11. The Scorched Land.
The Scorched Land.
JAYCE
W hat the fuck are you doing, Jayce? I think to myself as I watch Harlow sleep in my bed. I have a raging erection, but I leave it untouched. What were you thinking?
I wasn’t thinking, that’s for sure.
“Life is meant to be felt” … Gods, I’m such a poseur .
I knew from the first day that I found Harlow attractive.
How could I not? He’s a pretty thing with a nasty temper.
A skilled dragoner, too. But I’m not supposed to get intimate with a crew member as a general rule.
Friendship? Of course. You can’t travel the world and share adventures with your crew members and stay indifferent.
They become family. But sex is… a dangerous endeavor for fellow fire scroungers, especially if one is the captain.
I’ve witnessed great pirates fall in the name of lust and love.
I don’t enforce the rule for my crew. Alara and Freddy are married, after all, and if Kuroki, by some miracle, sparks Wilbur’s interest, I would cheer him on. Gods know my cousin has it bad.
But I’m the captain.
I lick my lips and shiver. I can still taste Harlow on my tongue. Oh, so sweet. My erection is bordering on painful. He sleeps peacefully in my bed, unaware of my turmoil.
I’m a shameless flirt, I know it, but I usually leave it at that.
Our encounter with Alduin has bridged the gap between us. Harlow cried in my arms, and I couldn’t stop the desire to protect him from taking over entirely. And with the proximity came the need to touch him—taste him.
“Fuck…” I whisper before rising and climbing into the tub once again to finish washing and try to drown my impure thoughts.
Half an hour later, when I finally get my erection under control and climb out of the tub, Harlow still hasn’t moved.
As I get closer to the bed, he whimpers in his sleep.
The urge to lie by his side and comfort him is difficult to resist. But I can’t, because I know the next step would be to bury my cock in his warmth as I kissed his sweet mouth.
He’s fucking irresistible. He has a way of looking at me—I don’t think he realizes he’s doing it.
I put some clothes on and exit my cabin. I can’t stay near Harlow. Not when he’s so tantalizing.
The hour is getting late, but Kuroki is still flying the Blunder out of Alduin’s territory.
The sea of stars shines above, as far as the eye can see in a cloudless summer sky.
Freddy and Alara are at the bow, ensuring safe travel.
They give me pointed looks as I walk up to them.
The entire crew saw us disappear into my quarters two hours ago.
“Not a word,” I warn. “I have it under control.”
Alara snorts, but is smart enough to keep her mouth shut. They both know me so well. We’ve been traveling together for ten years, since my time as a young pirate captain.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“Somewhere along the coast,” Freddy says. “We should be far enough from the dragon’s territory.”
I nod. “Find us a spot for the night. We all need to rest.”
“Yes, captain,” he says, obviously holding back a smile.
I tsk and head to the galley. I need another potent drink.
I sleep the night off on the old couch in the galley to avoid temptation. At sunrise, I do the takeoff myself to let Kuroki rest a little longer. By the time Harlow exits my quarters a few hours later, his eyes puffy from deep sleep and his hair an adorable mess, I have mastered my emotions.
He’s surprised to find me in the control room, manning the hot-air balloon and the engine. I try not to think about the face he made as he woke up alone in my bed.
“Good morning, Your Royal Highness,” I say. “I hope you’re rested; we have a long day ahead. We’re heading to Alabastra. Go eat breakfast, then I’ll need you to help Alara organize the harvest we have to sell.”
He looks confused for a moment—lost. “Yes, of course…” he mumbles. And after a pause, he walks away.
I sigh, cursing myself for being a fool. This is on me.
For the next five days, I use the excuse of our long travel south to spend most of my waking hours in the control room, flying the Blunder .
My tactic to avoid Harlow is crude, but efficient.
After dinner, I disappear early into my quarters, expressing my exhaustion.
His looks turn from confused to uncomfortable, and sometimes even pissed off.
Meanwhile, I pretend as if nothing is amiss, even though my eyes can’t help but find him when he has his back turned on me, like a moth attracted to a flame.
The walled city of Alabastra is the biggest in West Hargos.
It sits across the Crimson Sea from Dragonest, the capital.
The tall walls surrounding the eight districts bear witness to a violent past and the endless wars against local tribes that preceded the conquest of the western continent.
Nowadays, the iron gates stay open, welcoming merchants and travelers from all over the kingdom.
