Page 74 of A Storm in Every Heart
“I wish.”
With a shrug, he tucks wings tight and dives straight for Connell, slicing through mist and smoke. At first, it looks like they’re both going to get crushed together by the monster’s grip—but Jett skims low over the ruined deck, slashing through barnacle-studded flesh with a knife I didn’t even realize he was holding.
The tentacle spasms; Connell slips free and drops screaming toward certain death. Jett swoops underneath at exactly the right instant, and snags Connell under both armpits. They spin wildly together before Jett recovers control, beating upward with everything he has left.
And below us, the last fragments of the ship vanish into the sea.
KASTIAN, AGE 18
“I’m going to go stand near Lord Ren until he asks me to go sailing,” Dellanore states confidently.
“That’s not fair!” Avaline hisses, rounding on her. “I’d intended to sail with Ren.”
“Then you should have said so.” Dellanore smiles smugly. “I saw him first so naturally I should be the one he asks.”
“I’m not sure why this matters, seeing as he hasn’t even looked at either of you,” I say mildly.
The twins fix me with identical scowls. “Shut up, Kastian!” they snap at nearly exactly the same time.
I roll my eyes. My sisters are all older than me, but you would never know it from the way they talk to each other. The twins, Dellanore and Avaline, can’t avoid arguing for more than ten minutes at any given time. One would think they hated each other, except that they always take each other’s side against anyone else—usually that person is me.
“Why are you interested in Lord Ren?” I ask, already regretting involving myself in their argument. “He’s a third son with barely a title and no money.”
Dellanore raises her eyebrows at me. “It’s not as if either of us needs the money.”
“Yeah, but he’s fuc—I mean, he’sentertainednearly every woman at court.”
Avaline rolls her eyes. “Then he’s probably quite good at it.”
“Ugh, never mind.” I wrinkle my nose in disgust and step away from them, leaving them to their pointless squabbling.
It’s late morning on the second day of Vernallis’s visit to our court, and dozens of nobles stand around the wide grassy lawn between the castle and the enormous freshwater lake that takes up a third of the castle grounds. Normally, the lake is home to a gaggle of swans, but today it’s dotted with dozens of small rowboats, and I frown as I watch couples climb into the boats and set off paddling around the lake.
On my left, a cluster of noblewomen are eagerly attempting to capture my attention, evidently wishing for an invitation to join me on a sail. I lower my head to avoid making eye contact.
I hate whoever’s idea this was.
I’ve already made it a priority to keep track of where Lyra is, so I can steer clear of her and avoid the awkwardness of having to join her on a sail out of courtesy. Right now she’s safely on the opposite side of the lawn talking to her father.
I don’t find the idea of rowing around the lake nearly as romantic as the rest of the court seems to, and I have no desire to share a boat ride with anyone. The thought of engaging in forced small talk with a stranger, with no means of escape short of leaping overboard, makes me shudder.
Unless, I suppose, I was trapped in a boat with someone worth talking to.
At that thought, I find myself scanning the crowd, both knowing and refusing to acknowledge who I’m looking for.
I spot Daemon by the lake, looking relaxed and confident while surrounded by a crowd of giggling girls. I wonder if I could send my own group of admirers his way? He seems to enjoy the attention.
Regardless, if Daemon is here, then Odessa must be around here somewhere. I let out a sigh and roll my neck, trying to release some of the tension building at the base of my skull.
Despite knowing I shouldn’t, I can’t stop thinking about Odessa Ashwater.
Rather than deter me, Magnus’s warnings last night have only made me more interested. I’m not entirely sure I believe Odessa is a siren. It would certainly explain her beauty, but I’ve only ever thought of sirens as monstrous and deadly. I’ve never heard of one living on land for any great length of time.
If only I’d won our bet yesterday, I could have asked her about it and demanded she be truthful in payment. Instead, I’m waiting for her to demand her favor of me. I’m oddly looking forward to it.
I raise my gaze to scan the lawn again, not even bothering to try to convince myself that I’m not looking for Odessa.
Finally, I spot her distinctive hair, flaming red in the sunlight, and my heartbeat kicks up, pounding against my ribs.
