Page 34 of Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice

Reva shook her head. “I wonder why you didn’t choose a less quarrelsome ship. One would think a pliable ship is a must for a pirate.”

“Merchant sailor,” he bawled at her. “I’m a merchant sailor! Not a pirate. Not a kidnapper. I saved your life, Reva Morrigan. If you’d stayed at Black Rock, you’d be dead right now.”

His head fell back against the mast as he stared up into the taut white sails. “I saved your life.” These last words dropped so low Reva strained to catch them.

She shot a questioning look at Isla. “Say something nice?” Isla whispered with a cocked eyebrow and a shrug.

Reva grimaced and moved over to Rency. After a moment’s hesitation, she sat cross-legged across from him and braced her hands against her exposed knees. “All right,” she said in a gentler tone. “I’m sorry I cut up your mother’s dress.”

Rency sniffed woundedly and refused to look at her.

She drummed her fingers against her knees and tried again. “I’m sorry your ship is so… disobedient.”

Calix hiccupped in her pocket, and Rency narrowed his eyes.

“I’m sorry I called you a pirate. And I’m sorry if you thought it was a good idea to lure me onto the sea and forcibly drag me into your cabin.”

A smile tugged at his mouth. “I slept in the crew quarters, I’ll have you know. It was abysmal.”

“So why did you do it? Kidnap—I mean—rescue me.”

Rency heaved a long-suffering sigh, and Reva braced herself for the most exaggerated sob story she’d ever had the misfortune to hear. “Why did I do it, Reva? I should think that was obvious by now.”

“Well, it isn’t obvious to me. So spell it out, Rency. Please.”

“That dress looks good on you, you know. Even with it…tattered. It shows off your lovely legs—”

“Rency.” She growled the word low in her throat, balling her hands into fists.

Behind her, Jareth suffered from another violent fit of coughing. Rency shot him a smug look before turning back to Reva.

“Fine. I should think it was obvious that Prince Felix—your most uncharming suitor—is trying to take control of Etthan by having you assassinated.”

Ripples passed over Reva’s flesh at the thought, but she didn’t think Felix had the brains to pull off an assassination attempt like this. Not on his own. And that meant one of two things…either the king of Desta wanted her dead or…

She shivered as if from a bone-chilling cold. She didn’t want to consider that Cassandra was making a play for the throne. The thought made her sick.

Fingers touched Reva’s shoulder moments before Jareth crouched beside her. Behind him, Isla had also moved to stand closer. “What makes you think Felix was responsible for the attack on the beach?” he asked quietly.

Rency frowned at him, bending one knee so he could brace his bare forearm against it. “Oh, please. Who else did you think it could have been?”

“You.” Jareth’s voice held no mercy but no genuine accusation either.

“If Rency wanted her dead, he’s had ample opportunities to make it happen,” Isla said. The sick expression on her face suggested it rankled every bone in her body to have to admit it out loud.

Reva sucked on her lower lip and tried to pull together her confused thoughts.

“Thank you for that, Isla.” Rency pressed one palm against his chest. “That means the world to me.”

Jareth snorted. “I still am not convinced Felix is the villain in this. Why would he blow up his own ship? Have either of you considered that?”

“I don’t think he did,” Reva said, thinking about her next words. “At least, not on his own.”

Silence hung among them as the others absorbed her words. “So, what are you saying?” Rency said with exaggerated emphasis on each word, “that the explosion on the Endellion and the attack on your own person were executed by two separate parties? For two entirely different agendas?” He did nothing to mask his scorn or disbelief.

Licking her lips, she looked across the deck at the crew who’d already begun cleanup and repairs after the attack. “No, I don’t think that,” she said carefully. “It’s too much of a coincidence. But our list of suspects has narrowed uncomfortably. And while I don’t see why Felix would destroy his own ship, it’s obvious he isn’t working alone.”

“As we’ve already established, I’ve had ample opportunities to do you in…and I haven’t,” Rency said woundedly. “I am the hero in this sordid tale, not the villain.”

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