Page 123 of Ship of Shadows
Her eyes widened innocently. “There’s no catch. I swear it.” Her head tilted to the side. “Other than that it’s right next to where the pixies live.”
Bastian swore.
Goji raised her hands. “That’s why I’m here, though. To help keep you undetected.”
Bastian raised his brows. “No games, Goji. Not now.”
She fluttered forward until she was almost nose-to-nose with Bastian. All the teasing left her face, now grave. “I’m not playing games, Bastian. Not when it comes to your life—or mine.” She pushed past him, flying ahead into the darkness. “Let’s go,” she called behind her.
Bastian made to move, and I snatched his arm. “Are you sure we can trust her?” I liked Goji, but I didn’t know her well enough to be willing to put Bastian’s life in her hands.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “We can trust her. Besides, at this point, we don’t have many other options.”
I threaded my hand with his, and he raised the torch in the air, shadows scattering away as we followed Goji to find Bastian’s shadow.
We arrivedat the ship an hour later. The sun was just rising over the horizon. Its rays slipped through the trees in slivers, and shadows danced over the light, keeping to the dark.
The bow of the ship jutted up into the air, and vines crept up its side, wrapping around it. Trees poked out the broken windows. It was like the jungle was slowly eating the vessel. Holes battered the hull, like cannons had been shot through it at some point. And half the ship was missing. My gaze roved over the area, and I realized the other half wasn’t missing. It was on the other side of the tree line. I could just see its outline through the thick foliage. It sat perched on rocks that the ocean battered against.
We stopped at Goji’s side, her feet lowering to the ground next to Bastian. “Of course the pirate’s shadow would find theone ship on the island.” She nudged him. “Once a pirate, always a pirate, eh?”
Bastian’s lips quirked as he looked at her. “You know me well, Goji.” He stroked his jaw. “I can’t believe you found my shadow.”
Goji straightened, tone turning brisk. “It was pure luck. Happened upon it one day and recognized it. Figured it might be good to keep an eye on it in case you ever wanted it back.”
Bastian snorted. “I never thought I’d find a way to get it back without your dust.” He grabbed Goji’s arm before she could move forward. “Goji, I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you. About the dust. I should’ve used it when I had the chance to break the bond, to get my shadow back. It was selfish of me to wait like that, especially when it was your freedom at stake. When you sacrificed so much to give it to me.”
Goji’s eyes softened, and I felt like maybe I should give them a moment to talk. I backed away a few steps.
Bastian’s head snapped to me. “Don’t you dare go anywhere.”
I froze as he turned back to Goji. “Will you ever forgive me? Will we ever be friends again like we once were?”
Goji cleared her throat. “It’s fine, pirate. I understand why you did what you did. Now let’s get your shadow back before anyone finds out we’re here and alerts the shadow king.”
We picked our way over tree roots that rose up and snaked across the ground. When we got to the ship, I peeked inside to see glowing red eyes looking back at me. I jumped back into Bastian’s chest. A chuckle rumbled through him and vibrated through me.
I elbowed him, and he let out a grunt. “Stay out here,” he said. “Goji and I will go in.”
“Absolutely not. You idiot.”
Goji barked out a laugh as I climbed in through the broken window. Bastian sighed and followed me, holding out the torch.The shadows flew toward the ceiling, melting into the dark corners and crevices of the space. Goji entered, those wings fluttering. Cobwebs reached from wall to wall, insects flitting about, rats scuttling away and through holes.
The entire space smelled like mold and rotting corpses. I coughed and covered my nose.
“It’s there.” Bastian pointed to a shadow hiding behind crates. His eyebrows furrowed. “I can feel it. Exactly like the boys said. Incredible,” he murmured.
I swallowed. “So we flood it out using light. You grab it, and then I’ll sew it to you.”
Bastian took a deep breath. “This should be interesting.”
I wondered how everyone else was faring right now. I hoped my brothers had found their shadows. I rose to my tiptoes and kissed Bastian’s cheek.
“Go get ’em.”
“I love when you talk dirty to me,” he said.
Goji rolled her eyes. “Just get the damn shadow, pirate.”
