Page 28 of Of the Stars and Sea

“You’ve almost gotten yourself killed twice now and you haven’t even been with us for one day.” The echo of Grayson’s words rings around my clattered mind.

Still dazed from what just happened, I just look up at him and blink.

“Go back to your room, Rowenya,” he commands, and some carnal part of me desires to do whatever he pleases.

Stunned, I watch Grayson pull his longsword from its sheath and without another word he disappears into the crowd of his men as they edge toward the railing, preparing to board the merchant ship.

A dull ache settles between my brows as I watch Grayson and his men walk the planks to cross the gap to the merchant ship from the safety of the quarterdeck. The hull of the merchant ship has gaping holes from theCaelestia’sattack. It wouldn’t have survived much longer if her captain had not surrendered.

Amongst all the men, my gaze is immediately drawn to Grayson’s lithe movements as he lands easily on the deck of the ship. Everything about him is beauty laced with the hard edgeof death. With Zaos at his side, Grayson saunters up the stairs of the ship’s quarterdeck where the captain stands at the railing. My stomach coils at the sight of him. Twin rivers of blood trail out of his nose and down his chin.

Grayson’s men surround the commandeered crew on the main deck, their swords pointing toward the bundle of bodies to ensure no one tries to escape or start a fight. Tommy’s lanky body stands out on the far end of the deck. He tosses his hair out of his face, but keeps his short sword pointed straight.

I wait to see what Grayson will do with the souls on board as one of his men walks up the steps and whispers something into his ear. Grayson looks at him pointedly, and the man nods to confirm whatever he just said. Grayson takes a step toward the opposing captain and draws his sword.

Scrunching my brows, I keep my gaze trained on his weapon. The captain and his mensurrendered. It is against The Code to assassinate those who bend the knee and that’s exactly what it looks like Grayson is about to do.

I hold my breath, unable to reconcile what I am seeing. Grayson Tyde is ruthless in his endeavors. I know this to be true. But if word gets out that Grayson is taking liberties with the only honor left amongst our kind, surely a mutiny will occur—or the remaining pirate lords may chase him down, forcing him to answer for his wrong doings.

Pirates may not be civilized, but what honor we have left runs deep. It is the very reason I have been cast out for the dishonorable things I’ve done.

Grayson’s men look up at him from the deck below as he walks behind the merchant ship’s captain and lays the tip of his sword on the man’s shoulder. Grayson gives his men the signal and swords swing through the air. Blood sprays everywhere. Bodies fall, their thuds mixing with gasps and silenced screams.

Bile rises in my throat at the injustice of it. The cruelty that blankets Grayson’s face as he pulls back his sword and releases a sweeping blow after the opposing captain was forced to watch every one of his men die before he met his own end.

In this moment, I realize . . . there is nothing beautiful about Grayson Tyde at all. For his darkness is too bleak. It casts out all light.

Chapter 8

Two days have passed since Grayson assassinated the merchant ship’s captain and crew. Two days and I haven’t felt the sun on my face or the breeze whisper through my hair. I tried to push myself to make it to the deck this morning when I felt the ship stop moving, but the heaviness of the past few days have left me weary in bed.

It is one thing to hear of Grayson’s cruelty. It is another thing entirely to witness it firsthand.

The only face I’ve seen since the attack was Doc’s when he came to patch up my facial wound a few hours after we parted the merchant ship.

The solitude has been welcoming—and torturous.

Raven’s face has haunted most of my waking hours since there have been little distractions to keep my mind occupied. The grief clamps around my heart, filling my time with long moments of regret and guilt. Wondering if I had made even the slightest change to our plan, would she still be here? It is a special kind of torment to ask oneself a question that can never be answered. A punishment that is not nearly brutal enough for the sin I have committed that led to her untimely demise.

A death that should have been mine, yet air still fills my lungs with each breath I take.

Mindlessly, I reach for the Serpent’s Key. Turning the box over and over in my hands, I close my eyes and trace my fingertips over the lines that are embossed along the sides.

The gold is cool to the touch. Unlike the feeling of Grayson’s warmth every time he has been near. Keeping my eyes closed, I envision the pad of his thumb and forefinger grasping my chin as he tilts my head back, ensuring I can’t look away from him.

Even now, my toes curl against the duvet on the bed.

My eyes fly open and I slam the Serpent’s Key back onto the bedside table, jostling the small vial of healing potion I have yet to consume.

“Agh!” I groan in utter frustration. Scraping a hand down my face, I let the anger simmer beneath my skin. The anger I feel forhim. . . and for myself.

The spell of unwanted desire he has over me is like weighted chains fastened around my ankles before I walk off the plank. Whatever it is I—no, mybody—feels for that male is nothing more than conjured tricks that he picked up from some witch or siren.

He may have lured me into his charm for a brief moment, but there is no way in hells I will allow myself to be enthralled by a male who lacks all honor. Who kills at will and is no better than the man who took Raven’s life.

Sitting up, I gingerly back myself against the wooden headboard. It took a great deal of effort to get dressed in my newly cleaned clothes this morning. I could hardly raise my left arm more than a few inches. It’s starting to lock up and if I don’t do something soon, it won’t be long before it’s rendered completely useless.

I look back at the vial and that’s when I see it. A small rectangular notch extends out from the right side of theSerpent’s Key. Picking it back up, I press on the notch and it slowly goes back to its original place, making the surface smooth once again.

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