Page 101 of A Storm in Every Heart
“It’s better than being swallowed up by quicksand.”
I laugh hollowly. “Things could always be worse, right?”
We reach the top of the stairs and find our room. It’s not quite as revolting as I’d imagined, but that isn’t saying a lot. There are two rickety beds with mismatched linens and a small wash table in the center. No lamps except for a candelabra, and the only bathing room is down the hall. I use it quickly, and console myself with the thought that even if there were a bathtub available I probably wouldn’t want to use it in a room with three men.
I snort at the thought; how very un-siren-like of me.
When I return from the bathing room, I find Jett tying Connell’s restraints to the end of the nearest bed while the pirate complains loudly. Kastian is sitting on the other bed unlacing his boots. I stop in the doorway, not entirely sure where I’m supposed to go.
Kastian catches my eye and pats the bed next to him. My eyes widen and I shake my head once.
He grins. “Don’t worry about it, Princess. I’m going to eat my supper and then fall asleep in seconds. I’m so tired I doubt even you could tempt me to stay awake.”
My cheeks heat, and I look down to hide my smile even as I scold myself.
Stop being stupid. You know better than this.
I do know better, but I’m too tired to care. I kick off my own boots and climb onto the bed next to Kastian, just as a knock sounds at the door and the innkeeper arrives with our dinner. It’s not especially exciting—cold soup, bread and cheese—but my heart leaps, anyway.
“How do you expect me to eat soup without the use of my hands?” Connell complains from the floor. He looks over at me and winks. “Unless you want to feed me, darling. Then I’d gladly stay bound.”
Kastian goes stiff as a board beside me and sucks in a couple of deep breaths before his shoulders relax again. When he speaks, his voice is firmly even. “Can you die of starvation?”
“No,” Connell grumbles, “but it’s not a pleasant experience, and I won’t tell you shit about who wanted to kidnap your darling until you feed me.”
“How about we won’t feed you shit until you tell us?” Jett asks around an enormous mouthful of bread. “This can go both ways, you know.”
The pirate narrows his eyes. “Out of curiosity, are you planning to let me go at any point?”
“No,” Jett and Kastian say at the same time.
“Then what’s the point of my helping you at all? We’re nearly out of the swamp and you can’t keep me tied up forever. I’ll escape eventually.”
“You can try,” Jett says, a menacing edge creeping into his tone.
Connell also notes Jett’s tone and cocks his head curiously. “Have you got two different personalities, mate? No judgment, I’d just like to know who’s sleeping next to me.”
“Alright,” I say, standing up before Jett can respond. “Enough of this.”
My legs ache with exhaustion as I cross the small room in two steps. I’d far rather eat and go to sleep, but I get the strong feeling that until we’ve resolved things with the pirate, no one will get any rest.
I bend down until Connell and I are at eye level—which isn’t exactly hard given that even seated, he’s more than half my height. I grab a large piece of cheese from the tray and shove it into the pirate’s mouth. “Here, chew on that for a minute while you listen to me.”
His bright-blue eyes widen with something like interest, but he nods and remains silent, his mouth full of cheese.
“Right, so let’s review.” I hold up my fingers, counting them down as I talk. “I heard you talking to Elio on the train, and I can already guess that he had something to do with why you were there.” I put a finger down. “I know you were sailing under Solistinian colors but your ship was obviously built in Vernallis.” Another finger. “And I know, just from having spent any time with you at all, that whoever hired you would have had to pay a hell of a lot.” I make a fist with my remaining fingers. “That’s a lot of information right there, and I’m sure I’ll figure out the rest just as soon as I get to Hydratta, at which point all your bargaining power will be gone.”
Connell swallows his cheese and grins at me. “You’re bloody sexy when you’re angry. God, I fucking love redheads.”
Kastian stands up, looking murderous. “I’m going to put my fist through your skull and pull out your fucking spinal cord. How’s that for sexy?”
Connell licks his lips. “I’ve never tried that one before. Alright, have at it. Give it to me slow and deep.”
Jett snorts something between a laugh and a sound of derision, and Kastian takes another menacing step toward Connell.
“Wait!” I put up a hand to stop him. “I’ve got this. I don’t need your help.”
To my surprise, Kastian stops, but doesn’t sit back down on the bed. I can feel him looming over me like a shadow, and oddly I don’t hate it. I grab a piece of bread from the tray and shove that in Connell’s mouth too. This time, he opens wide, ready for it. “You’re much more tolerable when you don’t talk.”
