Chapter 33
Draevyn
Draevyn’s heart thundered as he ran through the haven of criminals, planning to work alongside and help those very people. He didn’t allow himself to dwell on how far he had fallen from his princely title and instead put all his focus on saving the people who mattered to him most.
He couldn’t let Esmyra and Atlas destroy each other. If either of them were ever taken from him, it would send him straight to ruin. But if either of them had been the cause of the other’s fate? That was something he would never be able to bear, in this life or any other.
One of the worst parts was that he didn’t know if Atlas had ordered his fleet to capture him alongside Esmyra if they found her.
Would his own brother, who saved him repeatedly from their father’s wrath, place him in velsinyte cuffs just as their king once had?
He didn’t know, and that truth stung more than he wanted to admit.
Draevyn had found Esmyra. He had found his Wildfire and got her to listen. He got through to her, and she believed him. It was more than he could’ve ever hoped for, and he wouldn’t let her be taken away from him again after finding this tiny sliver of hope.
The look in her eyes when she saw the sails creep in on the horizon…
she was scared. There was nothing but pure fear in her eyes as she gazed out at the sea that once gave her solace.
Was her fear rooted in being captured and killed?
Or was it that she finally ripped free from Syrena’s lies and she wouldn’t get the chance to seek vengeance on the true being who deserved it.
He didn’t even get the chance to tell her everything he knew—Syrena’s lies weren’t the most dangerous parts about her. She was working to take Esmyra’s power, if what she spoke of that day in Maerinys was true, anyway.
Esmyra wasn’t safe on her own, she wasn’t safe bearing the full power of Kaelypso, and she wasn’t safe while her sister lived.
The only place Draevyn would ever consider her safe again was in his arms, where he could make sure nothing would ever fucking touch her again.
The tips of his fingers ached as fire licked at their edges, just waiting to incinerate anyone who so much as threatened her ever again.
The streets were chaos. It was like sprinting through a storm of steel and screams. He barreled through the madness, the sounds of shouting and clashing swords ringing in his ears as he shoved past anyone who got in his way.
Broken glass crunched beneath his boots as he ran and leapt over overturned carts, and the air grew thick with the scent of blood and spilled ale as Lephyrin’s soldiers flooded in from every direction.
Draevyn kept to the shadows when he could, keeping his head low beneath his hood as his cloak whipped behind him. He ducked into a narrow alley, breath heaving, and nearly collided with one of the king’s soldiers rounding the corner, his blade aiming for his throat.
But Draevyn was faster.
He twisted to the side, dragging his own blade from its sheath in a single, fluid motion. The clang of metal on metal rang out as sparks flew.
The soldier’s eyes flared as they met Draevyn’s. “Captain Rowe…” he started, but then he jabbed forward again, trying to force him back. “Your brother is looking for you.”
With a grunt, Draevyn parried hard before pivoting. He slammed his elbow into the soldier’s ribs, sending the man staggering back.
I don’t have time for this.
Draevyn lifted his hand in the man’s direction as fire erupted from his palm, engulfing the soldier before turning him to ash. In seconds, a pile of charred bone and steel fell before his boots.
He huffed through his nostrils, and his jaw ticked as he stared down at the pile. It seemed Atlas had orders if anyone were to come in contact with Draevyn.
He needed to get the fuck out of here.
Draevyn turned down a side passage behind an old tavern and halted.
There, leaning against a wall, daggers drawn and blood smeared across his temple, was Jak. He was panting and flanked by Ren and Riven as they stood over several fallen soldiers. He looked up with a glare, golden eyes shining fiercely through the night.
Draevyn had to tell him he found Esmyra, and if anyone could help him sneak her out of here, it was him. He didn’t know this place, not the way the true pirates did.
“Phoenix,” Jak growled. “What the fuck is going—”
“No time.” Draevyn held up a hand, jogging up to them. “Atlas is here. I don’t know if you’ve seen the harbor, but there are ships for miles. The soldiers are storming the streets, taking the isle.”
Jak’s eyes darkened as he gestured to their surroundings. “Yeah, I gathered that.”
“I found her,” he continued, nervously glaring toward the noise of marching boots beyond the alley. “Esmyra. I found her and she’s waiting in a broken-down shack on the outskirts of town waiting for us. They have velsinyte, so we all need to be careful.”
“You found her?” Riven bellowed.
“She’s waiting for us to lead her out,” Draevyn admitted.
The three pirates all exchanged a glance as smirks climbed their lips.
“I know you think you know her and all,” Jak started, shoving a blade back into his belt. “But there ain’t no way in any hell that woman is sitting inside some run-down shack waiting to be rescued.”
Oh, I know. He was just hoping she would listen to him for once.
“I’m aware,” Draevyn grumbled. “Which is why I need you to find her as soon as possible and get her out of here.”
“We ain’t letting them take our fucking island,” Ren spat.
Draevyn dragged a hand through his hair and huffed out a breath. “Don’t pirates have an ‘every man for himself’ code?”
“Not when it comes to shit like this, mate,” Jak answered, crossing his arms.
“We fight,” Riven chimed in. “Esmi would want to fight. I would bet she’s out here as we speak.”
Draevyn stepped forward. “No. We run. We get the others, and Jak will help Esmyra.”
Jak studied him for a breath. “You want me to get her?”
Draevyn gave a stiff nod. “You know this place far better than I do.” He stepped up to him, his voice lowering. “And as much as it pains me to say this… You’re the only one I trust to jump in front of a bullet meant for her, other than myself.”
Something in Jak’s stare softened as he looked Draevyn up and down. “Aye. You’re finally starting to get it, Phoenix.” He turned to Ren and Riven. “You heard him. Spread out. Get who you can back to the ship.”
They took off into a sprint, leaving Jak and Draevyn alone in the alleyway. The two men turned toward the narrow opening that led back out into the streets, where chaos still reigned.
“Your brother isn’t going to stop,” Jak broke the silence. “Not until she’s dead.”
“Or himself,” Draevyn admitted. “That’s why I need to find him first and try to stop this.”
“And if he harms her unprovoked?” Jak’s voice darkened.
The silence was deafening, pressing against him on all sides as the tension in the air grew unbearably thick.
“Then I’ll kill him myself,” Draevyn said.
Nausea climbed his throat as he said it, nearly making him sick. But he meant every word, and it was why it was so important to get through to Atlas.
Without saying anything else, they both stormed out of the alleyway and back into the madness.