Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Talent hummed at her fingertips, like ice beneath her skin. The thread connected to something warm, like honey and sunlight.
Erinna traced the connection. Followed the thread until she found a bright, warm light like a setting sun. Erinna spread her arms wide, ready to call it to her, aching to consume it.
“Bring her to me.”
She startled awake. Palms clammy with fear. The Weeping Queen was waiting for her. Waiting for Erinna to take whatever that warmth was.
The thread still tangled on her fingertips. Erinna followed the remnants of arcanum, her eyes landing on Inez’s sleeping form.
Her Talent extended to Inez. It wanted to connect with the thread of life around her heart.
Erinna jolted upright. Panic gripped her chest as she tried to squash the unwanted bloom of Talent back down where it belonged. Where it had stayed for so many years before. I have to leave, Erinna thought, unwilling to give in to whatever instinct drew her toward Inez.
Something wanted that connection. Erinna reached for the mug beside her mattress. The tea leaves were cold and stale, but she downed the remaining liquid, praying it would keep the Weeping Queen away.
Air.
She needed air.
Erinna pulled on her boots, not bothering to stay another moment in the small leaning hut she shared with her friend.
Unsurprisingly, a few pirates remained awake.
Some kept watchful eyes over the courtyard.
A couple of scouts disappeared into the thick underbrush to ensure that no one had followed them to the island.
Erinna, fueled by fatigue and desperation, crossed to one of the ale casks that Brax was so fond of and poured herself a healthy serving.
She took a sip, earning a few approving nods as she moved toward the closest, unattended hearth.
She was so terribly cold and craved something warm.
Anything that could fight the chill beneath her skin.
She pulled a small log over the warm coals and willed it to catch.
She scooted as close to the smoldering coals as she could—almost close enough to burn flesh and singe the hairs on her arms and legs. But she needed to work out the pesky chill in her bones and joints.
“I suggest you move back. You’ll burn yourself,” said a voice that had become all too familiar.
“I know what I’m doing. I’ll be okay.”
Kane had no problem with her short response and clearly didn’t take the hint to leave. He settled in a spot beside her and leaned into the fire himself.
Even with the heat of the flames, Erinna shivered and took another sip of ale. The warmth was only temporary and didn’t cut through the ice that remained in her veins.
A heavy coat was draped around her shoulders. She startled and turned to stare wide-eyed as he adjusted it around her shoulders, tucking the excess fabric around her body. The smell of woodfire and pine consumed her. His scent.
Erinna didn’t resist the comfort. She tugged the coat tighter around her. The tension in her body eased as she succumbed more and more to his care. It was nice to be cared for, even for a moment. Even by a pirate.
His eyes flickered to her bandage. “What happened to your head?” There was worry in his tone, and he moved in closer, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“Oh, right.” Erinna touched the bandage that was now damp with sweat. “I didn’t duck in time.”
He blinked as if expecting more of an explanation, but Erinna just took another sip of her frothy drink, welcoming the warm burn of alcohol.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He moved quickly across the courtyard, leaving Erinna to her solitary peace. She considered leaving. Slinking back to her hut, but wondered if he would come looking for her, regardless. Kane returned with a fresh bandage in his hand.
He crouched, nudging her legs apart to move between them and inspect the wound more closely. Erinna’s breath caught as his hands brushed the side of her face, his fingers unwrapping the bandage with deft, gentle strokes.
Her legs burned where they made contact with his body. A searing heat that sent a flush to her cheeks. His warmth was so utterly welcomed, as it thawed the remaining cold in her veins. Erinna had to fight from leaning in.
“So?” Kane started.
“So?” she repeated.
“What hit you?” He inspected the wound, lightly tilting her head from side to side before letting out a satisfied sigh. It was clear Serg had done well. It would heal without a scar, but it was best to keep it covered until it scabbed.
“Asher was helping me with the witchstone.”
“Asher did this?” His brow furrowed, and he shifted uneasily on the balls of his feet.
The warm glow of the embers illuminated his face, and even in the low light, Erinna could see circles forming beneath his eyes. Neither of them was making great headway in their projects, and she found some level of solace in that.
“No, not technically. I got her to try and imbue the witchstone and, well…let’s just say it was a bad first courting.”
Kane chuckled and started the process of rebandaging her cut. Some of the tension eased from his back and shoulders as he focused on the work. “Thank you for all your help,” he said, voice low and thick.
“Not like I had much of a choice, right?” She meant it as a joke, but the humor didn’t reach him.
Kane leaned in, focused on the work. Erinna could see the stubble growing on his jawline, her eyes trailing a lazy path to his full lips before quickly darting to an insignificant tree she could see from over his shoulder.
Kane continued. “No, really. Brax has been thrilled to have your help. Even if he would never admit it.” He finished wrapping the new bandage around Erinna’s head and inspected his work with pride.
“You’re too nice for a pirate,” Erinna blurted out. A statement she never thought she would say in her lifetime. But it was true. Kane treated her well—too well—for a pirate.
Kane laughed, a deep and resonant sound that landed a little too close to her heart. “You’re too talented for Tarth.”
This again, Erinna groaned internally. “I’m not one for flattery, Kane.”
He studied her for a moment. His amber eyes drifted briefly to her lips before returning to meet her gaze. On instinct, Erinna pressed her legs tighter around him.
Kane plucked the cup from her hand and took a large gulp before answering.
“I don’t flatter. I take pride in my ability to see potential. My crew is hand-selected, and one of the most fearsome teams on the sea. I’ve seen enough of your work to know you would make a good fit.”
“So you’re saying I have potential, then?” She raised a playful brow, another attempt to distract from whatever feeling was building between them.
