Page 110 of Voice of the Ocean

“What?”

“You don’t get to do that.”

“Do what?” He folded his arms across his chest.

“Give up! You don’t get to hate yourself or switch sides or whatever you’re doing right now,” her voice rose. “I will not fall for your games again. You don’t get to make me feel sorry for you!Youbetrayedme. You don’t deserve my forgiveness! I don’t forgive you!”

“I know.” He lowered his eyes to the forest floor.

“No!” Celeste was shouting now. “No, you don’t! Because I—I loved you, Raiden.”

His back stiffened.

“And I was a means to an end.” The truth pierced her, a double-edged sword.

Raiden looked up, his dark brown eyes empty. “I know,” he repeated.

Celeste’s heart shattered all over again. She held his gaze, watching as his walls rose around him. Until she could only see the mask of Captain Raiden Sharp.

“That’s why you never trust a pirate,” he said.

Celeste cursed under her breath. She didn’t have time for this. Her sister was in danger. And she needed a plan. Gripping the gleaming trident, Celeste turned toward the beach.

“Hold it right there,” shouted Torben between rasping breaths. Celeste stopped with a huff. She didn’t know why she did. They weren’t a crew anymore. She did not have to listen to their orders. The group emerged through the trees. Nasir cradled Kiyami, and Bastian brought up the rear. Celeste eyed the quartermaster warily. He avoided her gaze.

“What’s the plan?” Torben asked, wiping the blood from his cheek.

“This isn’t your fight,” Celeste said. “I will not ask you to join me, not after I lied and?—”

“A crew protects their own,” Nasir said, taking his husband’s hand.

Tears sprung to Celeste’s eyes at his words, and the cook chuckled.

“I—I’m coming too,” Bastian added.

The three turned to look at him. He shifted from foot to foot.

“I may not trust sirens, but I know the king. And if my sister was taken...” He broke off.

“Okay,” Celeste said. Bastian looked at her, a grateful smile on his lips. The alliance was delicate, and Celeste still didn’t trust him not to plunge a knife in her back, but she wasn’t in a position to deny help. “Don’t give me a reason to kill you.”

Bastian grinned. “Of course,YourHighness.”

The joke stung. She knew it was only his humor. A way for him to show he was on her side now that he knew who she was. And yet she could not stop her traitorous eyes from finding Raiden. He was watching her intently, reading her every move as always.He knew I was in love with him. And he betrayed me anyway. Her heart stumbled at the thought.But she did not have time to fall apart. So she shouldered her grief. She did not push it away or ignore it, but she carried it with her. A thing to be dealt with when the time was right.

“Do you know what they’re planning?” she asked.

Bastian’s smile faded. “I’m afraid not. All I know is, the Voice was to be delivered directly to the king.”

Celeste nodded and turned back toward the beach. She scanned the great ships, searching for a sign of Sephone—a clue as to which ship she was on.

And then she saw him.

The Pirate King himself.

CHAPTERFORTY-TWO

Celeste had imagined King Leonidas countless times. A puzzle she had put together from the pieces she heard from those around her. But in all her imaginings, she never did him justice. He towered over his crew, standing above the others. But his height was not what set him apart. King Leonidas was resplendent. Thick waves of golden hair fell like a crown around his head, drawn into a knot at the nape of his neck. A large black hat with gold trim sat proudly atop his head, adorned with golden feathers. Blond stubble lined his square jaw, and above his warm smile was a small, trim mustache. Across his broad shoulders, he wore a long coat as red as the setting sun. This, too, was trimmed in gold. Leather belts with gleaming, ornate buckles hung across his hips, bearing a gilded sword at his hip. But far more dazzling than all this was his smile. It was as though the sun itself had turned its face upon her alone, showering her in warmth. Although Raiden clearly favored his mother in appearance, Celeste could see a striking resemblance. Not only in the square set of their jaws or their dazzling smiles but in their energy. Bright and burning.

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