Ships always occupy Alabastra’s port, and the airdocks are hard-pressed to accommodate the constant arrivals and departures.
As usual, Harlow stands at the bulwark as we near the city.
His soft curls dance in the wind, and he has a tan along his nose and cheeks, revealing his freckles.
The desire to go talk to him and witness his delight is like an itch under my skin.
The yearning looks he’s been offering me all day aren’t helping.
Luckily, the landing keeps me busy. Maneuvering between the other hot-air balloons takes focus as Alara and Freddy holler instructions.
Alabastra is a big city and a prime location for fire scroungers coming back from the Wilds to sell their cargo. I notice a few familiar airships at the airdocks, including the Dragons’ Bane . I hope we won’t run into her crew members; I have no patience for assholes.
As we near the docks, Freddy and I jump with the ropes to tie them to the mooring bitts.
The dockmaster already waits to accept the payment in liquid-fire, and the small vial filled with golden liquid disappears into his inner pocket in a blink.
It’ll be enough for more than a night, but I intend for us to be gone at sunrise.
So close to the Scorched Land, the wind coming from the desert is stifling.
The inhabitants of Alabastra survive the summer heat by staying in the shade of their white stone buildings.
The land around the city is green, thanks to the river flowing from the Wilds, but the Barren Peaks separating it from the Scorched Land are visible on the horizon.
“They say Marvok, the Blue God, can often be seen flying above the mountains at dusk,” Harlow says by my side. He came down the wooden ramp and followed my gaze.
“Yes. Sometimes he even flies over the fields and catches a cow. The city council compensates farmers for their losses,” I say with a smile.
“Indeed, they do. They paid for a hundred and twenty-six cows, horses, and donkeys last year alone. Marvok is an old dragon—over a hundred years old—and he has an appetite.”
Trust our dragoner to know his subject.
“With some luck, you’ll get to see him fly this evening.” I gesture toward the Barren Peaks.
Harlow’s smile is stiff. “I hope this one won’t chase us with fire…”
Before I can think better of it, I drop a hand on his shoulder and wink. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you again if it comes to that.”
Harlow blushes, and I wish someone could punch me in the face. I never learn. I drop my hand and turn my back on him. We have cargo to sell.
“You’re confusing the poor man,” Alara whispers to me as I come back on board to help them unload the crates of liquid-fire we harvested from Orvak.
“I know,” I growl. “Please shoot me next time.”
She chuckles. “Nah. I’d rather watch the drama unfold. It’s entertaining.”
“Traitor. Mutiny,” I joke.
“Mutiny?” Kuroki asks, walking to us. “Count me in!”
I smack him behind the head as he almost drops a valuable crate. Harlow comes running to help him carry it down the ramp, announcing the end of our guilty banter.
One of the airdocks workers lends us a cart to transport our cargo to Alabastra’s auction house. I doubt we’ll sell it for as good a price as at the Devils’ Cove, but it’ll still be a small fortune, enough to keep us flying for a few months—salaries, supplies, and all.
The entire crew—minus Wilbur, who’ll look after the Blunder —accompany us to the auction house. Even in broad daylight, we’re never too many to guard the precious cargo.
Sunset is in a few hours, and the inhabitants of Alabastra have escaped the summer heat indoors, leaving the streets mostly deserted. By the time we reach the auction house, we’re drenched in sweat. I can’t help but notice Harlow’s flushed face.
Only a few days ago, I was deep-throating his cock as he writhed on my bed.
I shake the memories away. Now is not the time to recall previous mistakes, as sweet as they might be.
As if sensing the direction my thoughts have taken, he walks to me. “I was thinking of finding the local dragoners guild. I need to check with my colleagues and send a bird about Alduin’s attack and our mysterious airship.”
I nod. “Very well. Kuroki, will you take Harlow to the dragoners’ guild and bring him back safely?”
Kuroki is eager to help, but Harlow barely conceals his disappointment. He wanted me to accompany him.
Oh, delicious thing. I can’t humor you. If I do, I’ll taste you again in a dark alleyway.
I avoid his gaze as my cousin leads him away into the empty streets of Alabastra.
Gia disappears to go shopping for supplies for the crew, accompanied by Freddy and Alara, and I find my way to the nearest tavern to get a drink and a spot in the shade while I wait for the evening’s auctions.
The day unfolds until evening comes, releasing us from the relentless heat, and I go back to the Blunder with my pockets full of gold and my pistol strapped to my hip where everyone can see.