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I scowl. “Of course not.” I try to make my voice as cool as his, but I just sound like I’m mocking him. “Good morning, Your Highness.”
“And byhe, do you refer to Rian?” He pauses dramatically. “Ah, do forgive me.Captain Blakemore.”
My cheeks are flaming entirely against my will. I let go of his arm.
“What fight did he stop?” Corrick asks. Some of the chill has slipped out of his voice, and genuine curiosity has slid in to replace it.
“Lochlan had a bit of an altercation.”
Corrick’s eyes flick skyward. “You don’t say.”
“It sounds like a crewman started it.”
“See? I won’t need to throw him overboard. The captain will end up doing it for me.”
I frown and say nothing.
“I’m kidding,” he says.
“Well, forgive me for not being sure.” We reach my door, and I push through.
Corrick follows me in, letting the door fall shut behind him, closing Kilbourne in the hallway—and us into this room. He leans back against the door and folds his arms, looking as darkly dangerous as ever.
I ignore him.
He doesn’t return the favor. “Kilbourne told me you were climbing the masts with the captain this morning.”
“I was.” I find my apothecary kit by the end of my bed, and I take a moment to eat one of Karri’s peppermints. The bag is all I really came here for, but Corrick doesn’t move away from the door.
I set my shoulders and look at him. “The captain was checking the sails, and I was wondering how difficult it was. Do you find that hard to believe?”
“That you were curious, or that you were fearless?”
“Both.”
“I watched you stop a revolution.” His eyes hold mine. “I don’t find either option hard to believe.”
Something in his tone makes me shiver.
“You don’t like him,” I say. “I don’t understand why.”
“It doesn’t matter if I like him. I’m not sure I cantrusthim.”
“You don’t trust anyone,” I scoff.
Those words hit him in a way I don’t expect, and I’m not entirely sure how I can tell, but they do. Maybe it’s a little flinch in his eyes, like he’s taken a blow he wasn’t ready for.
“I didn’t mean that as an offense, Your Highness.”
I say it lightly, but a muscle twitches in his jaw, and I regret calling him that. He says nothing.
With a start, I realize that maybe I’ve found myself on the list of people he doesn’t trust.
I pat my bag. “We should go up.”
He straightens, drawing the door open, ever the gentlemen. “After you, Miss Cade.”
I move to stride past him, but the prince catches my arm,drawing me to a stop. My breath stops and my heart kicks, but his hand is gentle, warm against my sleeve.
