AllFreeNovel
Share Us
THE SERPENT
Once we were swallowedbelowdecks and the water drained, lowering us to the floorboards, I limped to the helm. Aleksi and the others remained close.
“There are levels to this monstrosity,” Jonas muttered. “And it’s longer than I thought, but why couldn’t our ships make it through the Chasm?”
“Jo,” Sander said, laughing. “Look at the difference between this vessel and our longships. Numerous sails and levels—”
“Decks,” Aleksi said. “I’ve learned they call them decks.”
Jonas didn’t seem to be listening. He paused at the top of the hatch, one hand running along the rail. “Is this . . . bone?”
“Yes,” I grumbled. “Stay close until we find your places.”
“What does he mean places?” Mira whispered to Aleksi.
“Everyone has a place aboard the ship.”
“You’re a proper sea fae, Bloodsummoner,” Tait said, nudging Alek’s arm, and promptly ignored the narrowed gaze of the princess when he stepped too close.
“The king be aboard!” The roar of a crewman greeted me once I stepped onto the main deck.
The Ever Crew bustled about, pausing only to dip their chins when I limped past, making my way toward the helm.
Until we all were brought to a halt by a shrill, bitter voice. “Heartwalker. Bloodsummoner. You damn wretches.”
Blocking the steps leading to the helm, Celine Tidecaller stood as a furious barrier between us.
Her eyes burned in fear-lined rage. “No signal, no assurances for those you left behind. What am I to think about my king while we wait here? Now you show your faces, grinning like we ought to cheer you on?”
Celine stomped down the steps. Beneath the blue headscarf keeping her hair off her brow, the silver strands caught the light as she tossed it over her shoulders. Her fingers twisted the spike in her one fully formed ear, a twitch she often did when she wanted to claw at eyes.
She spared no glance my way, merely shoved past me as though I were a haunt aboard the ship, struck Aleksi in the shoulder, and attempted to slap Tait before he dodged.
“Dammit, Tidecaller, stop,” Tait hissed. “Did you think we were lounging about? They had me in irons.”
“I will have you in worse soon enough. And you, Bloodsummoner,” Celine reached into her tunic pocket and tossed a silver coin at Alek. “Here I was, imagining all the ways you betrayed us.”
“You’d think so lowly of me even after all our bonding in the Ever?”
“Yes! I’ve been thinking rather violent things against you.” Celine’s blazing eyes peeled off Alek and onto me. She clamped her lips tightly, a wrinkle to her nose. “It’s good to see you alive, King Erik.”
I dipped my chin. “Tidecaller. Quite through with your words?”
“Are you . . . were you harmed?”
“No.”
“Lies on the tongue, little eel.” Sewell stepped around Stormbringer near the mast and closed the space between us, inspectingthe new scrapes and cuts on my lips and brows. “The bite of a wolf?”
“A few minor bites,” I told him and opened an arm toward the new royals aboard. “But I think we might be coming to a tentative truce.”
Sewell freed a slight groan. “More tricky foxes.”
“Earth fae?” Celine rolled her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Royal earth fae,” I shot back and turned away.
“You trust them, Alek?” Mira whispered, gripping the prince’s arm.
