Page 74 of Shrine of Fire

“Which is quite large,” one of the ladies tittered.

“That’s not all that’s large,” a sailor snickered. “Betas might not have knots but that doesn’t mean they can’t get the job done.” The sailor laid a card shaped like a rope, but everyone called the “knot” card and everyone groaned.

That was apparently a trump card that pulled the sailor into the lead. I had thought Lord Baylin was winning, but maybe not.

I leaned closer to Cuan. No one had actively flirted with him but, for some reason, the ladies teasing Cuan about being big made me want to climb into his lap and scent mark him. Just so they would all know he was mine.

Cuan winked. “It’s not how big the knot is, but how you tie it, right, Hashir?”

“Absolutely.” Hashir laid another card down. He was serious at cards, if little else and, judging by his body language, he was going to win.

“How much further, Captain?” Lord Baylin asked, laying down some of his own cards. I didn’t remember their names, but Baylin’s body language matched Hashir’s.

“Another week, same as yesterday.” Captain Lin grumbled, flicking a six out. She seemed irritated, but that was her default setting.

“Nova, darling, let’s play our corner card.” Cuan leaned over, his oakmoss and whiskey scent crowding me. I’d spend the morning locked away with Hashir and Aki, coming so much I almost blacked out. And then I’d stolen Kalahar away later in the afternoon.

Somehow my libido was not satisfied. My heat was coming, and I needed to speak with the men before things got out of hands. My hormones had the potential to send most of them into a rut where they might do things they would later regret. Stefan and I had only kissed, thus far, and I didn’t want to push him further without him being fully aware of what he was engaging in.

I also wanted Cuan. He’d spent the week telling me stories of Fairuin, rubbing my feet, bringing me food, and joking with the crew. Any attempts at being coy on my part disappeared on the wind when he wore his trousers or helped with the ropes and his biceps flexed.

I sighed and leaned against his shoulder. The night sky was clear and beautiful, but I wondered how I could get him back to our rooms without anyone else following.

Hashir played another card and winked at me. “Having fun, love?”

“Yes.” I looked at Stefan, who had started as Lady Pelissa’s partner and now switched to Hashir. “Have you played this game?”

“Not often.” He smiled. “We played more Threats and Conquests.”

“Conquests, I bet.” Aki muttered, dropping his last card, and standing up. It sounded like innuendo even though I knew better. “That’s me out. I’m doing a walk around the deck.”

Which was code for making sure we weren’t being ambushed. Captain Lin didn’t seem offended that Aki didn’t trust her security.

Cuan and I played a few more rounds until I had to switch with one of the sailors. I tried not to pout when Cuan moved to sit next to one of the ladies in waiting. She barely looked at him, but I wanted to snarl.

I let out a breath. I would be a reasonable adult. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that I was late for my heat and not bonded. No one’s but mine. Cuan glanced at me across the table and winked. A few more rounds later, and he managed to play his last card.

He grabbed my cards and handed them to my partner. “Apologies, but Nova didn’t sleep well last night. I’m going to make her go to bed early.”

My partner laughed. “Of course, of course.”

Hashir looked at us. “I can drop out.”

I shook my head, looking between him and Stefan. “You’re having fun. Don’t stop on my account.”

“Alright then.” Hashir nodded, and smirked. “Sleep well.”

I heard the innuendo in Hashir’s voice. Cuan led me back to our cabin and began making me some tea. “Why don’t you change and get comfortable?” He nodded at the water closet off the side of the room.

I changed into a soft nightshirt, and some thick socks, and climbed into bed. Cuan had put a hot water bottle underneath the blankets, and I cuddled it. My back was achy, a sure sign I would be in heat soon.

“Here’s some snacks.” Cuan brought me some small biscuits that I craved for no reason. He pulled another quilt out of the closet and laid it over me.

“Thank you for coming down with me.” I snuggled under the blankets. “I was beyond ready to leave.”

“You seem out of sorts.” Cuan pulled my yarn bag out. “It was time to call it a night. Let Hashir fleece them.”

He’d been teaching me the cabling technique, but I was still a novice. Looping the rows over each other required holding my tension differently, so my cables bumped weirdly while Cuan’s own project laid flat. He’d started a new project so he could show me, something wine red with yellow and orange worked into it.

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