Page 30 of Trapped By Vengeance

Eloise senses my thoughts and backs away, shielding Sir Pigeon from me. “Either weallget off this island— ornoneof us.”

“That’s a bit dramatic—”

“But I do like being on the island with you.”

I blink. “You do?”

“I enjoy adventuring with you.”

“It may be fun for a little while, but you’ll eventually have to return to normal life.”

Eloise frowns. “It won’t ever be normal again. Not without them.”

My heart fractures a bit more at the reminder of my failure. “I’m sorry, pup.”

But she’s already halfway down the hill, barreling toward the other end of the island from the shipwrecked pirates.

Valda lets her go for a moment before shrugging. “Well, I’m going to go bathe.”

It takes me a moment to register her words. My gaze snaps to her. “You are most certainlynot. We haven’t time for such frivolities when there’s food to gather and water to find—” Her words echo in my head. “Wait, have you discovered a freshwater source?”

She raises that inferno eyebrow at me. “I wasn’t planning on bathing in salt water, if that’s what you’re asking. I saw a creek while I was fleeing— before the heavens turned against me.”

I paw at my neck that is itching again this morning. “Well, lead the way!”

“I don’t have to do anything, but since I was going that way, anyway . . .” Valda turns and strides across our tree-covered hill like she’s holding court and not marooned on a deserted island.

The sound of flowing water comes to my ears, and I charge ahead. There is a deep pond on the top of the hill, cresting into a dainty waterfall flowing down the side opposite from our cave. It deepens at the bottom and cuts through the forest as a stream.

Looking around, I spot Eloise already at the foot of the waterfall, sipping the water.

With the assurance that her need is met, I drop to my knees to satiate my thirst.

“You even drink like a dog.”

I lift my head and find Valda leaning her hip against a tree. She’s watching me with sardonic amusement written on her features.

“Are you not thirsty?” I gesture to the creek.

“My thirst has already been quenched, I assure you.”

I narrow my eyes at her, butmythirst hasn’t been satisfied yet, so I turn back to the pond. This time, I restrain myself and cup the water into my hands instead of lapping it up directly.

“Finish already so I can bathe.”

Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I glare at her. “You are not bathing in our drinking water.”

“But—”

I shake my head once and stand. “Now that we have water, we need to find something to eat so we can determine our next steps.”

Valda shrugs. “I’m not hungry.”

“No. Absolutely not.” I march toward her. “You are not continuing this starvation charade while we’re stranded on this island.Nothappening.”

“You keep thinking you can control me.” Valda crosses her arms over her chest and stares up at me, her eyes glinting with a challenge. “How many times do I have to prove you wrong?”

“Just because you’re unnaturally stubborn does not mean you have any say in your state of captivity. I will see you protected, fed, and returned to your father onmyterms.”

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