Page 25 of Of the Stars and Sea

But the longer I stare at his eyes, I see the hardened nature of them.

There is nothing soft or giving about this man. The blight of death lingers around him like a stain he can’t get rid of.

Blythe may have scars that fill his entire body representing each kill he has made, but something tells me the man standing before me has more kills than Blythe could acquire in an entire lifetime.

I move to stand next to him, glancing toward the shoreline where the opposing ship finally raises its flag—it hails the colors of Esoros, white and royal blue, with the ancient lion’s crest nestled in the center. The last thing this man needs is an inflated ego with one more person cowering in his presence. It doesn’t matter how many people he’s killed with those throwing knives.Iwon’t be one of them. At least not while I am still of use to his captain. And some part of me relishes in knowing that he can’t touch me.

“Thiscaptivehas a name,” I tell him. “And if you are after a fight with that merchant ship, I can assure you, I am much better use on deck than I am locked away in a room.”

He snarls.

I just smile back.

Grayson takes a step toward us and I instinctively take a step back, my hand falling to my dagger. His gaze drops to my hand and his lips quirk upward.

“You two have yet to be formally introduced and you’ve already made enemies of one another. I think this will be quite entertaining for me.”

I point straight at his quartermaster. “He’sthe one making enemies. I haven’t said a single word to him and he alreadywants to cast me to the side like I’m some sniveling noble blood incapable of fighting.”

His quartermaster turns to me and I take note of the row of throwing daggers that line his vest. Given the way he’s looking at me right now, I imagine he’s already engraved my name on one of them. “You?Fight? Is that why we found you at the end of Blythe’s sword on the docks? He had already killed your friend and you were certain to be next.”

Without a moment of thought, I slap him across the face. My hand stings violently from the hard impact. Red hazes my vision as he slowly turns his head back to look at me. If there was death in his eyes before, there is nothing but murderous intent dancing amongst them now. As I reach for my dagger, his hand moves swiftly to one of the throwing knives tucked into his vest.

It will come down to mere seconds. Whoever strikes first will have the final word and I am going to make sure he can never speak of Raven’s death again.

My blade slashes through the air, but before I have a chance to slit his throat, a sword slices between us, coming down on my dagger.

A shrill ring sounds out as the metal clashes. The quartermaster keeps his throwing knife ready, but he makes no move to strike. I turn toward Grayson, who has his gaze set firmly upon me. There is no light that could ward away the darkened shadows that sweep across his face as his narrowed eyes turn to slits. Knowing neither one of us are a match forhim, I lower my dagger, but his quartermaster doesn’t back down.

“Lower your weapon, Zaos.”

Zaos.So the bastard does have a name.

“Captain, she struck first.” Zaos’s cold eyes flicker for a moment, as though his captain’s words are a stark betrayal against everything they stand for.

Grayson tilts his head at Zaos. His voice is calm as he says, “What kind of male would I be if I let you cut her on her first day with us?”

Zaos sneers at me and for a moment I wonder if he will heed his captain’s order or if the killer in him is too dominant to care, consequences be damned.

Then he takes a step back and sheathes his throwing knife.

I quietly let out the breath I was holding.

“As much as I’m enjoying this little show between the two of you, we are about to come upon a prize and I don’t want more blood on my decks than is necessary.” Grayson’s attention shifts to me. My gaze settles on his lips for a second too long, and I refrain from rolling my eyes at the smirk that tilts them upward. “Rowenya, you are new to this ship, so you will walk away with one more warning. We do not fight amongst ourselves and there are consequences if you do. The next time you lay a hand on someone, they will have the right to deliver a blow back. And there will be nothing I can do to stop it.”

Turning away from him, I look out across the water, hating every step I’ve made that has led me to this very moment. Hating that I am amongstthemand not journeying with my crew to our reward of freedom. The debts my father incurred with Red Beard are miniscule compared to the trap I’ve fallen into with Grayson and his men.

There is nowhere for me to go. I am completely at his mercy.

Suddenly, theCaelestiafeels stifling, despite her being the largest pirate ship known in the pirate’s fleet.

“Zaos, go check on the men below deck. Ensure they’re ready to strike.”

“Yes, Captain.” He nods before giving me a scathing look on his way down the stairs.

When he’s out of earshot, Grayson says, “You’re lucky he’s learned to engage in self-control.” He stands at my side,extending his arms over the railing. “If you had tempted him a few years ago, your corpse would be a mess on my deck right now.”

The fury over my poor circumstances mixed with Zaos’s insult toward Raven still hums in my veins. And I know it’s not because of his words, but because ofmyactions that led her to being killed. A fact I have not allowed myself to think about for too long. A fact that would devour me whole if I let it.

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