Page 80 of Voice of the Ocean

“Thank you,” he said, an almost pained expression crossing his face, “for helping us get to the island. Without you, we wouldn’t have made it.”

Celeste shrugged, unsure how else to respond. She didn’t regret telling him about the current, but it still sat like an uncomfortable weight upon her.Better you and this crew find Lunapesce than someone else the Pirate King sends, she reminded herself firmly.

The captain walked around the bed and sank down onto the foot of it. He leaned upon the tall wooden bedpost, running a hand through his hair. It was a tell of his she had become familiar with now. Something was on his mind. Silence stretched between them. Not uncomfortable, but expectant.

“I haven’t been entirely honest with you,” he said at last.

Celeste straightened.

“I—” He paused, thinking carefully about his next words. Something tightened in her chest.What are you not telling me?Heart hammering, Celeste tucked her legs beneath her.She hated the way his confession made her feel. As though she were bracing for something terrible.

“When I got my first ship a year ago, I got cocky and led my crew into a trap, and—well, you’ve met Valencia.” His voice grew taut, and his eyes hardened.

Pieces fell into place in Celeste’s mind one after the other. Why he would go out of his way to steal Valencia’s ship. Valencia’s mockery of him in Port Velluno. And what’s worse, Celeste realized with a pang, he hadn’t only failed one crew. He’d failedtwo.

“We managed to escape, but she sank the ship. That was when my father gave me one chance to make it up to him.” He did not meet her eyes; he gazed blankly at the oil lamp on the bedside table. The light flickered upon his haunted expression. “That’s the real reason we’re on this treasure hunt. Not for money. Or glory. Because I was overconfident and ignored my crew’s warnings. When my father found out, I honestly thought he was going to execute me.” At last he turned to look at her, his eyes searching her face. She could see how nervous this confession made him. How the muscles in his back were tense, as if ready for a blow. She knew that feeling. Knew how it felt to lay yourself bare and vulnerable to someone, hoping they would accept you anyway. Even if they saw the worst of yourself.

Leaning forward, she took his hand and gave it a squeeze.It’s okay. We all make mistakes, she tried to tell him. Raiden’s shoulders fell. His hand was so warm, unusually so for a human or siren. Did he have a fever from the storm? He opened his mouth to say more.

A knock sounded at the door. “Captain, you’re needed on deck.” Bastian stood in the doorway, his face stern. Raiden sighed heavily and released Celeste’s hand. The moment between them dissolved like seafoam.

“I’ll be up shortly,” the captain replied, his eyes remaining on hers. Ever so gently, he leaned forward and tucked a stray piece of her silvery hair behind her ear. “As you were,” he said with a teasing wink, before rising from the bed and leaving the room.

* * *

Celeste walked dutifully from barrel to barrel, tugging on the ropes that held them in place to check that they were secure. The winds were fairer today, so they had been able to lower the sails. As she finished with the final barrel, Raiden approached her. Shadows circled his eyes, betraying how much this past week weighed on him.

“You look terrible,” he said by way of greeting.

Celeste gave him a withering look.

“Cheer up, love. We’re almost out of the storm,” he said, grinning and pointing.

And sure enough, at the edge of the horizon, she saw a sliver of clear skies. A bit of the waxing moon alighting the sky early. She almost wept with joy.

“Captain, we’re approaching the final turn,” Kiyami called from the wheel, dark hair sticking to her neck from the rain. If Raiden looked worse for wear, Kiyami looked like a dead girl walking.

“Kiyami, you haven’t slept in over twenty-four hours. I’ll take over. Go get some sleep,” Raiden said.

She frowned. “Captain, this is the end of the current. Shouldn’t it be all hands on deck?”

“Not if the hands in question haven’t rested in days,” Raiden insisted. “It’s not a risk I’m willing to take. Besides, this used to be my job before I became a captain. TheRed Revengeis in good hands. Go. That’s an order.”

Kiyami nodded. Her shoulders relaxed, as if a great weight had been lifted.

“Wake me if you need anything,” Kiyami called over her shoulder before she dragged her soaked body below deck. The rest of the crew remained, securing themselves to the masts of the ship with rope. No one would fall overboard this time.

Celeste and Raiden looped their ropes around the mizzenmast, each with enough length for them to walk a little around the upper deck, but no more.

Celeste cast one final glance around, searching for any sign of the Chorus. She saw nothing but churning ocean.We might just pull this off yet, she thought with a swell of pride. Then the current appeared in the sea before them, water bending abruptly. She placed a hand on Raiden’s shoulder to get his attention and pointed to the knot of waves.

“We’re approaching the bend!” he called. “Brace yourselves!”

The crew pulled the ropes tight around their waists. Some offered prayers. Others did nothing but stare blankly out to sea.

The ship jerked sideways as it hit the bend. Raiden’s hands flew over the wheel. It was a hairpin turn, almost impossible to do even with their reasonably sized ship. Barrels strained against their supports. The ship tilted. Bastian slipped, falling upon the deck. Hard. He slid for a horrible moment, before catching ahold of his rope.

She looked to Raiden, realizing her hand hadn’t left his shoulder. She loosened her white-knuckle grip on him. His eyes remained trained on the wheel. But his hands struggled to keep the ship steady. Waves hit against the bow, tossing the vessel up and down. The end of the current was just a few lengths ahead.

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