Page 27 of Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice

“That’s blasted unfair, mate. The rest of us don’t stand a chance if you go around enchanting fair princesses with your sneaky ocean magic.”

While Reva couldn’t argue that enchantment had been involved, she was surprised Rency cared more about kissing than drowning. “S-s-song magic,” she said. “I heard a s-s-song.”

She looked to Jareth for answers, but his angular face with its high cheekbones, taut mouth, and deep-set eyes revealed nothing. In the dark, his eyes looked more like deep water—fathomless and dark—rather than the aquamarine of the shallows.

Rency dove between them again, squinting into her face. “Did you say song magic? He used the Sea Song on you too? The gig is up now, Reva. What a mess!” He groaned dramatically and retreated once again. “Our love story ended far too quickly—cut short by elvish trickery.”

What’s a Sea Song?

“Our love s-s-story never started.” She tossed the words over her shoulder. “You n-n-never stood a chance, Rency. Especially after tonight.”

Rency’s eyes narrowed, but a smile played about his lips. “You’re still planning to hang me then? Really, Reva. I thought better of you.”

“T-t-take me back to Black Rock, Rency.”

“No.” Rency spit over the side of the dinghy and settled back against the seat with his arms folded over his chest.

He was still smiling.

Jareth’s arm settled around Reva’s shoulders again and tightened. What was he thinking? She couldn’t see his face without repositioning and making it obvious she wanted to look at him. The dinghy bumped against the hull of the Andromeda. Waves sloshed over the side of the craft and nearly drowned Reva yet again.

“Hello, Beautiful.” Rency cheerfully patted the hull of the ship, which creaked in response to his greeting.

A ladder dropped over the side, and Rency skittered up and out of sight without a backward glance at the rest of them. Jareth caught her elbow and helped her stand and turn to face the front of the dinghy. Her legs shook as she stepped over the bench and reached for the rungs of the ladder. She paused to catch her breath.

“I can carry you up.” Jareth’s voice brought a flush of heat to her cheeks, and she became more aware of the fingers still gripping her wrist. His fingers brushed the edge of the makeshift bandage Rency had wrapped around her arm.

Embarrassment and something else she wasn’t ready to name sliced through her.

“I can manage on my own,” she said, more curtly than she’d intended.

Jareth’s hand fell away, and she placed her foot on the bottom rung. However, by the time she reached the top, she almost wished she’d taken him up on the gallant offer. She could barely move as Rency and one of his sailors pulled her over the railing and set her feet on the creaking deck. Rency pulled her away from the railing and shoved her down on a barrel.

“No more falling overboard for you,” he said, patting her on the head before he returned to the railing to make sure Jareth and the other two sailors boarded without incident.

Someone yelped behind Reva. She turned to watch as Isla darted away from a sailor bent over, hugging his stomach and groaning in pain. Isla threw her arms around Reva and held her tightly. “You stupid, stupid girl,” she said in Reva’s ear as she eased back and brushed Reva’s hair out of her face.

Reva blinked at her, shivering hard without Jareth to keep her warm. “S-s-sorry for trying to save your life.”

“It isn’t your job to protect me.” Isla slapped Reva’s cheek gently, something no one else on the seas would ever dare to do. “Never put yourself in danger like that again. Not for me. Understand?”

Reva nodded, although she really didn’t have any intention of obeying.

As soon as Jareth’s bare feet hit the deck, he also stepped toward Reva, but Rency snapped his fingers to summon two sailors. They grabbed Jareth by the arms and halted him halfway to Reva.

“Find him a bunk,” Rency said without emotion. He flicked a hand toward Isla. “And take that one too.”

Jareth struggled as they shoved him down the gangway to the lower levels of the ship.

When a sailor reached for Reva’s arm, Isla swung a fist toward his face. He dodged back with a yelp, and Rency shouted an impatient, “Not the princess, you lout. Take the other one.”

“The one trying to break my nose?” The pirate caught Isla’s fist and shoved it away.

“Aye, that one. Lock her up with the elf.”

Reva tried to stand on wobbling legs. “No, I want Isla to stay with me—”

But no one listened to her. Her voice had no authority here.

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