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Nelvin nods his head toward the stern. “She’s expecting you.”
“Alright then.” Sebastian starts to walk away, only to come back. “Nelvin, if a single hair on her head--“
The elf cuts him off. “Yeah, yeah. You’ll float me. Got it.”
Sebastian tucks his chin to his chest, then plants a kiss on my forehead before leaving us alone. I watch him leave for a long moment, unsure how I feel about spending time with someone else. Especially since he’s not sure who he can trust yet.
Nelvin’s silver gaze slides to me, his grin turning sly. “How was your evening?”
Heat creeps over my cheeks, but I feign a smile. “That’s none of your business.”
Nelvin clutches his chest as we head to the companionway. “Ouch. My heart, it’s broken.”
We descend into the belly of the ship and the aroma of freshly baked bread and cured meats greets us. The smell alone has my stomach rumbling.
Crewmen wander about, piling their plates high, and settling into groups at the various wooden tables. A few curious glances turn my way, but for the most part, it’s business as usual. I guess Sebastian’s show of power the other night was enough to settle their minds.
Nelvin steers me toward an empty table in the corner, well away from the thicker crowds. “Now, how about I get us some food so we can chat, hmm?”
“I can get my own food.” I arch a brow at him. “I’m not helpless, you know.”
He holds up his hands in surrender, silver eyes glinting with mirth. “My mistake. I’ll leave you to it then, princess.”
With that, Nelvin abandons me to join a rowdy group at the center table. Their laughter nearly drowns out the clatter of dishes. Shaking my head, I make my way to the buffet and fill my plate with slices of bread, cured meats, cheeses, and fresh fruit.
By the time I return to the table, Nelvin’s already dug into his meal. He swallows a bite of sausage but doesn’t jump to start up a conversation. Not until he’s cleaned his plate.
Nelvin sets down his mug and levels me with a serious look. “Now, there’s something you should know about this crew.” His gaze sweeps the room, lingering on different groups. “We’ve been together a long time. We trust each other with our lives. We’re protective of our own. These men aren’t out for you specifically, they just don’t want Hook to get hurt.”
His words spark a flicker of unease. I know full well the challenges that lie ahead in earning the crew’s acceptance. As much as Sebastian and I have grown closer, old prejudices die hard.
I keep my face carefully blank, choosing not to respond.
Nelvin sighs and shakes his head. “Look, I don’t trust you, but Sebastian seems to genuinely care, so I’m willing to give you a chance.”
“How generous,” I say dryly, spearing a chunk of sausage and popping it in my mouth.
When both of us are done, Nelvin leads me to the room I stayed in below deck. “We’ll grab your things and take them to Hook’s room.”
Nelvin turns the doorknob and gestures for me to step inside. “After you, witchling.”
“I have a name, you know.” Crossing my arms, I stare at him, arching a brow.
“Mine suits you more.” He motions for me to go inside again, and I roll my eyes.
“Fine, have it your way. I’ll only need a second.”
Heading for the closet, I grab what I can in my arms, getting ready to throw it all in the chest. The door shuts and as I turn around to face it, the sweet scent of magic swarms my nose.
Dammit.
Rushing forward, I try the handle, but just as I suspected, I’m locked in. Spelled in, actually. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes, focusing my magic. It’ll be hours before Sebastian notices I’m down here, and for some reason, I’m not panicking... I’ve never felt this calm, actually. It’s sort of peaceful or would be, if I wasn’t trapped here.
When I open my eyes, threads appear, weaving into an intricate web. Since I can’t panic to alert Sebastian, it’s either breaking this boundary or crawling through the porthole, and from two stories below deck, that would be one hell of a climb.
Here goes nothing. With a deep breath, I start plucking threads and untying knots. It’s going to be a while.
34
