Page 93 of Burning Crowns

‘And?’ said Rose, goading him.

‘I don’t think the same rules of propriety apply,’ he went on. ‘Surely ships have their own set of rules.’

‘I believe you’re right,’ she said, pulling him inside and locking the door.

And then it was only the two of them.

‘Well,’ Shen said, glancing around the small but finely outfitted cabin. ‘This is far nicer than the crew’s bunks.’

‘So, you were only trying to talk your way into a more comfortable bed?’ Rose teased.

‘I wouldn’t dare assume I’d be sharing your bed,’ he said.

‘Well, then I insist,’ said Rose, blushing at her own boldness as she pulled him close, then closer still, until they fell on to the bed together.

Shen brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, gazing down at her as if she was the loveliest creature he’d ever seen. Rose arced up beneath him, wrapping her arms around his neck, before she pressed her lips to his.

Shen kissed her back, hungrily, and she lost herself in him.

Far too soon he pulled away, leaving her lips swollen from his kisses.

‘Rose, I don’t believe I’m saying this, but we should rest. We’ll be at Carrig before we know it. And who knows what we’ll find there.’

Rose sighed. Thoughts of Oonagh shattered the moment. But still. She was with Shen. And that was what mattered now. She curled into him, bringing his hand around her waist and holding it close to her heart.

Shen nuzzled into her, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. The noise from above soon faded until all she could hear was the sound of her breath, mingling with his.

When Rose awoke, she was cold and alone. Shen was gone, most likely keeping a watchful eye on Kai. Shivering, she wrapped herself in her borrowed Gevran furs and went to the porthole. The window was covered in frost, the crystals forming intricate shapes on the glass.

She peered out, hoping for a glimpse of Carrig, but all she saw was the eerily still waters of the Sunless Sea,glistening under the evening sky. Rose ventured above deck, where Marino was standing with both hands on the wheel, a look of intense concentration on his face.

‘Is everything all right?’ Rose asked.

‘I’ve never sailed in this part of the Sunless Sea,’ he said, without tearing his gaze from the water. ‘I usually make port on the mainland but this island you’re after is so remote it’s caught in its own current. It’s best to be on guard.’

‘Very sensible,’ said Rose, approvingly. ‘Rare for you.’

Marino chuckled. ‘I am always sensible when it comes to my ship. You know that, Rosie.’

‘Goodness! Nobody has called me Rosie in years.’

He flashed a grin. ‘You might be Queen Rose now, but you and Celeste will always be Rosie and Lessie to me.’

‘I suppose I’ll allow it,’ she said, returning his smile.

‘I like your Sunkissed king,’ Marino went on. ‘I saw him and his cousin playing cards below deck with my crew, and he fit right in. A good catch indeed.’

Rose let out a burst of laughter. ‘Catch? He’s not a fish!’

Marino gave her a sly look. ‘He might not be a fish but he is certainly caught. Snared. Whatever you want to call it. Plain as day to anyone who sees the two of you together.’

Rose flushed. ‘He is … quite nice,’ she admitted.

‘I’m happy for you,’ said Marino.

‘And what about you? Still looking for that mermaid you saw, once upon a time?’ Rose said, grinning.

‘I’m far too busy for love,’ said Marino, good-naturedly. ‘The sea is all I need. But I know love when I see it, and you, Rose, have found the real thing.’

---