Chapter 19 Prince Sloth
NINETEEN
Prince Sloth
MY DECLARATION SWEPT over the deck like a strong gust of wind, capturing the attention of every crew member as it traveled from bow to stern.
The instant I hurled the pirate king’s lifeless body to the deck and gazed at the crew, an oppressive silence fell.
The pirates’ eyes locked onto their vanquished leader, then slowly rose to meet mine. For a group of roughened mortals who likely caused their own fair share of violent endings, they were surprisingly shocked.
They would either bow to my authority while we were stuck in this scene or share his grim demise.
This wasn’t like the tavern or the cave, or even the last historical novel.
We were trapped on a vessel in the middle of an ocean with potential enemies all around us.
If I didn’t assert dominance, they would’ve been trouble.
The captain could have chained me and then gods only knew what could have happened to Lore.
After my fight with the dragon shifter, I realized I wasn’t healing the way I should be. His hits had been hard, but normally I’d shake them off.
I’d healed well enough before the betrothal ball had begun, but something had closed off my magic when I’d been captured.
It was back, but now that I knew that it could be stolen so efficiently during the Trials, I could no longer trust I would have it.
If I’d waited to see what the pirate king had planned, it could have been a costly mistake.
The fact that he’d grabbed Lore without permission at all, let alone hard enough for her to cry out, might have also played into my decision.
I would have killed him for that reason alone.
I was quite thoroughly over this adventure from hell.
Fierce winds howled, dragging storm clouds across the sky.
The crew seemed to grasp that the true threat wasn’t the tempest looming on the horizon. It was their new leader. I allowed my heightened senses to drift out, testing them. None indicated they were foolish enough to seek vengeance. Yet. But I’d stay on alert.
I sensed a storm growing inside me, and I shuddered to think of the destruction that might follow when my control finally snapped.
This realm, the Trials… something was taking its toll.
I felt Lore’s attention on me and debated whether I should ignore it.
I imagined I’d see fear or disgust in her eyes. She teasingly called me a sociopath often enough, but she hadn’t truly witnessed me take a life. And even though she’d just killed a man herself, that had been different.
We’d been in true danger, and she’d acted.
I still wasn’t sure how she’d managed to throw a blade like it was second nature. That sort of precision took years to perfect.
My attention swung to hers, ready to accept her trepidation or scorn.
Once again, she surprised me.
She wasn’t scared or trembling.
She was furious.
Her expression was filled with a dark rage that she was directing entirely at me.
A beat later, her emotions slammed into me like a tidal wave.
Her glare was not merely fearsome; it was a blazing inferno that threatened to consume everything in its path.
It was an impressive sight to behold. A strange part of me wanted to push her to see how high her temper could be stoked. I fought the peculiar urge.
“Something you’d like to say, Peaches?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.” She crossed her arms. “You just killed the man we needed to strike a bargain with to get off this damned ship.” She toed his unmoving body, then shot me another angry look. “Are you planning on killing all my favorite characters?”
My brows rose.
“Only the ones who touch you without permission and talk about bedding you. It’s crass.”
Whatever she’d been expecting me to say, that clearly wasn’t it.
Her mouth dropped open before she snapped it shut. Most of the fire extinguished from her expression, replaced by an almost inquisitive look.
I didn’t want her deciphering emotions that were a tangled mess even to me, so I carefully composed my features into a mask of neutrality.
“I like neither the sea nor pirates.” I spoke low enough for only her to hear. “Now would be a good time to practice using your magic again. Take us someplace more pleasant, or I might kill everyone on this cursed ship, favorite characters or not.”
I straightened and gazed down at the dozens of men still watching us.
“Where are the captain’s quarters?” I demanded.
A man sporting a wicked black eye—who also happened to be missing his front teeth—motioned toward the back of the ship.
“I’ll show ye, Cap’n.”
I flashed Lore an incredulous look.
How she suffered through novels with pirate speech was beyond comprehension.
She rolled her eyes as if she’d understood my silent judgment and made a crude gesture in return.
Despite the events of the last few days, I felt my lips curve.
She couldn’t care less what anyone thought of her reading choices, myself very much included.
It was refreshing.
