Page 69 of Ruthless Scoundrel
“Maybe this is just an elaborate ruse to get us on the boat, and then they’re going to sail right up to the Fynren harbor and deposit me into my mother’s waiting arms, and you straight tothe hanging noose,” I say as we walk down the harbor to the rowboats.
“That won’t happen,” he says, tightening his grip on my upper arm like he’s worried it might. “I know which way Illya is. If I get even a hint that we’re off course, I’ll throw us into the sea before Alejandra could shout an order.”
“And then what? We swim to Illya?” I ask.
“If we must,” Jasper says, his patience for me apparently quite thin today. Maybe he shouldn’t have slept in a chair leaned against the door.
My attempt to seduce him last night was completely ineffectual, and it made me realize just how naïve I am about such things. I know he’s attracted to me, at least enough to stick his head between my legs. But I need him to be more invested than that. I need him toneedme so much that once whateverthisis,is through, I can get his help with the queen.
“What if Alejandra has you killed in your sleep?” I ask.
“If she were going to kill me, she would’ve done it last night and thrown my body to the eksteinvas to hide the evidence.”
I shrug. “Just as easy to throw your corpse overboard in predator-infested waters.”
“It’s starting to sound like you’re plotting.”
“No, I’m too curious. I can’t be rid of you until I know what this is all about.”
He snorts.
The sailors are packing up the last of the gear on the docks, sending the final rowboats to the main vessels. The sky is crisp and blue, making it look like the ships are floating in an endless, azure abyss. Nothing about it makes me feel peaceful, though.
“Do you promise to tell me—”
“Enough, Rei,” Jasper says, pulling me up short before we’re in earshot of the rowboat. “We are to be quiet and invisible onthis trip. Do not talk to the crew. Do not talk to Alejandra. It would be best if you didn’t talk to me, either.”
His dark eyes hold no hint of warmth, or sympathy. He’s the scared, angry man again. The one who threatened to make things worse for me. It shouldn’t, but it makes my chest ache with an emptiness I didn’t realize I could feel.
I want to say something witty, or sting him back, but my throat is so hot and tight, I couldn’t speak if I wanted to. I rip my arm out of his grasp and continue down the port to the boat. One of Alejandra’s men helps me in, and I take a seat on the bench next to the captain.
She must’ve heard Jasper, because Alejandra doesn’t speak to either one of us on the way to the ship. She doesn’t speak to us as she orders the crew weigh anchor and unfurl the sails. I stand on the deck, gazing out over the sparkling blue water, looking one last time at the city carved from black lava glass. I could’ve died up there if not for Jasper.
But he’s being a complete prick to me now, so fuck him.
The salty wind carries us out of the port, and the Sea Snake waves off the Golden Doubloon as we part ways, one heading south, the other north. Captain Alejandra shouts commands all over the helm and deck for the first hour, but once the island is shrinking in the distance, she retires to her cabin.
“Let’s go below,” Jasper says behind me.
“Why?” I ask, not turning to look at him. I can’t stand the thought of those cold, dark eyes.
“We’ll get you settled.”
“I’m quite happy here.”
The boat rocks against a wave and sea spray hits my face. It cools the fire burning under my skin and the roar of the wave drowns out the replay of his words in my ears.
“We should—”
I glance over my shoulder. “I thought we weren’t supposed to talk to one another.”
A muscle feathers in his jaw as he glares at me. “I’m just trying to make this easier on us.”
I scoff and turn back to watch the sea.
He walks away and part of me feels victorious, while another part pines indignantly. His footsteps return a moment later and he wraps his arms around my waist from behind.
I whirl toward him. “What are you—”
