeves easily covered my precious weapons.
Knock. Knock.
“Who is it?” I called.
“Leon.”
“Come in,” I said, as I tugged the string in the back to tighten the bodice of the dress.
The hat he wore sat on his head, angled to the side, allowing me a quick peek at his perfectly sharp cheekbones.
“Are you rested?” he asked, slinking into the room.
“Yes, thank you. How did the ship fare?”
He leaned against the doorway; his body too relaxed for the night we just endured. “She’s good. We veered a bit north, but there’s an area we can anchor near the forest. Would you like to accompany me to shore?”
“Yes.” My response came out too quickly, and I silently berated myself.
Closer he came, stepping until our chests touched. With him being a bit taller, I glanced up into those dangerous eyes, wondering what he thought in this moment.
“You will need to stay by my side,” he said, running his finger across my cheek. “It’s my duty to keep you safe.”
I nodded, playing right into his dangerous hands. “I’m ready.”
His warm touch left my face. “Come, love, before I decide to show you what else we do to pass the time at sea.”
Heat spread from my chest down to my core. He winked and opened the door. I was never one to be short on words, but I had never been around a male who wasn’t too worried about my station and father to talk to me in such a manner. Only one had ever taken the risk. We were young and stupid, and crazy for one another.
Smiling, I thought on my old friend, Taylor. The sweet and comical boy who brought me to the stables, unafraid of our parents finding us playing in the hay. If he were still alive, he’d push me to enjoy this adventure to the fullest.
Leon placed a hand on my lower back as I passed through the doorway, allowing me to walk in front of him. Heading up the stairs to the deck, I made sure to take my time, noticing the steps were slick with water. Leon brushed against my hips when I stopped.
“Careful, love,” he whispered in my ear, grabbing my waist, and drawing me against his chest. “These steps can be slippery after a storm.”
His hot breath tickled my neck, and I ignored the excitement that it brought. I wanted to reply with a witty comment, but his presence unnerved me, taking all thought from my mind. By the time we breached the hull, the salty air woke me from my heated stupor. I could not let this handsome male affect me so much.
I really need to get out of the palace more.
