Page 47 of Untamed

“Your brothers stole the relics?” I scrunched my nose.

“No…possibly.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Papá isn’t himself right now. He mumbles about the relics being with a new keeper. I know that can’t be completely true. Some of the relics are hidden in Himzo’s palace walls, but I am concerned.”

A hive of nervous energy swarmed in my heart, making it difficult to contain the energy of my gifting pulsing from myfingertips. He was indeed worried. I didn’t fully understand what it meant for me to have one of the relics. Was I the new keeper? Would I lose my gifting?

One part of me lifted with joy at the prospect of never having the burden of my gift again. The other part sank with disappointment. I pressed my shoulder blades together, maintaining perfect posture.

Laude threw open the door. “Princess, you missed it.”

A smile stretched in place. “Shall we walk the decks?”

Zichri offered his strong arm, and I looped mine into his. He led me out to the sunbathed planks with a hundred sailors working the sails, and a couple Dotados in conversation.

I let my gaze wander through the ropes and masts. Cosme stood on the upper deck, leaning on the side. The strange girl, Minerva, chatted with my brother, batting her lashes, and smiling too readily. From this angle, she seemed familiar in some way, but I hadn’t met her before. Had I?

“Perhaps we should join Cosme?” I asked Zichri.

“Are you sure? He looks to be plenty entertained.” Zichri’s expression stated that he’d prefer to escape my brother’s company, but I didn’t like Cosme’s and Minerva’s interaction. My brother had just broken his betrothal. She, on the other hand, held a certain pull over Cosme. It wasn’t like Zichri and I could get a moment alone, anyway.

“Let’s join them,” I said.

Chapter 20

Beatriz

Taking the stairs fromthe bottom deck to the top deck ofLa Lavia, I determined two things. I would not allow Cosme to be at peace until he included me in his plans. This Minerva couldn’t be good news if Laude didn’t trust her, not to mention the way she was flirting with a man who’d broken off his betrothal only three weeks ago.

I strode with determination, and Zichri and Laude followed closely behind me. My boots pounded the planks so hard they could be heard over the surf.

Cosme laughed at something Señorita Minerva said, but his eyes narrowed as he saw me approaching.Good. He should know that there’s something wrong with his actions, bringing a new conquest to visit the old betrothed.

“Jaime is up here with Lucas and Fermín.” Laude pointed to the men across the top deck.

My steps didn’t waver. Minerva dropped her chin to her chest and offered a faint smile in greeting. Curls whipped about her face. A pink hue flushed her neck, revealing her guilt.

“Yes, Beatriz?” Cosme crossed his arms, and the skin between his eyebrows pinched with annoyance. “Did you want something?”

I looked over my shoulder. Zichri stood a couple paces off, darting glances between Laude, who had escaped to Jaime’s side, and me. I signaled for him to go with the others. “I’ll join you shortly.”

A muscle in Zichri’s cheek twitched, but he nodded. He’d understand my need to speak privately with my errant brother. And this way, if Cosme decided to have a dagger tongue and revealed something embarrassing about me, Zichri would not be by my side to hear.

I pressed my shoulders back and lifted my chin high in my practiced royal demeanor. “I don’t like to be made a fool. You said you’d help—”

“And I got you what you wanted.” Cosme flung a hand in Zichri’s direction.

Could Zichri and the others hear Cosme? The five of them huddled in a circle on the other side of the deck. Laude nudged Jaime’s side, and Jaime clasped her hand. Zichri’s back faced me, but Lucas stretched his neck over Zichri’s shoulder, spying on our conversation.

Returning my attention to Cosme, I lowered my voice. “Yes, you united me with Zichri, but the way you did it… Papá might keep me locked in a gilded cage until I marry, if he lets me marry Zichri at all.”

Minerva backstepped, hunching even more than before.

“This trip is sanctioned by Papá. You and I both know that Zichri and you might not be given their blessing, regardless of this trip.”

A quivering breath escaped my lungs. “What did you tell Papá?”

Cosme scratched his prickly jawline. “He’s aware we’re going to Aracibel and of the letters—be it sparse because of the curse. That’s all he needed to know and all he wanted to know. His command was that Zichri not step onto Giddelian soil, and he has not. Are we done?”

“No, we’re not done. How did you contact Zichri?” Pinpricks raced along my fingertips, igniting the markings on my arms. I clenched my fists.

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