Page 47 of Of the Stars and Sea

And just as my eyes flutter closed, a loud knock lands against the door and I jolt back, springing my eyes open again to see an annoyed look on Grayson’s face. He growls in frustration as I sit up tall and right my tunic to busy my hands.

He moves toward the door and cracks it open. I can’t see who’s standing on the other side, but I hear Zaos’s voice as he whispers something just low enough so I can’t fully make it out.

Grayson glances at me over his shoulder and I don’t know why, but I give him a small smile. The right corner of his lips tilt upward and just with that small gesture, I feel a lightness flit through my chest. The feeling is foreign and strange and it makes my head spin a little, like I’ve slipped under the waves of the ocean for too long and my lungs are desperate for air.

I sit quietly and fiddle with my thumbs like a child as they exchange words.

What just happened between us? Was I truly about to kiss Grayson Tyde?The thoughts come too quickly, making my head spin.

Grayson has always been one who utilizes his power to take advantage of others—or so I thought. What he spoke of this evening—his mission to intercept the sex slave trade and save children from a life of torment and despair—is the first time I have heard such a tale, and it makes me question whether his story is true or if he has used it to exploit my vulnerabilities. It is no mystery that most of the members of my crew are survivors of some egregiously inhumane acts. It would be a mastermanipulation indeed for him to use that knowledge as a way to pacify me.

I also understand that if his deeds of pursuing undercover trafficking ships were widely known, it could send those involved further underground, making it much more difficult to identify them and thus, more challenging to save the children involved.

As Grayson closes the door and walks back toward me, I decide to trust his story. But that does not mean I should give in so easily to his charms. He is still dangerous and I’ve allowed myself to become too complacent in this endeavor toward finding Thaeto’s treasure. Too consumed with my own grief of losing Raven and the disdain for myself in cultivating a poor plan to steal the Serpent’s Key.

Taking the golden artifact from the inner pocket of my coat, I run my fingers over the indented lines until I find the notch that I discovered a few days ago. A small rectangle juts out just as it did before and I extend it toward Grayson.

He just stares at it. A mixture of emotions dance across his face so quickly I’m unable to identify them before he dons his usual mask and whatever thoughts he has become unreadable to me. Something like disappointment settles in my chest when I realize that he won’t tell me what he’s thinking—even after everything he just shared.

“It is good, Rowenya, that you have discovered the Serpent’s Key is a puzzle box.” He looks at me now and I find myself wishing to play the game we always seem to find ourselves in. Not this seriousness that’s taken over, bearing its weight down on my heart. “How long do you think it will take you to unlock it?”

I retreat my offering to him and look down at the artifact. “My father used to bring me puzzle boxes to solve after every venture he sailed. It didn’t take long before I could open themwithin a few minutes.” Sighing, I start turning the box over in my hands trying to uncover where the next trigger release might be. “I have a feeling this one will take longer than the others I’ve worked on, but I will get it done.”

“Yes, I know you will.” There is a solemn note to his voice and I want to ask what he’s thinking, but I keep my lips tightly shut. “There is a matter I must tend to.”

Something shifts in my chest. “You’re leaving?”

He nods once. “I have one of my men standing guard at your door.”

“To make sure I don’t escape,” I say, pointedly.

He doesn’t respond and I roll my eyes. “Great,” I mutter. “You could have at least allowed Tommy to come ashore with us to keep me company while you gallivant around the island.”

His lips widen and it’s the first time tonight I’ve seen him truly smile. “Who says I’m gallivanting?”

I toss my hand in the air. “What else would you be doing with that mischievous bastard?”

“I heard that!” Zaos’s rough growl is muffled through the closed door.

“You were meant to!” I shout back in a sing-song voice.

Grayson runs a hand over his face. “Can younotpoke the bear?”

I pout. “Awe. Poor you.PoorCaptain Grayson Tyde. The most notorious pirate in all the realm who has to deal with his broody quartermaster who doesn’t like to have any fun.”

Dark locks fall into his tanned face as he shakes his head and chuckles. I pretend that his laughter doesn’t raise goose bumps along my arms or make my stomach flutter. He lays a hand on the doorknob and, before he opens it again, he says, “Collin is right outside. If you need anything, let him know and he will have someone bring it to you.”

I sit back on the bed and cross my legs before leaning back on my hands. I don’t miss the way his gaze rakes down the length of my body, stopping momentarily when he gets to the curve of my hips.

“Aye-aye,” I respond with a salute.

His entire body stills and something shifts on his face.

“What?” I ask.

He snorts. “For a moment I thought you were going to call mecaptain.”

I laugh and slip down onto my elbows, getting comfortable with the way his gaze tends to my every movement. “I wouldn’t call you captain if the hells had frozen over and the old gods had risen from their slumber.”

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