Page 149 of Cursed Crowns

“Only when she behaves herself,” needled Rose.

“Which, of course, is hardly ever,” said Celeste. “Andpleasestop calling me ‘Lessie.’”

“Fine,” said Wren. “And to further prove my graciousness, I won’t marry your brother.”

“We’ll settle on firm friends,” said Marino with a laugh. “We all know my heart belongs to the sea anyway.”

“And what a fine captain you make,” said Wren. “In fact, this is the third time you’ve made this treacherous journey for me, Marino, which means you have more than earned your knighthood.” She smirked. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten our deal.”

Rose looked between them. “I really wish you wouldn’t make royal deals without me.”

“It was only a small one,” said Wren defensively.

“Last week you promised to knight Tilda.”

“In my defense, she told averyfunny joke. I had to reward her.”

“She also promised me a mermaid,” said Marino.

“Wren!” Rose shook her head at her sister, but a smile danced on her lips. “I suppose I can support that one, actually. I would quite like to meet a mermaid.”

Celeste chuckled. “You really shouldn’t indulge him.”

Marino pouted. “Leave me be, Lessie. I’m heartsick.”

“Aren’t we all?” said Rose, touching her head against his shoulder, as her thoughts no doubt turned to Shen. Wren cast her gaze out to the sea, trying not to think of Tor and the mess she had made back in Gevra. She had a bad feeling she was going to have to face at least some of it today.

The sea was flat and gray, veiled by a low-hanging mist that hidits true expanse. It was so silent Wren couldn’t hear the waves, but the wind nudged them onward, into the silvery abyss.

“So this is the famous Sunless Sea.” Rose came to her side, her nose wrinkling. “It seems so...dead.”

“That’s because it’s deep,” said Wren. “And full of secrets. Who knows what kind of creatures are moving below us right now...”

“Thank you for that calming thought.” Rose blew out a breath. “I wish your healing strand would hurry up and kick in. Then I wouldn’t have to face that dreadful king again.”

Wren felt a jolt of unease at the word “dreadful.” The truth was, Alarik Felsing was far more complex than that. So, too, were her feelings about the Gevran king. And then there was the matter of Wren’s healing magic. She forced an easy smile. Her healing strand wasn’t just late, it was nonexistent. Wren would never possess the most noble strand of the witches’ power because of what she had done at Grinstad. “It’ll be over before you know it, Rose. There’s nothing to fear. I’ll be right here.”

As though the twins had willed its arrival with their thoughts, a mighty ship with silver sails appeared in the distance, as though it had formed from the mist itself. It seemed much larger than Wren remembered, and yet it moved toward them with the gracefulness of a swan.

Wren’s heart began to hammer in her chest. She strained to make out the figures standing out on deck, but the creeping fog made ghosts of them.

Rose stiffened. “Alarik’d better not have brought his beasts.”

“Pay them no mind,” said Wren, thinking of the king’s wolves, and that great hulking bear. “They’re well trained.”

Thanks to Tor.Her pulse quickened.

“That’s precisely what I am worried about. How do you know Alarik isn’t going to order one of them to tear us to pieces?”

“Please try to trust him, Rose. Trustme.”

Rose sighed. “I’ll do my best.”

Within minutes, the king of Gevra’s ship was before them. Marino’s crew leaped into action, dropping the anchor and securing the gangway.

Celeste climbed up first, flinging her arms out for balance as she began the walk to the other side.

Wren went next, tapping the pouch of sand at her waist for luck, then the dagger at her hip for courage, before climbing on to the gangway. She was dressed in her favorite trousers and leather boots, which she had paired with a fur-lined crimson coat that reached all the way up to her chin. She pulled it tighter as she inched across the plank, keeping her gaze on the back of Celeste’s head.

---