Page 48 of Of the Stars and Sea

A flash of his canines glimmers in the lantern light as his lips curl. “We’ll see about that.”

Then he slips through the doorway and I’m left all alone.

Standing by the window, I see the moon is high in the night sky. With the waning lantern lights around the street, it’s hard to make out all the stars like I can while on the open sea. A few stragglers from surrounding taverns stumble out of the doorways to try to find their way back to their home or an inn for the night.

Turning around, I walk back toward the bed where my belt and twin daggers are strewn across the duvet, along with my bloodied tunic and pants that desperately need a wash. The night air billowing in from the open window is sticky from being so far inland. The ocean’s breeze is faint compared to being onthe beach and the heat was making it difficult to think, so I peeled the layers off until I was down to my undergarments. The thin fabric across my breasts and covering my bottom is much lighter, but a glistening sheen of sweat still coats my skin.

There hasn’t been sign of Grayson’s return. Hours have passed since he left with Zaos. He said he had matters to tend to and all I can think about is the busty blonde named Cassandra.

Not that it’s any of my business, I remind myself. Grayson might have let me in on a secret to pacify my disdain for him, but that doesn’t mean there’s something between us other than pure bodily attraction.

He has a right to fuck whoever he wants. As do I.

Even though the thought of him withhermakes my head swim with anger. Her perfect face was like that of a siren’s. And her body.Gods. Even I couldn’t take my eyes off those breasts and the hourglass figure beneath them.

She seemed toknowGrayson, though, and perhaps that’s what bothers me most.

Not just that she’s perfect—but that she’s perfect andknowshim. Perhaps he’s bedded her already before, not once, but many times.Ugh. I cannot think of it.

To avoid thinking about it, I’ve been working to unlock the puzzle box pattern within the Serpent’s Key. For hours. And now I have a headache.

Groaning, I pick it back up from where I tossed it onto the bed earlier. Turning it over in my hands, I start pressing my fingers into the grooves along the sides. Since Grayson left, I was able to release three more notches. The box is no longer seamless, as two of the notches were pushed in and the other two released outward.

As I continue to work and pace about the room, my mind wanders to stories my father told me of Thaeto’s treasure. During the Heavenly War, after Olayra and Viryon fell througha rip in the stars, their two sons were left to rule over the world. Being the older brother, Thaeto was the natural successor, but Ujun had always been jealous of him. So he bided his time and waited for the perfect moment to strike, and once he did, there was a great darkness that covered the world as the two brothers fought over who would take their parents’ throne in the heavens.

Thaeto was loved by many. He ruled the sea and also the wind. He granted much favor for fishermen who respected the creatures of the water providing them with bountiful rewards.

While Thaeto had ruled with love, Ujun ruled over the land through fear and famine. Thaeto saw his brother’s missteps and did what he could to ensure the safety of all people—both seafaring and land-dwelling alike.

It is said that Thaeto loved his brother so deeply he was not able to see the darkness that crept into Ujun’s everlight—his immortal soul—until it was too late. The great darkness that Ujun cast upon the world to distract his brother was Thaeto’s undoing because he cared for the people’s suffering so deeply. As Thaeto fought and battled the creatures that rose from the hells to protect the Southern Realm, Ujun met with the Queen of the Dark Moon witch coven. He vowed to protect her people from the great darkness if she were to place a curse upon his brother that would put him into a deep slumber.

The Witch Queen was desperate to protect her kin, so she used the power of her everlight to place the curse on Thaeto. The cost was her life.

And Ujun did not keep his promise to the Witch Queen for fear that her daughter’s overwhelming grief would lead her to cursehim. He burned their homeland until everything that was once green and beautiful had turned to ash. With the witch’s connection to their land severed, their powers were no longer a threat to him.

Satisfied with his victory, Ujun crawled back to the heavens to sit upon his throne and keep a watchful eye over the world he had changed forever while his brother was forced to remain asleep—leaving his treasure ripe for the taking for anyone brave enough to claim it.

And what a treasure it will be.

With a gentle caress, I slide my finger along one of the lines until I feel another click. A fifth release triggers as another rectangle shoots forward from the right side of the box.

Still, nothing happens. The Serpent’s Key remains closed and I groan in frustration. A soft rap hits the door and then Collin’s voice rings through the air. “Everything all right in there?”

I go to open the door and lean against the frame. Crossing my arms over my nearly bare chest, he raises his blond eyebrows in question. His green eyes don’t steal a single glance at the bright gold rectangle dangling from my right hand—just as Doc didn’t care to look at it either when he was stitching me up in my room on the ship. Mildly insulted, I notice they don’t roam my half-naked body, either.

“No, Collin. Everything isnotall right.”

“Is there something I can help with?” His throat bobs and I wonder if he thinks I am about to make a run for it.

“When is your captain coming back?” I peer around his stocky frame to look down the hallway, finding it dark, with only a few lantern lights still lit.

His meaty hand rests on the pommel of his sword and now I certainly know he is waiting for me to make a move to evade him. Much to my own surprise, I plan on staying in this room all night. “He did not say, milady.”

I bristle. “How many times must I tell you men to stop calling memilady?”

He bows his head. “Sorry. Rowenya.”

“Thank you.” I pat him twice on his chest and he scowls at me. “Could you fetch me a shot of rum?”

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