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Half the royal city came out to follow us to one of the Glass Isles. A plot of land off the shores of the city that was covered in the darkening. Heads bowed as we made our way to the docks, but most peeked to catch a glimpse at the princess.
Livia wrung her hands in the folds of her skirt until I thought she might tear a hole in the fabric. I reached back and slipped my fingers through hers. “Pretend there is no one here but me, love.”
Her cheek twitched. “Ah, but you are the problem, Bloodsinger.”
She didn’t release my hand until we reached the last dock where a long sloop was readied with the banner of the Ever King whipping about in the wind.
Livia’s expression brightened in an instant. “Sewell!”
She gathered her skirt in hand and hurried to the narrow gangplank.
“Glittering, this day.” Sewell tugged on a rope, managing the black canvas sail. “Comin’ aboard?”
Livia chuckled. “Seems that way.”
Sewell winked and offered a quick glance toward Celine before I stepped onto the deck. “Going under, little eel?”
He was asking if we were sailing the way our ships were meant to sail.
“That we are, Sewell. Ready her to dive.” I led Livia toward the helm. “I’ll be taking us beneath the tides, Songbird. As we did through the Chasm, don’t let go.”
With a snide grin, she pressed her chest against mine and wrapped her arms around my neck. Nestled between my arms, she was positioned the same way she’d been the night I stole her away. The difference between now and then was the look in her eyes. A flash of something warm and almost greedy burned in the blue.
“Like this, Serpent?”
“Yes.” Dammit. My voice was a rasp lined in grit and desire. The press of her curves rushed heat to the wrong places. I focused ahead. Once the skeleton crew was aboard, I whistled sharply and waved a hand. A gust of wind caught the sails and the sloop turned away from the shore.
Livia’s fingertips played with the ends of my hair behind my neck. She closed her eyes when the sea breeze kissed her cheeks. Gods, she looked made for the Ever.
“Take her down,” I called out. More boats followed in our wake. The people were coming to witness the last thread of hope. My stomach lurched in unease. What if it was too much and we couldn’t destroy it?
“We will,” Livia whispered.
I froze, but she wasn’t looking at me. I wasn’t sure she realized she’d taken hold and absorbed my fear unknowingly. Little by little, this tether between us was growing. Little by little, I was handing over my scorched, rotted heart.
I couldn’t stop.
A man he’s not. . . low hums and chants rumbled over the deck as the crew worked the sails and readied to dive.
“Hold tight, Songbird,” I whispered next to her ear.
Livia braced. Water spilled over the bow, the deck, until the sea swallowed us.
* * *
“They’re here to watch?” Livia glanced back at the numerous boats scattered along the shore.
“I want them to see your power.” I hesitated. “They need hope.”
She gave a curt nod and faced the small isle. Small knolls were once covered in lush ferns and tall grasses, trees with waxy, gilded leaves, and ponds with fish of all colors. Now the sand was left colorless, and the plants were withered and blackened.
“Erik.” Livia tugged up her sleeves, eyes forward. “If I fail, what will become of your people?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “If you fail, which you won’t because you’re too bleeding stubborn to prove yourself, I will do what I must to find them somewhere else to live.”
“Where would you go?”
“Through the Chasm, Songbird. I would give myself to your people in exchange for refuge of mine.”