Being a prince often led to people telling me what they thought I wanted to hear, always searching for threads of commonality to bind us.
Members of my court might choose to remain single more often than not, but there were always nobles who sought a crown.
I could imagine Lust quipping about how Lore was the sunshine to my storm. And the most aggravating fact was he wouldn’t be wrong.
She never allowed negative emotions to dampen her spirits.
And she never let anyone’s opinion sway hers.
It spoke of a steel-like inner strength. One I couldn’t help but grudgingly admire.
Lore followed who I imagined was the first mate as he parted the crowd and led us belowdecks.
I trailed a few paces behind, meeting the eyes of any man who dared to glower at me or show any sordid interest in the woman making her way past them.
I felt the sharp gazes of the crew drilling into my back with every step, the tension thick enough to carve through as I moved deeper into the crowd. Still, none of them seem poised to strike me.
I strode down the stairs toward the captain’s quarters.
As we descended into the belly of the ship, the air grew thicker and carried the faint scents of oak and salt.
It was far more pleasant than I’d imagined.
I scanned the rooms lining the wide corridor, noting the details that whispered stories of their life at sea.
The crew’s dorms featured rows of narrow bunks; each was neatly made, their rough woolen blankets folded with military precision.
It was not at all what I would have expected from pirates.
As we continued down the corridor, we eventually arrived at the end, where a pair of intricately carved double doors waited.
Lore paused to take in the artwork. And I couldn’t help but admit it was impressive. The artist’s skill was evident in every groove and curve.
The wood almost came alive with fantastical creatures.
Mermaids with flowing hair, sea serpents coiling through the sea, and majestic whales breaching the surface; all carved with such accuracy that they seemed to leap from the panels into the corridor.
The first mate glanced over at me, his eyes flickering with a hint of unease as he pushed the doors open.
“If yer needin’ anythin’ else, give ol’ Kensie a holler.”
His voice wavered a little.
He was treading very carefully after my display. If anyone was to launch an uprising, I suspected it would be him. And that seemed… unlikely.
Lore gently took the man’s hands in hers, her expression a serene portrait of composure and gratitude. I’d never seen her look so earnest.
She was really taking her role as pirate queen seriously for this test.
“Thank you so much for the tour, Kensington. This one needs a nap”—she stuck a thumb in my direction—“he gets rather murderous when he’s tired and cranky. But I look forward to meeting more of the crew later.”
His face flushed scarlet as he dipped his chin and hurried off. Lore might have just inadvertently swayed him to our side.
I gestured for Lore to hold back as I made my way into the room, my senses on high alert for any potential threats lurking within its seemingly innocuous walls.
I didn’t sense the Liber Noctem on board but wondered if it could somehow mask itself from us.
While I scanned every corner and crevice for hidden compartments or traps, Lore let out an exasperated sigh.
A hint of amusement came from her that indicated she wasn’t as put off as she’d like me to believe.
“It’s safe.”
“As long as we’re not counting the threat you pose, Lord Neck Snapper.”
Her quip held no bite, and she quickly forgot all about me as she swept into the room and immediately squealed with delight.
“It looks just like I imagined it in the book!” She paused. “Probably because of my magic. But still. Look at all the gold and treasure! We’re filthy rich. Do you think we can take this back to Bellington when I kick the dark book’s ass?”
“You can certainly try.”
Now that I wasn’t searching for danger, I actually took in the chamber.
The captain’s quarters exuded opulence and elegance.
The room was adorned in rich crimson velvet and had several gilded sconces set into the walls that had been cast in mermaid shapes.
Dark, polished wood panels made up the interior walls and reflected the ambient light of the sconces. A plush king-sized bed dominated the left side of the chamber, and its covers were a deep scarlet that surprised me.
I would have imagined the former pirate king choosing to dress the room in blues or greens, something more befitting the sea. Perhaps he enjoyed sleeping on sheets that reminded him of the blood he shed to gain such riches.
A finely woven rug spread across the hardwood floor, its whirling patterns and intricate design making it a statement piece on its own.
The pirate king had impeccable, if not a bit gaudy, taste.
On his desk sat a quintessential treasure trunk.
Several carvings were etched onto its sides that told tales of the distant lands he must have stolen it from.