Chapter 46
Royal Invitation
ROHEN
The words the captain of the Scarlet Tempest uttered hung in the silence, carrying with them the implications of truth.
There remained many unknowns, feelings that settled within me that I couldn’t quite place.
And after sneaking into his quarters and flipping through the pages Caspian had left behind, it made me wonder just how much we had yet to uncover.
“So you’re insinuating that there are children of the Damned just running around and the Others are doing nothing about it?” Syoran glanced between us with building disbelief. “Tell me how that makes any sense.”
“It doesn’t,” Alastair stated matter-of-factly, “which means we don’t have the full picture. Perhaps there is a reason they haven’t gone after the remaining half-breeds—”
Blowing out a breath, I shook my head. “I am standing right here.”
A grin bloomed on Alastair’s lips as he dipped his chin. “Oh, I’m aware.”
“You’re a prick.”
“Yes, yes, he is.” Where I expected the reply to come from Syoran or the medic, Parran, the honey-filled feminine hum caught me off guard.
Leilani.
She leaned against the doorway to Syoran’s room.
Her rich, golden skin caught the sun filtering in through the porthole, bathing her in ethereal beauty.
Her dark locks sat partially pulled back, a band holding the upper portion spun into a quick bun.
With her preferred hat absent, it became far easier to admire the sharp line of her jaw and her high cheekbones, and I found myself entranced as if one of the gods had taken their time when crafting her.
Gold eyes rolling, Alastair focused on her like the pathetic man he was. “I’m glad to see you’ve risen to take on another day with me, little fang.”
“And I’m glad to see our guest didn’t execute lovely Parran.” She nudged herself from the wall, walking into the space. Shorter than me by a couple of inches, the medic's height devoured Leilani’s small, yet curvy frame. “Because if that had been the case, it would’ve been your neck, darling.”
“Sometimes I feel as if you prefer their company over my own.”
Leilani lifted a brow at the man she undeniably loved. “Perhaps I do.”
A light dusting of pink flashed across Parran’s lilac cheeks. “I-I… Um, I don’t want to intrude, truly.”
“This is their form of foreplay,” I interrupted, slipping my hands into the pockets of my trousers.
Shooting me a mischievous look, Leilani smiled. “As much as I’d love to continue indulging, I believe I interrupted a discussion and failed at an introduction.”
Her fingers brushed across Parran’s arm as she passed, and she stepped directly in front of Syoran without hesitation. He merely gazed down at her, his frame devouring her similarly to how Caspian’s had swallowed mine.
While slightly shorter than his captain, Syoran was intimidating in his own right.
So believably so that any onlooker might assume the variance in his muscle mass compared to her petite size would make her weak against him.
But while I hadn’t seen her oppose a man, the manner in which she tamed Alastair, combined with cautionary tales from the crew, I knew better.
Men were renowned for underestimating women.
“Leilani Kapule.”
With a lengthened sigh, Syoran accepted her hand. “Kao. Syoran Kao.”
The corner of her mouth curled upward with intentional deadliness. “Happy to have you on board. Though I will warn that if you elect to try anything, I will ensure the men manning this ship strip you of your skin before gutting you alive. Got it?”
Striations danced along Syoran’s jaw. “Well aware.”
I exchanged a glance with Alastair, whose irises sparked with pride.
Exhaling, I gathered the group’s attention once more.
“As much as I would love to sit here and bask in the countless threats we could toss back and forth, I highly suggest we weave together some form of plan before we port in Serevalen. Considering how things went in Veilmar, who the hell knows what they might greet us with upon our arrival.”
“Speaking of,” Syoran interjected before focusing his attention on Alastair once more. “How long have we been at sea?”
“Ten days,” Alastair and Leilani responded in kind.
“Ten?” Head snapping toward me, a snarl quickly consumed Syoran’s features. “And you’re na?ve enough to believe they’ve kept Caspian alive since their departure?”
“Well, our esteemed navigator informed us of the respective travel lengths.” The harshness clinging to every syllable of Alastair’s utterance served as a warning, a reminder that to disrespect anyone on his crew was to disrespect him.
“Two days to reach the port within Ellira’s Cove that dumps straight into Serevalen.
And from there? Seven days on a horse. As far as I’m aware, we are making perfect time. ”
“Putting us neck and neck with their arrival does not ensure Caspian’s safety. We should’ve intercepted them!”
“And how the fuck would you have liked to do that, first mate?” Alastair took a step forward, driving two fingers into the center of Syoran’s chest. “If you would think for one godsdamned second, you would realize that they are… Oh, I don’t know, a day ahead of us in travel time, and they traveled on land.
We opted for a route that would match their timeline to ensure we got to Serevalen before shit hits the fan. ”
Fingers gathering the collar of Alastair’s shirt, Syoran ripped him forward until a mere inch separated them. “If you truly knew Caspian, you would already be aware that the instant he agreed to go with them, he was a dead man walking.”
A humorless chuckle came first before Alastair barked back, “And if you truly knew Caspian, you would know how much the king adores him. If you genuinely believe that pitiful prick would toss him aside, you are a much bigger fool than I thought you to be.”
I groaned. “If you two would just make out and get it over with, I’m sure you’d be saving all of us the headache.”
