Page 72 of Ship of Shadows
He dropped his forehead against mine, and we sank into a silence as I let him work through whatever he needed to in that moment. His breath was warm against my cheek, his sea-salt scent clinging to him.
“Okay,” he finally said. “Bloody hells, I want to be strong, but ...”
“Gabrielle!” an angry voice shouted out.
I whirled around to see Leoni and Driscoll standing in the opening of the hedge. But they weren’t alone. A third figure stepped out of the shadows and into view: Queen Liliath. She was holding the vial of pixie dust. My stomach twisted. The empty vial.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Whatever connection we’d had broke in that instant. Bastian’s hand dropped from my chest, and he gestured toward Liliath. “Your Majesty. I believe you have something that belongs to me.”
Liliath stepped forward, her green eyes glittering, pale skin gleaming under the moonlight. As she walked toward us, her golden dress trailed on the ground behind her.
Driscoll sent an apologetic glance my way. “I tried.”
Liliath held up the vial. “There’s nothing left.”
Bastian stood so still he could’ve been a statue.
“Bastian,” I started, but he held up a hand, silencing me.
“Where is it?” he said, voice deadly. “Where’s the dust?”
Liliath swallowed but didn’t cower, her shoulders straight, her voice steady. “We used part of it, as I’m sure Gabrielle told you, to break the mirror my stepmother used to control our court.”
His gaze snapped to me, lip curling. “That might’ve been important information to relay, love.”
“And we disposed of the rest,” Liliath finished. “Threw it into the sea so that it couldn’t be used. We tend to be suspicious of dark magic as I’m sure you’re aware.”
Bastian’s head tipped up. “Fuck me.”
“What’s going on?” Liliath asked, gaze flicking to me. “Why is he here? With you?”
“It’s a long story,” I said.
Bastian whirled on me, any semblance of the man I was just dancing with now gone.
“That was the one fucking thing I needed to save me, to save everyone on my gods-damned ship. I waited to use it, I waited because—” He let out a frustrated yell, and I stepped back. “Because I’m an idiot. A moron of the most colossal kind. I betrayed one of my closest friends to get that fucking dust.” I had no idea who he was talking about. His voice became more agitated. “Bloody hells, I was stupid enough to actually believe I could be a different man.” His voice darkened. “Whatever you and I had in that little cave on the edge of Apolis, you’re right. It wasn’t real. It was a fantasy, one that we can never realize.”
Tears pricked my eyes. Leoni raised her hand, water swirling in front of her palm, and I shook my head.
“Let him speak.” I worked to keep my voice steady and set my searing gaze on Bastian. “Go on. You were just telling me how everything between us was a lie?”
He shoved both hands through his hair and let out a scream that broke open something inside of me. I took a few tentative steps toward him and slowly reached for his hands.
“Bastian, let me in,” I whispered.
Behind us, everyone’s eyes widened, all of them rooted to their spots.
Bastian’s muscles slowly loosened, some of the tension flowing out of him at my touch. I could get him back. It wasn’t too late.
“You don’t mean any of it. I know you don’t.” I paused. Now was my chance to ask. “Is it him?”
Bastian stilled. “Him?” he asked, a sharp edge to the word.
“Mia said something, that maybe the seafolk are in league withhim, but she got interrupted and then Marian mentioned someone at the shadow court?—”
Bastian stepped back. “Bloody hell.” He looked at his leather boots, then he raised his head, and his eyes glittered dangerously. I’d lost him now. “We’re done here.” He turned to go.
