Page 121 of Of the Stars and Sea

Zaos nods and disappears down the stairway and a few of Grayson’s men finally make their appearance.

“Help us roll the sail,” he commands, and I immediately start moving to gather the end of the sail with his men while Grayson gives orders to his helmsman. We’re dangerously close to the isles. Locked into the ocean’s will, it won’t take long before we crash into them with theBloody Bandit’s foremast drawing more weight into the current.

“Come on, Zaos,” I whisper, and not a moment later, cannon fire blasts. Spinning around, I see our shots blare through the side hull of theBloody Bandit. Wood splinters and smoke fills the air. Another round goes off, and another. Vibrations from below deck shake up my legs as I watch our cannons rip Malihaim’s ship to shreds.

A smile sweeps across my face as I peer over the side of the railing. “It’s taking on water!” I yell to Grayson as I watch Malihaim’s men start to jump overboard.

Grayson rushes to my side, watching theBloody Bandit’s hull sink beneath the rushing water at a rapid pace.

“Blessed stars,” he breathes, his gaze darting ahead of us, where the current has shifted us closer to the three stone isles he ordered his helmsman to avoid. “It’s the foremast. Its weight is pulling us left. We need to get it off our deck.”

As we turn around, the mast slowly starts to rise as theBloody Banditdescends beneath the waves, but the angle still isn’t enough for it to slide off the edge of our ship without aide.

“It’s caught on the railing,” I say quickly. “We need toliftit off,”

Grayson follows me to the pillar of wood just above the sail. His men join us, forming a line down each side.

“Ready!” Grayson bellows and we all squat, securing our hands beneath the pillar. My heart races as I see the details of the stone isles becoming clearer. “Lift!”

Every muscle in my body screams at me to let go as I use all of my might to lift the pillar.

“Higher!” Grayson yells, and I lift with what little strength I have left, my shoulders feeling like I’m ripping them from their sockets—but relief comes swiftly, as the pillar becomes lighter with all of our effort.

We follow it off the edge of the ship and watch as it plummets under the water’s surface.

There’s no time to celebrate the small victory. Grayson and I rush back to the quarterdeck’s railing. “Starboard side! Pull hard!” he instructs his helmsman just in time, as we narrowly miss a brush against the stone isles.

My breath catches in my throat as I watch them pass us by and see Malihaim’s men behind us, floating dangerously close to the white-capped water that will surely drag them into the deadly rocks.

“Captain! Sails to the southeast!” The barrelman shouts and I see him pointing to our right. Grayson and I turn.

“Out of the frying pan,” I say.

“And into the fire,” Grayson finishes. “Lower the mainsails!”

“We’re going to navigate the isles at full speed?” I question.

Grayson’s gaze is hard as he looks down at me. “It’s the only chance I have of getting you out of here, Rowenya. We’ve taken too much damage. If he catches up to us, we won’t survive the fight. Not when we’re battling himandthe isles. We need to get into open water.”

Tension coils in my stomach; I know he’s right. “Then it’s a race to the other side.”

The sunlight catches his eyes, those flecks of silver starlight ignite. I take the stunning sight of him in. Casting every detail of his beautiful face to memory in case this might be the last time I get to gaze upon him.

“Don’t do that.” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, trailing his fingers down the side of my face.

“What?” I ask, breathlessly.

“Look at me as if these might be our last moments together.”

“They might?—”

Grayson presses a finger over my lips. “Do not say such things, Little Pearl. For you know what I would do to protect you.”

Reaching up, I grasp his hand and interlace my fingers with his. “I’m not the only soul on this ship that needs protecting, Grayson.”

He steps into me, his shadow clouding the sun’s light until all I can see is him. “I would damn my own soul and everyone else’s to the hells if it meant keeping you alive.”

My breath catches at his proclamation. “Then I would be left all alone in a world filled with despair.” I bring his hand up to my lips and kiss his knuckles. “That is a fate I would not wish on my worst enemy. So, do not make it mine.”

---