I couldn’t keep my head up. My lips were chapped, and my blood had turned to dust in my veins. My body was blistered and red from sunburn—I hadn’t thought such a thing was possible in the frozen tundra of the Night Court, but the sun had shone brightly and reflected off the white snow as I had trudged the dried riverbed path from the lake to the sea. Fourteen days with little food or water.
I hadn’t paid much mind to the men that had captured me. I knew my days were numbered, and I couldn’t bring myself to care.
I had spent so many hours in the company of the princelings, trying to decipher their plans and politics, but I shouldn’t have bothered.
One jailor was the same as any other.
My life had ended that day on the frosted sands; any time after was a boon.
I had nothing left to lose.
The Twilight Lake was no longer my home.
Cruinn Castle would never be my home again. I would never wear a crown.
I wasn’t sure I even wanted the High Throne. Did I want to be bled dry in exchange for power?
“What do you think the captain will do with a starved rat of a girl?” The male Fae with no front teeth said, his words strained as he heaved his oar from the water.
“Never hurts to have a new swabby,” the pirate behind me grunted, peeling his apple with a blade bigger than my forearm.
“Especially one with a warm wet hole to sink into,” Toothless chuckled.
Knifey speared him a look. “Don’t speak poorly of females on the water unless you have a death wish.”
“You don’t think—”
“I know the winged ones arealwayslistening.” Knifey threw the apple peel over the side of the rowboat.
I was used to the ebb and flow of the waves. I had missed the familiar roll of the current, but now my stomach twisted with the movement. “Water…” I croaked.
“What was that, lass?” Knifey quirked a brow.
“Water.” I licked my cracked lips.
“Don’t have my canteen on me, lass.” He turned back to his apple. “You’ll have to wait until we get aboard. If the captain likes you, you may get treated to some ale.”
“Water,” I demanded. My voice broke, but my glare was iron.
Toothless glanced at the ship on the horizon. “You like getting wet then, girl?” A nasty look clouded his eyes.
Knifey speared him a look. “We’re bringing her to the captain,” he warned.
“Girl wants water, Harry. Can’t deny her. It would be cruel. We’re civil men, aren’t we?” Toothless grinned, showing the remaining teeth in his mouth, which were rotten and brown.
Knifey, or Harry, scoffed. “Your funeral, Gadon.” He clicked his tongue.
Gadon, aka Toothless, reached forward and touched my shoulder. With one swift movement, he swiped my body clean off the rowboat and into the saltwater of the Dark Sea.
I inhaled the water. Gulping it down and allowing it to fill my lungs and mouth. Relief I hadn’t felt in weeks made every muscle relax as if the water was whispering, ‘You’re safe now.’
The Dark Sea felt different; the water had a distinct personality I wasn’t used to.
When the Twilight Lake spoke to me, it felt eager, like a child. Young and hungry.
The Dark Sea was ancient, like a sleeping behemoth.
I blinked as my eyes got used to the gloom and the dancing lights just below the surface.