Page 71 of Untamed

He continued, “I can see why Zichri is taken with you.”

Annoyance vibrated up my spine at his previous act of ignorance about my identity. I hardened the set of my chin and flared my nostrils, unwilling to hide my disgust.

“But I’m afraid you’ll only be disappointed with my brother.” His eyes squinted with sadistic pleasure.

“What are you trying to say?” I enunciated each word.

“He’s weak, and you need a man.”

I pushed away from Hugo, but he locked his grip on my body, squeezing hard. “Let go.” The command in my tone did nothing to stop him.

“Calm yourself.” He smirked and brought me so close I could smell mint on his breath. “Tell Zichri he won’t outlive Papá, and you’ll be mine.”

Prickly goosebumps coated my skin as his meaning settled.

He released me with an airy chuckle.

I stalked toward the balcony, heat burning where Hugo had touched my hand and back. The crowd around me continued to twirl, bow, and strut through their moves. Others chatted at the tables, downing pewter mugs. I quickened my pace, not able to get to the balcony soon enough.

Air. My chest tightened.

I glanced over my shoulder and couldn’t find Hugo’s dark, cropped head. Worry clawed my insides. My heart pumped faster. I spun back around toward the balcony and slammed into someone. A scream leapt up my throat.

Chapter 29

Laude

Beatriz disappeared into Minerva’sportal without my permission, but I couldn’t do a thing from all the way up on the deck ofLa Lavia. With all Beatriz’s talk about trusting me, I had decided to ditch the murder plans. Queen Cottia would have to find another way.

Part of me wanted to uncork the bottles in my pockets and dump them into the sea. The other part of me knew better than to waste the queen’s efforts since she’d been planning and training to defeat this whyzer for decades.

“She’ll come back.” Jaime covered my hand with his. He must have correctly read the concern on my face. I was worried and also disappointed at not getting away more quickly.

Something moved in the shadows near the palace, but all went still. Minerva and Zichri had a private conversation, not noticing another presence.

Zichri whistled up to us. “We’re going to go check on something. We’ll be right back.”

Then our friends vanished. The wooden planks below emptied as firelight danced in the wind.

Behind us, sailors scurried about preparing the sails to depart, but then I caught one older fellow leaning against a barrel like he was a passenger. The hood over his head overshadowed his face, though I could still make out the gleam in his eyes that were focused on me.

I spun around, heart pounding, and pressed into Jaime. “Do you see the old man behind us?”

He started to turn.

“Wait, don’t make it so obvious,” I whispered.

“How am I supposed to get a look at him?

“Pretend to drop something.” I searched my sleeves, realizing I hadn’t a sensible thing to use for our little skit.

Jaime did his you’re-making-a-little-thing-into-a-mountain eyebrow raise. “How about I go get a lamp from the storage closet?”

“That works too.”

He kissed my forehead, and a wave of warmth spread from his touch. The moment he sped away, I wanted to grab his arm and tell him not to go, but that was me being ridiculous. We were safe onLa Lavia. I turned back toward the deck to see a single man approaching from the palace. He wasn’t too tall, and judging by his straight hair parted in the middle, it was Ears. He took long enough. Where was Fermín?

Ears untethered the ropes holdingLa Laviato the dock, climbed up the gangplank, and stepped down beside me. His mouth shifted into a smirk that didn’t sit well with me.

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