Page 56 of The Eternal Sea (The Shifting Fae 3)

Seventeen

Havana

My father stormed ahead of us, his anger clear in his stomping steps. I knew he’d be furious, but to put the dampeners on me like a criminal? The guards walked with me but did not put a hand on me. We stopped at a door, and I knew before entering this was to be my prison.

“You will stay in here until we reach our shores.” Father spun around, his face taut with anger. “I’ve always known you to be adventurous, but this . . .”

I wouldn’t apologize for wanting to live.

“Guard the room and make sure no one enters.”

Going inside, a guard closed the door behind me. At least my father had put me on the upper deck where I had a window to look out of. Rubbing my wrists where the dampeners locked on, I climbed onto the bed under the window and looked outside.

Leon’s heartbroken face made me want to crawl under the blankets and never show myself again. He had been nothing but sweet and kind to me since the moment he entered my cabin. Few men, and certainly not pirates, would have treated me with the respect and gentleness that Leon had. If I had told him who I was earlier, at least he would’ve heard the truth from me instead of almost being arrested by my father.

With a groan, I fell back on to the bed.

I didn’t even get to say goodbye.

Or that I was sorry.

He must hate me.

I thought about the kiss we shared and wished I hadn’t longed for more. Call it a crush or something sillier, but Leon had swept me away with his dashing looks, hard exterior, and marshmallow heart. If my father hadn’t shown up today, I had no doubts that tonight would’ve been the most spectacular moment of my entire life. Leon would’ve taken me on a wild adventure that would’ve stayed with me forever.

And after?

Well, I had thought little about that, but I expected it would’ve been extremely difficult to leave him and the sea.

Something bumped against the door, and I heard footsteps, lots of them. Grabbing the handle, I slowly turned and peeked out. Guards ran past, down the corridor to where we had first entered. A loud bang sounded from outside the ship, and I rushed to the window.

Flames covered one of the piers. Men ran around with buckets, trying to douse the fire, while others pointed and shouted at the water. Leaning closer, I searched the water for what they saw. A tentacle slapped against the bow of one of the nearby ships.

Was that the creature I had wounded? Had it followed us?

If that creature was the one I had fought, I needed to be out there for regardless of what my father thought this was my fault and they would need my power in order to defeat the beast.

I slipped to my door and opened it, putting my ear against it first to make sure that no guards stood outside. Turning the knob slowly, I peeked out. Guards ran past and down the hallway toward the front of the ship. If I could sneak out with none of them seeing me, I might get off the boat. The only problem was the bracers.

The magical dampeners negated any magic. I really didn’t want to go outside and fight a humongous octopus without my power. I’d have to find a way to get these bracers off, but only the guard kept the key or my father.

With my heart pounding, I slipped out of my cabin and ran down the corridor. Apparently, whatever was happening outside was much more interesting than seeing the princess running free. My father’s men shouted orders, and I ducked down another hallway, hoping to find a different way off the ship. I needed to get off here not only to help, but what if the creature attacked the ship?

When a group of soldiers passed, I ran in the opposite direction, down where the cook’s quarters were or the servants. There had to be another way up to the top of the ship.

And I got lucky.

Toward the stern where there was a dining hall, I found a closed door. Taking the knob in my hands, I turned it open and slipped through. Not too far ahead there was a ladder. Climbing up, I hoped it would go outside. I quickly made my way to the top until I reached another level that was more of a storage area with another door.

With a quick glance to make sure nobody followed, I ran over and opened the door. Salty air and smoke instantly assaulted my nose. The sky had darkened, and the only glimpse of light came from the full moon, which highlighted the horrendous creature attacking the docks. Those massive tentacles that had attacked theRavagernow slammed the piers. Everyone screamed and shouted. Blasts of magic lit up the sky in a kaleidoscope of red and blue.

Standing on top of this upper deck, I was on the opposite end of the ship near the stern, which was nowhere near portside where the ramp was to leave, which meant I had two options. Sneak all the way to that front area and try to get off the ship or jump into the water.

The octopus drew closer to the other ships. Gripping the railing, I thought about what would happen if I went over the ship and swam in the water with that thing. I’d either face a violent, destructive octopus and pray it didn’t kill me or face my father and be locked up.

I didn’t know which one was worse.

But at least if I jumped, I might have a chance at helping save the docks.

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