Chapter 30 Cav #2
Cav leaves Heathen behind when he descends the gangplank.
There’s no hiding the spring in his step, a brightness so light that it carries him easily toward the remaining crates…
and Cypher. In his joyful mood, Cav hardly notices her.
He picks up two crates and lugs them under each arm.
Even his shoulder twinge can’t get to him now, but Cypher doesn’t let him get far. “We need to talk.”
“I’ll finish these up!” he calls over his shoulder. “There, see? You don’t even have to yell at me.”
He takes the supplies onboard, but when he makes his way back, Cypher’s still watching him with a somber expression. The crow perched on her shoulder looks even more grave.
“Gods, what?” Cav picks up another crate. “You’re looking at me like I’m dying.”
Cypher’s mouth sets into a thin line. “You’re not going to want to hear it.”
“So don’t tell me.” Cav carries another load onto the ship, an uneasy feeling creeping up his spine. The pain in his shoulder grows more insistent. He doesn’t know what Cypher has to say, but something is going on. Something real.
He hates that. No matter how fraught things are between them, Cypher would not bring something to him if she wasn’t certain of it. It’s clear his resistance is wearing on her. When he returns to the dock, she is primed to follow. “I do not enjoy this, ok? I know we have our differences, but we’re…”
She cuts herself short. That stops Cav. She doesn’t have to say it; he knows.
They have been crammed onto the same ship for the last two years, spending nearly every day in each other’s orbit.
When Cypher was knocked overboard, Cav jumped in without a second thought.
When Cav’s healing wounds got infected, Cypher scoured three islands to find the medicine he needed.
They are not two strangers in the same vicinity; they share a life, a bond forged on the Indulgence.
Difficult as it may be, they care for each other.
He straightens slowly. “What is it?”
Cypher tugs at her bandana. “I know you have feelings for Lyx, but they’re clouding your judgment.”
His eyes roll, but anxiety creeps through him. “This again?”
“I’m serious, Cav. She’s been sneaking around since she got here. I caught her on the deck in the dead of night.”
“That makes someone guilty?”
“She met someone yesterday morning.” Her eyes glint like she’s forcing herself not to look away, the inkblot sharpening on her cheekbone. “I followed her all the way down the dock with my crow. I couldn’t tell who it was, but she disappeared with him. She’s hiding something.”
Cav’s heart lurches. Yesterday morning, before Lyx showed him everything. His heart thuds. Who was she meeting? Her ex? Was the pool just a distraction? Was any of it real?
He shakes his head. It was real. He knows it was, even if what Cypher says is true. Thoughts cloud his mind, but he pushes through them. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Of course it matters!”
“Heathen doesn’t know, does she?”
Cypher’s jaw tenses. Of course she doesn’t.
While this might be enough for Cypher to come to Cav, they both remember what happened with Heathen last time.
Cypher won’t risk her pride again without solid proof.
“I’m telling you so you can spare yourself the heartache.
Lyx is only here to get what she needs before she makes a fool of you. Of all of us”
Smoke coils from Cav’s nostrils. “Have you considered maybe there’s a reason?”
Cypher scoffs cruelly.
“It’s not like you’ve asked!” Cav’s tail jerks behind him. “If she did meet with someone, maybe there’s a purpose. Maybe she’s ashamed of something. Maybe she needs help instead of your constant accusations.”
“She’s leading you on, Cav!” Cypher laughs humorlessly. “If you want to play hypotheticals, let’s do it. Maybe she’s setting us up. Maybe she’s calling her siren friends to run us aground. Maybe she’s leeching off of you until there’s nothing left.”
“I trust her.”
It comes to him so easily. He means it. Lyx saved his life in the grotto. She healed him. She sent him back to shore. Since the Silver Spoon, she could have killed him half a dozen times, but she hasn’t. She showed him more than she ever did before. She opened up to him.
Cypher’s head shakes back and forth. There’s the disappointment he expected from Heathen, her anger boiling over. “No wonder she let you live,” she spits. “You’re such an easy mark. She knew she could come back years later, and you’d still be a fucking sucker. How does that feel?”
“What is your problem?” he growls. She knows exactly what to say to hurt him…and so does he. The words seep out before he thinks better of it, before he can stop himself. “Are you just mad because I have what you can’t? Is that it?”
The crow’s feathers ruffle. Cypher’s inkblot shifts.
An icy chill wraps around Cav’s spine. He swallows, like that will take the words back. “I’m sorry.” His gaze drops to the ground. “I shouldn’t have —”
She doesn’t look at him when she shoves the parchment to his chest. “Handle the rest yourself, then, since you know every-fucking-thing.”
He calls after, but she doesn’t stop. She storms back onto the ship, leaving Cav clutching the supply list and his apology. No matter what front Cypher puts up, her curse is a delicate subject. He knows that. He knows better than to touch it.
Dejected, he leans back against the dock piling and flattens out the parchment. There’s one last produce drop to pick up. The least he could do is finish it. Scrubbing a hand down his face, he makes his way between two storefronts to the fruit vendor’s stand.
The marketplace begins to grow crowded, customers running morning errands or searching for breakfast. Cav loads the full basket onto his strong shoulder and starts back toward the ship, weaving into an alleyway to let a group of children pass.
A hand closes over his arm. When he turns toward the interruption, a voice flows between his ears and drowns out his thoughts.
“You’re coming with me, pretty boy.”