Bride of Ashes (Kingdom of Shadow and Ruin #1)

19. Reyla

19

REYLA

I spent the next day hiding in my cabin. Merrick knocked and called out in a teasing voice, but I didn’t reply. He’d rightly named me a trembling fawn, because I was a coward.

Truly, a coward. Finally, after I heard Merrick enter his suite across from mine and the lock click into place, I took Farris for a walk on the deck. As I exited the cabin, the sun winked out of the sky. I strode to the right, following the rail until I reached the windrams puffing softly, pushing the ship toward Evergorne.

“My lady,” the captain said from his perch at the wheel, his head dipping forward in respect. “A lovely evening, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It is.”

He returned his attention to the horizon ahead.

I led Farris to the left of the windrams to avoid the warm, gusty, fishy smell, though the ocean breeze sweeping across the ship carried much of it away. Stopping at the rail, I leaned against it, staring at the amazing world around me.

The sea sparkled as if it was performing a dance for the moon that was a big old circle of opalescent white hovering above us, nearly the same color as my wedding gown. Each wave jutting away from the ship’s passage caught and reflected the moonlight, turning ripples into strands of shimmering silk. The inky depths contrasted with the glittering white crests in an almost ethereal way. Salty brine hung in the air, and the whoosh of the sails combined with the creak of the huge wooden vessel lulled me.

I could stand here forever, watching the water move in its hypnotic way, but Farris fidgeted beside me. He’d spent too much time cooped up in my cabin to sit on the deck while I let my mind wander.

And I really didn’t want to let my mind drift, because it kept skating toward the memory of Merrick’s kisses and the way he’d slid his hand between my legs.

Tightening my grip on his leash, I led Farris along the side of the rail, aiming toward the front. We could make a few loops, and the exercise would be as good for him as me. Already, the fresh air and activity was clearing my head.

We passed the cabin, but I came to a stop, my gaze locked on the cloaked man standing at the front of the ship, his back to me. I’d believe he didn’t know I was there if his spine didn’t twitch, if he didn’t subtly turn his head to glance my way. He didn’t face me, however, but stiffened and focused on the sea.

I should join him, talk to him. Then I could put the sudden turmoil ripping through me aside forever. Merrick was here on the ship, we were married, and my future belonged only to him. Not to a mysterious, snarly man whose taunts and teasing made my chest hurt.

I took a few steps forward but stopped again. Farris sat dutifully on the deck, his tail swirling and thumping on the oiled wooden surface.

“Can't decide if you're amused or intrigued, Wildfire?” Lore drawled, the wind capturing his words and carrying them to me as if I stood by his side. Or maybe he’d done it using his elemental magic.

The snarky tone in his voice should make me want to scurry back to my suite and hide, but instead, it made me take one step forward before stopping again.

“Come over and find out which it might be,” he purred. “I promise I'm more interesting up close.”

He truly was an ass.

“Maybe I don’t want to get close to you.”

“If you were wise, you wouldn’t.”

“I’m smart enough.”

“I won’t argue with that fact.”

The hint of praise in his tone made my ire slide off my skin, leaving me with feelings I didn’t want—and couldn’t—name.

“Playing it safe must be exhausting,” he said.

“I was recently sick. If I’m tired, it’s from that, not from being in your exalted presence.”

His low laugh rippled down my spine like a caress.

I took one more step toward him.

“Nice to think you find me exalted,” he said, clearly amused. But his voice sharpened. “Don’t. I’m dangerous, and you need to watch out. I’ll ruin you if you let me.”

By the fates, I sometimes ached to be thoroughly ruined.

“You don’t scare me,” I said.

“Maybe you’re not as wise as I’d thought.” His low, mocking tone made my skin prickle with fury.

“And maybe you’re equally unwise. You’re the king’s bodyguard.” I threw the words out there, hoping they’d hit true like my blade against the back of the door. “You’re supposed to be guarding him while he sleeps. Yet here you are on deck instead, bothering me.”

“I bother you?” he asked.

“No reply needed.”

“And yet you spoke.”

I struggled to grab some control of this conversation. “Shouldn’t you be watching over him now?”

“I imagine he’ll be awake soon. You must see that the king is well able to protect himself.”

After what I saw on deck? Yes.

Farris gazed up at me, releasing a whimper, and I moved forward, not stopping until I stood a few paces behind Lore. Why did I find it hard to stay away from this wretched man? He was much too arrogant, too cruel, and he’d stolen my precious sword from me the moment we’d met.

The mark on my wrist flared, the gleam from beneath Merrick’s bracelet suggesting why.

Lore was not my fated mate. I wouldn’t accept it.

“I can hear your heart pounding from here, Wildfire.” His voice coasted across my skin, unsettling me. “I'm sure you'd like to see the ocean from this angle, not from where you stand now. You want to talk with me. Why deny yourself the pleasure?”

“I don't believe any of our interactions have contained pleasure,” I huffed, but my heart beat in a furious way, betraying my words. Was I drawn to him because he was forbidden or was there something more, some tantalizing thing I'd die before admitting?

“That's because you bring out my worst.” He chuckled softly, the sound both alluring and infuriating. “You say you don't find pleasure in our interactions, yet you remain close behind me. Why not scamper back to your cabin and the safety of your husband’s arms?” His words remained sharp, but his husky tone hinted at more than mockery. Did he also feel the strange pull between us?

"It's not like that between Merrick and I." Not yet. After our kiss, though, I'd be stupid to think that wasn't coming.

"I have a hard time believing you'll obey the king's commands, and he will make demands, sooner than you might like."

"Maybe he won't have to command me." There, let Lore chew on that for a moment.

His chest rumbled with a growl. "Then you betray him by standing here with me."

"I'm on the deck for a walk. Farris needed fresh air."

Farris strained toward Lore, as drawn to this man as me.

"Tell yourself that a few more times, Wildfire, and you might even start to believe it." Turning, he held his hand toward me. "Come stand with me. See what the night has to offer."

My emotions churned, and it was all I could do not to take his hand. Would he wrap me in his arms? Try to erase Merrick's kiss with his own?

Fuck him. Fuck this turbulent situation. And fuck the damn mark on my wrist.

With a swift pivot, I hurried back toward the cabin, Farris trotting at my heels.

Lore’s mocking laugh dragged its way down my spine.