Page 50 of Of the Stars and Sea

“Downstairs.”

I gape at him. “You’ve beenherethe entire time?”

“Yes,” he says sharply.

“And what of thebusinessyou had to tend to?” I narrow my gaze on him, feeling that feather of frustration stroking my spine.

“It was dealt with over a round of Harrick’s finest rum.” He smirks and I have half a mind to throw another dagger at his face. But I refrain as the phantom sensation of his hand around my throat makes my stomach tighten.

“So, it was a test then. You told me you were leaving and left one of your men at my door. Then you ensured that he would fetch me anything I desired while you were away to see if I would use your kindness to make my escape.”

He crosses his arms casually. “To your credit, it took much longer for you to request something from Collin than a few of my men bet on.”

I scoff. “And what didyoubet?”

His voice deepens as he says, “That you wouldn’t try to leave at all.”

The silence between us hangs heavy in the air and something like guilt nags at my chest. The feeling grows and it leads me to pull the Serpent’s Key from my coat pocket.

“You almost won,” I say in a hushed voice. I raise the rectangular box and show him the progress I made. “It’s a lot more complex than the puzzle boxes I’ve worked on before. But I think I might be getting close.”

Grayson looks down at the box, then back up to me. His face is unreadable, slipping between the masks he wears with such ease it gives me whiplash. I never know what will influence his demeanor.

“I don’t blame you,” he whispers, taking a step closer to me.

“For what?” I set the box on the bed, not wanting to be reminded of its presence any longer.

“You made progress with the Serpent’s Key.” He glances toward the open window and I wonder if he thinks I tried that exit as well. “Your crew will likely make it to Port Solas tomorrow, if my barrelman’s predictions are correct and the wind stays in their favor. Tonight would have been the perfect opportunity for you to escape and bring the Serpent’s Key with you.”

The knot in my throat grows, making it difficult to breathe.Why do I hate the feeling that I’ve disappointed him? Why do I care?

“Why have you left me with it?” The question has been clawing at me since he left it in my possession the morning we departed Silvermoon Landing. Any other pirate would have kept it for themselves and only allowed me to work on it in their presence.

“I believe you are the one meant to unlock it,” he states plainly.

“And you trust me enough to keep it.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets. He looks so at ease, but I know the truth of how quickly he could take me down if I were to make the wrong move.

“Trust is a . . . precarious word.” He moves close enough to me that I can smell the subtle hint of rum on his breath. “Itrustthat you will do whatever it takes to keep the Serpent’s Key safe. And Itrustthat even if you were to find a way to escape this room, I would find you and the artifact much faster than you think.”

My lips pull downward. “Why chance it when the cost would be so great?”

He brushes a strand of my hair over my shoulder. “I trust that what is meant to be will. And I know that you, Rowenya Stone, are supposed to be by my side when I set my eyes upon the treasure.”

The pink of his scar looks a shade deeper in the lantern light and I find my fingers aching to trace it—to uncover the weight of whatever pain must have etched that wound beneath my fingertips. And so I do.

Grayson’s breath hitches the moment I place my thumb along his cheek. His skin is smooth and as I near the edge of his scar, I feel the jagged ridges and valleys. Moving upward to where the scar ends just to the side of his eye, I stop. Splaying my open palm across his cheek, I look into his stormy eyes.

“What madness have you endured? What creature did this to you?” I breathe.

His eyes flicker with some distant memory, unknown to me, before he reaches his hand up and grasps my wrist. I let my hand fall from his face, but he doesn’t step away.

“A story for another time.” His words are heavy with emotion.

Questions dance on the tip of my tongue, desperate for release. But I keep them behind my closed lips. I’ve already transgressed twice tonight. Grayson has been patient with me. I know this. If I push too hard, it might be the last thing I do.

But there is one thing I must address. The only thing that will change the course of our future together on this journey.

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