Page 85 of When the Wicked Sing
Ignoring them, Dax gripped his neck, eyes cast down at the dusty floor. “Halia will harm our families if she thinks we betrayed her,” he said, already knowing he’d be going with them whether he refused or not.
Aurora snorted. “I know how to remedy that.”
As they prepared to depart through the hidden tunnel Aurora had used to enter the private wing, Mariana’s eyes fell upon the note they’d left in the center of the library. Dax waited at the tunnel entrance, watching Mariana smile down at the words that would surely make Halia explode with rage.
Halia,
I’m borrowing your boy toys for a while. They put up a good fight, I’ll give them that. Hope you don’t mind. Kisses!
The Scarlet Serpent
P.S. Touch my sisters again, and I’ll slit your throat.
Chapter 46
Home,Marianathoughtasshe gazed out at the midday glitter of the sea.
The breeze billowed the sails, flowing through every tendril of her hair, and filled her lungs with its comforting, salty scent.
They were on their way to Sirenia. They would find Astra, secure the amulet, go back home, and save their mother.Finally, the tide was turning in their favor.
“You’re not tying that correctly,” Kosta sternly stated. “It won’t be tight enough!”
Aurora huffed. “How about I tie it around your neck, and you can find out for yourself how tight my knots are!”
Mariana’s lips twitched. The bickering and threatening between the two hadn’t stopped since the moment they entered the tunnel out of the palace.
Whereas Mariana and Dax hadn’t spoken a word to each other.
Glancing down at her hands gripping the wooden railing, she could still feel the searing touch of Dax pulling her into an alcove with him as two patrolling guards strolled by the docks.In that moment, Mariana didn’t want to leave. She met his eyes and felt that instinctive pull she’d tried so hard to forget. Even now, she was desperate to forget that connection.
Her eyes slid over to where Dax stood, one arm on the railing, the other on a rope connected to the sails. He scanned the waves, the horizon, the ships nearby. He was always doing that, inspecting his surroundings.
Mariana knew Dax was on the verge of figuring out who her father was, if he hadn’t already. She couldn’t risk leaving him behind and letting him tell Halia the truth. If Halia knew they were sisters, she would see Mariana as an even bigger threat, someone who could take the crown she so desperately desired. And though a small part of her believed Dax would never put her in danger like that, she told herself she couldn’t take the chance. She had to bring him along. Or at least … she tried to convince herself that was the only reason.
Before he could notice her staring, she looked away and took a deep breath. He’d been willing to come with them and barely argued with her despite the obvious risks involved. It was like he wanted to be here, with her, close to her. Or was that just her imagination?
His boss was Princess Halia—the Matriarch.He was probably just following Mariana to get the amulet. Take it back to Halia, who’d make him into a knight or something stupid.
Her fists tightened on the railing. There was no bloody way she was going to let Halia or Stavros get ahold of Seraphina’s amulet.
“If you don’t let go of that wheel, I’m going to stab you,” Aurora threatened.
Kosta growled, “Just tell me where in the blazes we’re going, and I will steer us in the right direction!”
“Move out of the way,fae, I will steer!”
Mariana shook her head, hiding her smile. They were like two bitter eels zapping each other over and over again to prove who could handle the sting the longest.
When they were still on the dock, scanning the various boats and ships bobbing in the water, they had hidden behind a cluster of wine barrels. A group of distracted, chattering guards was walking by, and Kosta looked like he was ready to shout for help. Aurora, who was crouched behind him, pointing a dagger into his side, leaned toward him and whispered something that made Kosta go deathly still. Whatever Aurora had said to him must’ve made all thoughts of shouting for help flee his mind, since he secured the boat as fast as possible. However, it only amplified the visible rage inside him.
Kosta wanted something to control, that much was obvious. He was most likely someone who enjoyed being in charge. And his nemesis was the spitfire siren trying to take away any semblance of that control.
“Let go of the wheel!” Aurora shouted.
“I have experience sailing a ship. Just tell me where we’re going!” Kosta roared right back.
“Sirenia,” Mariana stated loudly over them as she turned. Kosta and Aurora were still as they stared at her, both their hands on the wheel as though they were in the middle of grappling for control. “We’re going to Sirenia. Rora, let him steer, it’ll give you the chance to shoot him with your fancy new crossbow if he changes course.”
