Page 20 of Ship of Shadows
Leoni shot him a glare. “It was my duty. You followed me despite me telling you to fuck off.”
A thoughtful expression took over Driscoll’s features. “Ah yes, I do vividly remember that part.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Now that we’ve established I’m not jumping off anything and I’m not having a breakdown, will you two leave? I will be back at the castle to get ready for my coronation shortly.”
Leoni threw out her arms. “We have not established that you’re not having a breakdown. Quite the opposite, actually.”
The rain started coming down harder, plastering my chiffon to my skin.
“I actually agree with her,” Driscoll said. “She’s short and snappy like a tiny turtle, but she’s right. You seem like you might be going a little...” He twirled his finger by his head.
I crossed my arms. “Well, I’m not. I’m going through a momentous life change, and as I’ve already explained, you both have nothing to worry about.”
Leoni stepped forward. “I always have something to worry about when it comes to you.”
My mouth dropped open. “Might I remind you that I’m the one in charge?”
She huffed. “Oh, please. You wouldn’t know what to do without me.”
That was true, but I was not admitting it right now.
“Can we wrap this up?” Driscoll asked, his fingers pinching his green silk shirt. “Wet doesn’t look good on me.”
Both Leoni and I glared at him.
“Right. I’ll just...” He pointed and slipped away so he was no longer in hearing distance.
“Oni, please just give me what I’m asking for. I know it’s your job to protect me, and I know you’re worried about me.”
Her gaze was focused on something behind me.
I continued, “But I promise, all I’m planning is to climb the cliffs and to take a few moments to gather my thoughts. This is my best thinking place, whether you... Are you even listening to me right now?”
She squinted, taking a few steps forward.
“What are you staring at?” I turned as she brushed past me, like someone in a trance.
“Gabrielle,” she said, a warning edging her words.
“Yes?” I asked.
She pointed to the rocks cropping up in the shallow part of the water. “Wasn’t there a ship there before? A ship you put there?”
My gaze followed the line of her finger. “Of course there’s a ship...” I trailed off.
“Oh, fuck me,” Leoni said.
“What?” Driscoll came running. “What happened? Are you two about to fight because full disclaimer: I’m not going to break it up. I cannot risk cracking a nail.”
Blood and water. Bastian’s ship—his ship that I’d wrecked on these very rocks eight months ago—was gone.
Chapter Ten
Iblinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t, in fact, losing my mind like Driscoll and Leoni had accused me of just moments before. But no, Leoni saw it too. As did Driscoll.
Driscoll held up a finger. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You fell in love with the pirate lord, then he betrayed you by stealing the boys of your court, as well as your brothers, so in retaliation you broke it off with him and wrecked his ship right on these rocks, and that same ship has now disappeared?” He flashed his hands in the air. “Poof. Just vanished from thin air?”
“You’re a fast learner,” Leoni chirped.
