Page 67 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn
She’s in the first boat, commanding her men, who are tossing ropes to those on the piers, working with finesse; thick ropes hoop over the cleats with precision.
When I crane my head back up, Blackwell and whatever those lights were are gone.
Soren’s deep, angry voice yells, “Get Jane on Tempest’s boat! I don’t care how it’s done!”
It’s like I’ve been smacked by a wave as everyone moves so I can jump down a few steps at a time, barely touching the wood until I’m on the pier, a few of Tempest’s pirates grabbing me like I’m a bag of loot, nearly tossing me on, only for others to catch and balance me, strong hands grabbing all over.
The rest that join us cascade down the port, and there’s the sound of ascreech,but it’s not loud, just… everywhere.
An arm wraps around my neck, one that’s covered in a leather sleeve, although it’s not a forceful action; this person smells like a floral, balmy oil. A few thin, black dreads are in my peripheral.
“I know you’re out there, you miserable cunt!” Tempest yells out, and it’s clear that she’s the one who grips me. The men all jump onto the boats, Soren landing on Tempest’s, along with my dad, Donna and Anya. Basilisk takes up the seat of another, and so does Rorge.
Once full, they are immediately cast off, the ocean waves making us rock as we float among the craggy sea water.
Tempest’s arm is still wrapped around me, and Soren is looking over his shoulder at the cliffside. “He was in that cavern,” he states, nodding to where I saw.
“Blackwell?” I ask.
“Misery,” Tempest answers. “He’s letting us all see him for some reason.”
If the cold ocean winds weren't enough to raise the hairs on my body, that certainly does the trick. That… that wasMisery?
“Why did he back off?” Donna asks, her voice full of alert.
It dawns on me that there’s not a single person rowing, and yet the boat is moving with ease toward the Sea Wolf, even avoiding the jagged stone that sea foam sprays around.
“He senses another god, and he lost his opportunity. He was simply too late.”
The screechingbellowsfrom the cavern, an orange glow emanating as the sound of men yelling follows it, almost like they’re being tortured. It’s absolutely fucking terrifying to think that the very god radiating that wrath is the one that wantsme.
“What other god did he feel?” Donna asks.
The men on the boat all snicker, the pirates carrying a cocky demeanor.
“Ta’Kan.” Tempest releases me, telling me to sit before explaining, “The ocean god.”
My eyes widen, recalling Cypress mentioning the god of the ocean. My gaze is latched to that cavern as my back is to the Sea Wolf, feeling like I’m actually safe in these salty waters.
“Charles,” Tempest says. I look at Dad, whose appearance is of himself. “You don’t look good.”
He grunts, reaching his hand out into the water to wipe his face, the ocean dripping off his chin. “Not surprising. Matthias stabbed me.”
“Oh,” she breathes out, sounding genuinely surprised. “Did he?”
Dad inhales deeply, running his tongue over his front teeth before nodding to me. “Then Jane killed him.”
I immediately look over my shoulder at Tempest, catching that her crew’s interest has drastically increased. Her dark gaze is enigmatic as always, if not possibly a little more intrigued than usual. I face back ahead at the harbor, my gaze landing back on Soren, the man so out of place with how, in his own way, with that mask, he looks like a god of war.
“Well, I’ll keep my back guarded, then,” Tempest teases.
I never thought twice about the implications of killing aZenith. His title was absent from my mind when I attacked, only seeing that my father was about to be murdered.
Just another damn thing to worry about.
We pass by other massive ships, the water lapping against their wooden bodies, and I still have no idea how we’re moving without oars. Or that Misery wouldn’t evenattemptto claim me even though I’m still in this harbor.
There’s genuinely no way I trust any of this.
