Page 40 of Shrine of Fire

I looked up at his severe face, at how his arms flexed as he held them up. “I’ll enjoy the view until then.”

Some of his ire drained away, and he looked down at me with a heated expression. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Okay,” I agreed. It had been a few days since we’d bedded each other between all the preparations. Maybe we had some time.

The ward snapped around me hard enough I gasped.

“Sorry, sorry.” Aki took two giant steps back. “I was never as smooth at wards as Valens.”

“It’s okay.” I rolled my shoulders. It was a small enchantment, making it easier to function without pack bonds. I no longer felt like a wound bleeding into the world. “That’s a lot better, thank you.”

“I should have done it sooner.” Aki grumbled, then turned and stalked away. “I’m going back to preparations.”

“Alright.”

I walked him leave, the warmth of his ward around me lingering.

He could never be mine, but it didn’t stop my heart from aching for him.

The day we were to leave port dawned bright and clear. The royal procession made its way out of the palace, winding through the streets of the capital, and ending at the dock.

Stefan and I were dressed in beautiful robes and waved to the people gathered as we made our way up the plank. Lord Baylin and his group of advisors followed closely behind us.

We stopped on the main deck of the ship facing the captain. I was shocked to discover the captain was a woman, a female alpha.

She was a middle-aged woman with raven black hair shot through with gray. Her hair was pulled back into a tight braid, and her leathers were dyed red and black, the colors of the royal crest.

“I’m Captain Lin.” She looked over all of us with a stern expression. “We are honored to host the Royal Tour, but on my ship, to ensure your safety, we ask you remain on the two main decks.”

The crew ran around the deck, pulling on ropes, tying things off, and opening the sails. I didn’t know a single thing about sailing, except that the breeze on my face made me smile.

Hashir, Aki, and Kalahar had boarded earlier, to check our rooms. I scanned the deck for them but saw only unfamiliar faces. I grabbed Stefan’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

He glanced briefly at me and nodded at Captain Lin. “Of course, Captain Lin. Thank you for taking us on our voyage. We will do our best to stay out of your hair.”

“Indeed, we shall.” Lord Baylin nodded. “We are most honored to have a twice-medaled Captain Lin heading our journey.”

“Good.” Captain Lin gave a last nod and turned on her heel. She began talking to the rest of the crew.

Baylin turned to me. “Shall we watch our procession out of port?”

I was planning on finding Hashir, but I supposed it was the proper thing.

“I can introduce you to some lady companions.” Baylin gestured behind him, at a loose group of fine lords and ladies.

Inwardly I groaned. Politics.

“Of course.” I put a smile on my face. “What a lovely idea.”

Stefan and I walked to the bow of the ship with Lord Baylin’s group, and we waved as the ship sailed out of the harbor.

“This is Lady Coraline,” Baylin gestured at a beautiful woman with an icy expression. I recognized her vaguely as one of the ladies who congratulated me at the Royal Ball. She had the same black hair and brown eyes that seemed common to the Ember Island people, but her skin was flawlessly golden and her features delicate.

“So happy to make your acquaintance again,” Lady Coraline said. “We are honored to have such a famous omega among us.”

Baylin introduced me to three other ladies, and I marked their names. Even though their features were different, they blended in my mind as ladies of the court. I couldn’t tell due to the breeze blowing in the wrong direction, and then the overpowering scent of their powder, but I thought the ladies were all betas.

Part of me wanted to hate them on sight. They were manipulative and scheming, and I wouldn’t trust them, but they were also products of their environment. If this was how the Ember King ran his court, it was no wonder it produced a nest of vipers.

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