Page 28 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
Portal. Bellamy would portal away. And had I not done that when I attacked Theon? Had I not willed myself past those bars? Whatever I was, I couldportal.
That would be my confirmation that it had all happened. If I could do this, then I would not only have a far better chance ofkilling Mia and Xavier, but I would also know without a shadow of a doubt that it had all been real.
“You cannot portal. The likelihood that you simply made that up is far higher than you being able to bend time and space to your will.” Wrath was really starting to aggravate me. Ignoring him, I pushed on, trying to pick up pace as I summoned my magic.
Work, please just work.
“Take me to the lake. Take me to the market. Take me anywhere but here.” The world went dark as I scrunched my eyes together, trying to push out my magic. The sounds of someone quickly approaching left my heart racing. I knew I had failed before I even opened my eyes.
Just as I prepared to give up and seek another way, I ran right into someone.
Grunts left both of our mouths as we smacked heads, but whoever it was remained upright, catching me by the waist and stopping my fall. Heavy breaths mingled together, but the delicate arms that wrapped me in a hug and the radiant dress with full skirts that caught my sight made my gasps stop.
I knew those dark curls, those gentle hands.
Nothing could make me forget her.
“Nicola?” I breathed her name like a prayer. A salvation.
“Hi, Ash. I have missed you,” my best friend whispered.
Chapter Fourteen
Perdita
The prince’s friends were…weird. The gigantic one paced and fidgeted so much that my entire crew was on edge around him. Meanwhile, the small thing with bright blue hair simply scowled as the two of them plotted. In the three hours we had them on board, neither had so much as spoken to us. Prince Bellamy Ayad asked—no,demanded—that we give them a couple hours to strategize, but I was quickly losing my patience.
Yes, we had our gold, but I was not one for waiting around. I did not like stillness, and I surely did not like being without a plan. Time drifted by like a rowboat at sea, but here we remained, anchored and unmoving.
It was pissing me off.
I was a pirate, for fucks sake! Reputations had to be maintained. Fear needed to be instilled, gold needed to fall at my feet, and blood needed to soak my deck. These two idiots were wasting my time. Yet, I could not simply kill them. More than gold hung in the balance of this odd alliance I had crafted with Bellamy Ayad.
Tides were shifting, change was coming, and I needed to be on the winning side. Not to mention they had killed myfather.The bastard who had beaten me when I did not speak. The beast that used to haunt my sleep.
Torn vocal cords. How strange to know the truth of it. Not that I would want to be any different than I was. My inability to speak or hear had not stopped me from besting any and all who wished to come at me—challenge me. I was more than just a sailor or a pirate. I was a captain. Thebestcaptain.
Well, until today. Gods I could wring that stupid prince’s neck right about now.
“They are odd,” CJ signed. I nodded, but did not respond. As always, that did not deter CJ from continuing to converse. She had been secluded almost her entire life, left uneducated and hidden because of the strength of her powers. As far as Waters went, she likely would have been a part of the fae council if she had completed Academy and been scored. Thankfully for her, CJ’s parents had been a part of the rebel group that had only grown as the years passed. They taught her at home, honed her powers, and showed her how to fight. More than that, they allowed her to see the truth: one must do anything they can to survive, even if the world deemed it evil. “I could freeze their blood and see how long they last, if you are bored.”
Chuckling, I shook my head and shoved her arm playfully. She was a bright spot, despite her grim sense of humor.
“No need. I think I have waited long enough. If I spend more than five minutes in their presence, then send Ro over to save me.” CJ saluted me and winked a piercing blue eye before skipping away, likely to torment an already irate Bek. I watched with glee as her flowing dark hair swayed in the wind and wacked Fatima in the face.
CJ was the youngest of us—only thirty-five years—but when she found us docked at Isle Element and begged for our help, I could not refuse her. Anyone running from a family who caged them deserved a chance at freedom. While her family had not hurt her or even neglected her, they refused her the right to live beyond the walls of a home that existed in limbo.
My other five crew members—Bek, Ro, Dima, Jazmine, and Fatima—all came to me in different ways. Two strays, one poached from my pathetic father’s crew, and two found along the way. Each of them served a vital purpose that maintained the ship and our livelihoods.
With a final deep breath of peace, I began walking towards the two newcomers. The male abruptly stopped his pacing at the sound of me nearing, but it was the female who took a fighting stance. She stood, pointing her dagger at me and glaring.
Objectively speaking, she was quite pretty. Her blue hair matched well with the yellow-tint of her skin and the deep brown of her eyes. Despite her oddly large teeth and mouth, her face seemed to be perfectly paired. She sported the body of a fighter, which was rather appealing to see. But there was something off about her. As if the darkness that lurked beneath her skin would consume us all if we did not behave.
Odd then, that she was not a demon at all. Not with those ears.
Choosing her had been completely random, but I found myself glad now as I squared off my shoulders. Neither of themcould sign, that I was sure of. Few cared and even fewer learned. But they would have to make do.
“You are taking far too long,” I signed, smirking when they both looked at me in confusion. Idiots. Laughing, I pointed to them and then to the sun. The tall one stared at me dumbfounded, but the female glared before standing and speaking to the male. I was not awful at reading lips, but I often preferred not to. Her lips though, they were enticing. Like my eyes wished to do nothing but stare at them all day.