“It’s more than just potential, Erinna.” Amber and shadow danced across his face.
“If you’re impressed by that, you should really go after my father.” Erinna tried to look away, but he caught her chin with his finger and thumb.
“I’d much prefer to have you.”
The fire sputtered and crackled behind them. Her heart hammered into her chest. If he continued like this, she might just pass out.
Erinna swallowed hard. “You’re making me uncomfortable.”
Kane dropped his hand. “What’s discomforting you?”
“Your praise.” Erinna tried to steady her heartbeat. She knew she was good at what she did and understood her value to the business, but hearing it out loud and from the lips of Captain Kane Atwater—it was something she wasn’t familiar with. Erinna cursed how much the validation warmed her heart.
Kane brought his face to hers, his lips brushing against her ear. “Don’t worry, I’m still waiting on my witchstone.”
She let the heaviness of his compliments pass as he situated himself back in the spot beside her, and the two lapsed into a companionable silence.
Erinna didn’t know when it happened, but the immediate distaste she’d once harbored for Kane now bordered on circumstantial endearment.
She took another sip of ale. Hells, she could admit in the privacy of her own mind that her true feelings inched closer to light attraction.
She gulped. Fine, perhaps it was more than just light.
Kane had been true to his word and took good care of his crew. The way he treated her felt so much like acceptance. The type she wished for back at home.
The type she craved.
But he didn’t know all the secrets she kept, she reminded herself, and she wasn’t ready to share.
Her gaze drifted to the doors of Fort Solitude. Scorch marks and dents decorated the surface. They had released the bars but were still stuck undoing decades of arcanum locks.
“What exactly are you looking for in there?” Erinna asked.
“I told you—”
“Do not say treasure.” It came out as a half-laugh, half-groan as she nudged him playfully in the side. She could take the hint. He wasn’t in the mood to divulge secrets. Gods knew she had enough of her own.
“What’s taking so long with the doors? I thought it would be easier without the bars?”
Kane was silent for a moment, and Erinna was half expecting him not to answer.
“It is. But there are old wards embedded into the doors and walls themselves. Not to mention old traps inside that lead to the library. The library itself is open and relatively unprotected; the trouble is getting to it. Afton’s taken care of a few arcanum locks and traps, but he’s been picking at them blind.
Says it’s older arcanum, not what they teach in the academy. ”
Erinna nodded and resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. An old practice that didn’t interest the academy? A mage’s greatest weakness was their pretentiousness.
“What are you two really doing, holed up in that guard room?”
Kane turned his face toward the embers in thought. “You’re more perceptive than I thought.”
“You’re a better captain than I gave you credit for.”
Kane turned back to her and caught her gaze in his. The intensity rooted her to the floor, and warmth rose to her cheeks. Not many people looked at her like that. Like she had value.
“We’re working on how to get in and navigating the library once we have access to the fort.”
“I see.” She threw a few twigs into the fire. “And what about after?”
Kane cocked his head to the side in curiosity. “After?”
“Yeah, where are you going once this is done?”
Kane grinned. “Why? Are you finally considering my offer?”
Erinna tapped her chin. “Depends on what I can get out of it.”
“And is this not enough?” Kane waved a hand up and down his body.
Erinna gaped. She should have known where this conversation was headed. She made a show of throwing his coat off, ready to stand.
“Okay, okay, okay. Sit, please.” He gently grasped her elbow, as if willing her to stay, and moved to drape his coat back over her shoulders. “We’re headed to the Initian Islands.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t hide her shock.
“You familiar?” He arched an eyebrow.
“I may have some friends there.” Erinna thought of Rexin, then of Nama Kellori and her family. They should be settled on one of the islands if they hadn’t encountered any trouble.
“Erinna Yarrow has connections on the Initian Islands?” Kane’s tone was playful, but his shock was evident.
“I’m a Yarrow, why are you surprised?”
“In my defense, you are full of surprises.” Kane let the words hang there, voice low. A half-smile tugged at his lips. “It will remain an open offer, Erinna. You are welcome to come along. I would be happy to have you.”
Erinna’s heart fluttered at the shift in his tone and the feeling that his offer meant more than it should have.
Her hands wandered to the leather bracelet—a subconscious reminder of reality.
She rubbed her thumb across the tight braid and thought of Damien and her father.
The people back home, waiting for her to return.
“I need to go back.”
Kane nodded, eyed the band around Erinna’s wrist, and turned back to the fire. An intentional silence settled. There would be no offer of help from Kane—no assistance granted to bring her back. She wouldn’t ask either. He made it clear the first night that she would be on her own after this.
The Hellish Rebuke would not be going back to Tarth. But that left Erinna with limited options. She took in a calming breath. One problem at a time. Answers first. Escape plan second.
Erinna’s attention drifted toward the path that led to the cemetery. Part of her wondered if it was worth another try, but trying to summon a spirit with her current level of exhaustion would be borderline dangerous.
“Planning another trip to the graveyard tonight?”
Erinna’s stomach dropped to her feet. “What are you talking about?” She tried thinking of any way to deflect whatever course of questioning was about to happen.
“Whatever it is you’re doing, we don’t really care as long as it doesn’t bring us any harm,” Kane assured her, but she still couldn't quite grasp enough trust to show her cards. He didn’t bring it up for mere conversation; he was letting her know that whatever she did on the island, he would find out about it. She would have to be more careful.
Kane stood up to leave, eyes darting once again to the bandage around Erinna’s head.
“Try not to kill yourself, please.” With that, he turned toward his own room, leaving Erinna alone by the smoldering embers.