Page 4 of Songs of Retribution

“Can you monitor her?” I asked Luz. “I’m going to help Orman on deck.”

“Of course,” Luz said.

“Let me know the minute anything changes.”

Luz held my gaze for a moment before bobbing their head. I didn’t ask them to get meifthings changed. We both knew they would, and for the bad, soon. Grief knotted in my throat, but I couldn’t face that right now. If we didn’t make it past this storm and outmaneuver the other ship, we might all be dead before the sun rose on a new day.

I clapped their arm before stepping out of the room and jogging up a set of steps, gripping the railing to keep myself upright. Above deck, the limited crew yanked on ropes and adjusted things I didn’t know the names of. They worked frantically, shouting to each other in a mixture of different languages. We had less than half the crew we’d made the original journey with. Luz had used their ability to perceive emotions and left anyone who remained loyal to Jessamine on the island. The rest of the crew worked for a share of the fortune we’d paid Jessamine. It was enough for the remaining dozen pirates to retire after this trip—if we survived it.

I pushed against the roaring wind and painfully sharp rain and jogged up to where Orman held the wheel, his muscles straining, his teeth bared.

“Can we make it?” I yelled over the storm.

“Going to give it everything she’s fucking got,” he shouted back. “How’s Neia?”

I blinked away the rain and clenched my hands hard into the railing before shaking my head.

Orman’s expression turned dark, but he shifted back to guiding the ship through the tumultuous sea. The ship rose like a leaf in a stormy river, bobbing over the crests of massive waves, before landing with a shudder that resulted in a multitude of curses from the sailors nearest to us. I could hear nothing from those farther along the deck as the storm’s noise swallowed their yells.

I wished Lira, and her touch which could heighten my powers, was with us. It would make me feel more secure to have access to that magic in case we needed it. The moment we divorced (and severed our magical binding) ripped through me. Lira said it changed nothing for her. I still saw her as my wife, but it meant something to me. I realized I hadn’t reached out to her for some time.

My injury burned, my kurta sticking to me along the scar’s line. I'd reopened the wound, but it wasn't something I could worry about yet. It would have to keep.

Álainn.I clicked into the magic. It buzzed between us, but she didn’t answer. I waited several minutes, anticipating the familiar jolt of magic from her accepting the call, but it didn’t come. It had happened before when she’d been asleep or in a conversation that needed her concentration. Some intuition made me feel like that wasn’t the case this time. I dipped deeper into the magic and called again, still receiving no response. Panic clattered through me. I’d never forced myself into Lira’s consciousness before, though I knew the magic worked that way. If I wanted to, I could push myself into her mind, influence her even. I hated everything about that. But when ten minutes had passed and she still didn’t answer, I slammed through the magic, pushed back at the boundaries until I could feel the warmth of her presence surrounding me.

Sai?Her voice came trembling.

What’s wrong?I’d planned to apologize for breaking past her boundaries first, but something in her tone sent fear washing through me harder than the rain that fell in thundering sheets over the ship.

I don’t want you to worry about me.

Too late.I tried to hold back the growl from my voice as I answered but didn’t succeed. My best friend lay dying beneath this ship, we steered through uncertain waters, I had limited access to my magic, and now something was wrong with Lira.

My father caught me.

Caught you?She’d chosen to return to the Seelie palace, and the King accepted her as his heiress.Has he figured everything out?

Not everything, but he knows I’m not his ally. Listen, Sai, Margo got away with an advisor that’s on Lennox’s and my side. They have important information. Promise me you’ll keep them safe?

Lira.I didn’t give a damn about this war or some Seelie advisor, or even Lira’s friend, if my wife was in danger. The rest of the world could rot.

Please, Sai. Trust me.

My mind longed to snap back a response again, but I’d vowed to trust her. Damn my heart-sick past self. I couldn’t do anything to help her currently, anyway. Once we reached land, she’d be a country away from us. The only thing I could offer her was comfort and the ability to take the edge off.You use my vow to trust you against me, Princess.

Her voice shifted to more of a tease, but I could feel the swallowing, roaring desperation of her anxiety crawling over everything between us.A princess must know her weapons. Please, if Margo and Eldrick make it to you, protect them. I’ll get free, I swear it.

All right. I love you.

I love you too.The magic snapped like she’d ripped it back. I must have loosened my hold on it, allowing her to pull away. It left me bereft, fear and grief swallowing me. I clung to the railing as the sky grew darker and night swallowed us all into its maw, leaving us up to Orman’s second sight—his ability to see without light—to guide us.

After an hour, he growled through his teeth. “Mother fucking cocksucker.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“Damned other ship is following us.”

“How?” I yelled. “I thought they were just humans.” Humans shouldn’t have the senses or ability to navigate through this weather.

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