“I’m glad you said it,” Leilani snorted, glancing between the two of them. “And somehow the men in our world believe women to be too dramatic for leadership.”
A genuine smile crossed my lips, and for once, I fully believed that I had found a friend amidst a world of hardship.
Attention lingering on her for a second too long, I turned toward Alastair and Syoran.
“A plan? Because, as you’ve made it clear, there is a high likelihood the king will be prepared for our arrival.
If not for Caspian, for Kael and Percy.”
Shoving himself free of Syoran’s grip, Alastair trained his gaze on me.
“Well, since you’re the only one out of the lot of us who truly knows what lies in those journals, I believe it is best for you to infiltrate the palace.
Marellan has a thing for riding Caspian’s cock, so it’s more than likely he’ll be stationed somewhere within the heart. ”
Syoran ran a hand down his face. “She’s the only one you allowed to read those passages? Have you wholly forgotten that she is the one who slaughtered half of our crew? Who’s to say she’s not leading yours to a similar fate?”
I moved faster than he could think, my knuckles colliding with his sternum as I forced him against the wall. Dagger free, sharpened steel nestled against his throat, and regardless of the inches he had on me, I glared down my nose at him.
“If you wish to continue doubting me, feel free, Kao,” I snarled, my grip tightening on the hilt until my knuckles whitened.
“I made a godsdamned statement so as not to be underestimated, which seems to continue being a preference of yours. Must I make you bleed to force you into understanding? Or would you like to pull your head out of your ass before I’m forced to do it for you? ”
“I do not speak lies.”
“Just as you do not speak truth.” Nicking the side of his neck with the tip of the blade, my glare deepened.
“I do not know why I am so drawn to your worthless captain, but I am. My intentions in heading into Serevalen align with this crew: to find Kael, Percy, and Caspian. He knows things none of us do, things that, even after spending hours upon hours and days upon days reading those texts, I still don’t understand. ”
“And you want me to blindly trust your words? As if you didn’t murder men who had nothing to do with your capture?”
“No, but I could say the same to you. You want to talk about blind trust and judging me for what I have done? How about you take a moment to reflect on how I was used on your ship? You simply bringing me a pail of water, a bar of soap, and fresh linens does not excuse you from the actions of your men, even if you attempt to claim it does.”
His nostrils flared. “Then you should’ve killed me that night.”
“Maybe I should have,” I crooned, dragging the dagger lightly over his flesh before sheathing it on my thigh again. “But I didn’t. And unlike you, I would prefer to live in the present versus fixate on the implications of the past. Especially when there are far too many innocent lives to save.”
Before I could step away, knuckles drummed against the open wood door. “I… Uh, sorry for interrupting, Captain.”
Turning, long blonde hair fell into view, undoubtedly belonging to Otis, one of the deckhands.
His copper gaze moved between Syoran and me with hesitance, an uncertainty that quickly gave way to fear.
Bronze skin paler than normal, he extended his arm forward, offering a single piece of parchment to Alastair.
“What is this?” the captain asked, snatching it with his forefinger and thumb.
Eyes widening, Otis shook his head. “I-I… I didn’t open it. I wasn’t sure if you would like me to, considering that it’s sealed with…”
“...the royal crest,” Alastair finished for him, his utterance earning everyone’s attention.
“What the fuck could that piece of shit want to do with us?” Leilani spat as she quickly moved from her position, a newfound fire igniting her steps.
Finger slipping beneath the fold, Alastair forced it open. Eyes scanning, the corner of his mouth curled upward, a soft chuckle leaving him. “That bastard.”
“What?” all of us demanded simultaneously.
Flipping the letter around, it wasn’t a handwritten warning that greeted us. Instead, it was an invitation, a call to attend a castle grounds event—a wedding.
Parran’s dark brows furrowed. “I-I’m not sure why you’re laughing?”
Alastair flicked the bottom corner, where a signature sat nestled beneath the mirage of colors coating the parchment. “Because Caspian fucking Vayne signed it. He sent it.”
“He’s alive…” Syoran whispered, my words quickly devouring his.
“He knows…”
“Of course he does.” Rolling his eyes, Alastair stared at the invitation for a breath before he elected to turn, not to Leilani, not to me, not to Syoran, but to Parran. “How probable is it that you can still use your Voidstep?”
Their large turquoise gaze only seemed to grow. “Y-You’re asking me to use my magic beyond healing?”
“Did I miss something?” Syoran asked. “What the fuck does Voidstep mean?”
Alastair nodded, ignoring Syoran. “I trust you. You’ve proven yourself a capable crew member, Parran.”
“But what if I… What if I can’t… What if I can’t form a link back?”
“Then we will figure it out,” Alastair reassured, placing a gentle hand on their arm. “But for us to make this happen, we are going to need your help. Do you think that is something you can do?”
Parran dipped their chin. “I can try. For you, I can try, Captain.”
“Perfect.” Finally, electing to address the rest of us, Alastair smirked.
“Here’s the plan. Syoran will cater to the eastern wing of the palace, and I will focus on the western.
Leilani, you will cover ground along the main entrance.
” Turning toward me, his grin only widened.
“Rohen, Parran will use their abilities to drop you right into the palace, right to Caspian fucking Vayne, and I only have one request. Give them hell.”