Chapter 17 #2
I waited until his footsteps faded to echoing whispers before approaching the food.
The savory aroma of roasted chicken made my mouth water traitorously, my stomach rumbling with need.
I took a bite, and it broke through the wall of defiance inside me.
Hunger crashed through my defenses like a tidal wave, unstoppable and raw.
Then I devoured the sandwich in my next mouthful. The rest was gone within seconds.
Before long, the tray was clear, and I hated how the simple act of eating—and choosing to wear these clothes—felt like surrendering.
No. It wasn’t. I had to believe it wasn't.
This was survival. For now.
I'd spent five years adapting to a curse that stole my memories every month. I had to do the same thing here. Adapt.
That was the only way I’d escape this situation. And I had to be smart.
I closed the door then retreated to the window bay, where I sat, and thought, and tried to calm myself.
Hours passed in that room as I got lost in my mind, trying to formulate and brainstorm a plan.
I considered everything I’d been told and thought about the people I’d seen so far aboard this vessel—Wolfe, Arielle, the two Fae guards, and Sirril.
I sensed that not many of Wolfe's people had journeyed on this mission, but I felt there was more than what I'd seen.
Knowing only helped with my awareness of those around me.
But this ship was just the beginning. I guessed that when we arrived in Galaythia, everything would be as different as night and day.
I had no idea what to expect or how I’d even manage to get back to the mortal realm. Whether I did it by ship or land, I’d need a way to get through the Veil. One did not simply walk through it.
The Veil was a hundred-foot-wide wall of mystical magic infused with incantations and spells that had kept it functioning for several millennia. It ran across realms, oceans and seas, separating magical folk from mortals in accordance with the Accords. To travel through, you needed a magical pass.
Only the gods knew how I'd come by such a thing if I managed to escape the freaking prince of Galaythia. I was his prisoner by law. I was certain the punishment for trying to escape would be similar to that of the mortal realm—death.
The word echoed in my mind, pulsing dread into my soul.
I couldn't die like this. Not this way. Taken captive for shit I had no part of.
No. I refused to accept that fate. There had to be a way out that didn't involve death or any other undesirable outcome.
Another batch of food magically appeared on the empty tray just after the noon sun. More dishes from home, which I ate.
Once I was done, the walls of the cabin felt like they were closing in. I needed some air, so I grabbed the shawl from the stack of clothes, wrapped it around my shoulders, and ventured outside of the room.
The silent hallway enveloped me, tense with the weight of unseen eyes, as if the walls themselves were alive and stood guard over me.
The air held the sharp bite of salt beneath layers of sandalwood and polish, scents that did nothing to mask the dark power sleeping in the ship’s bones. Each creak of the timber felt like a warning, as if the vessel itself tracked my movements with its unseen eyes.
I pressed on, ignoring the feeling even though discomfort churned my stomach like spoiled milk. I hated that I couldn’t entirely be certain if the fear genuinely came from inside me, or if the ship wanted me afraid.
Still, I walked. Because if I turned back, I might start screaming and never stop.
The deck boards sighed beneath my feet as I emerged into open air, where reality seemed to blur at the edges. The only thing that felt familiar to me was the cerulean sky above and the endless sea.
Salt-laden wind played through my hair with curious fingers, growing stronger with every step I took. The shock I experienced yesterday when I discovered I was on a ship had faded somewhat. Now the beauty of my surroundings stole my breath away and called to me to lose myself.
I looked about me, feeling grateful and more at ease when I realized no one else was around.
Good. I just needed a moment to clear my head.
I found a spot near the bow, where I watched as the waves of the sea slapped against the ship as we sailed by.
I didn’t know these waters. Already I could see from the deep hues of green with touches of violet that I was nowhere near home.
The hum of magic thrumming through the air was almost tangible here. It grew stronger with each league we sailed. I guessed that meant we could be approaching the Veil.
Grandmother said that going through the Veil was like getting a dose of raw, undiluted magic. Everything was different. From the sky above to the land beneath and everything in between.
Grandmother. How I missed her.
She must have been going crazy looking for me. Grandmother would have been the first to come up with a plan to save me. And I knew she would never stop looking until she found me. Father disappearing was one thing, but me?
She would never leave me to whatever terrible fate had taken me.
I imagined her face when she found the necklace. And how her heart must have broken. My sweet grandmother did her best to protect me, but I’d doomed myself from the moment I cast that blood spell.
Nothing good had come of it. Even if I knew more about the origins of my curse and what Father had done. None of this was worth it.
If I had one wish now, it would be to go home. I wished Grandmother could find me and take me back to the safety of those who loved me.
A stronger gust of wind pulled me from my melancholy thoughts. The wind lifted my hair higher, so it danced across my shoulders. I pushed it out of my face and pulled the shawl closer.
Seeking distraction from my dark thoughts, I looked down at the waters again and spotted a colorful school of large fish swimming through the waves.
I admired them, gazing with awe as I wondered what they were. They appeared to be trout, but I’d never seen them in colors of bright green and orange. They also had large, round eyes that reminded me of owls.
“The waters change the closer we get to the Veil, my Lady,” came a deep male voice from behind me, making me jump.
I turned to see one of the Fae warriors who’d taken me to my room yesterday. The blond one. Like the other guy, he’d worn his long hair in a war braid.
He moved to my side with impossible grace for someone so tall.
Just like Wolfe. The air between us crackled with that distinct Fae energy that made my skin prickle with awareness.
His presence brought both threat and intrigue—a combination that made my heart beat traitorously faster.
It made me wonder if he was of the same breed of unhinged as Wolfe.
“Most humans find it unsettling to see the different types of creatures.” His eyes brightened.
I gripped the railing tighter, forcing myself to remain still even as my instincts screamed at me to retreat. “I find it fascinating.”
“That’s good to hear.” A playful smile graced his full lips. Emabelle would have said he had the pretty boy face of a rake with a dash of savage.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t plan on joining them.” That was probably what he’d thought and came to check on me.
“As lovely as they are, I didn’t figure you the type to jump ship.” His expression softened slightly—the first crack I'd seen in any of their masks.
“What are they?” I glanced back.
“They are angalou. One of the many Veil-touched creatures. Legend has it that they were once trout who’d been changed by the magic emitting from the Veil.
At night, they glow whatever color you see them now, but since they swim deep, so few ever see them.
They’re hunting now. That’s why they’re out in full force. ”
“I’ve never heard of them before. They weren’t in any of my grandmother’s books.”
“Most beings don’t know about them. You’d have to sail the open seas often enough to see them.”
“She didn’t do that. She’s more of a land person.”
It was strange thinking I’d seen something my grandmother might not have known about, and I couldn’t help the fascination that filled me.
Not even two days had passed of my captivity, and so far, I’d met more Fae than I’d ever read about, a mage, a woodland sprite, and now these strange, beautiful fish.
“The Tideheart is strong here.”
Tideheart. The magical center of the seas.
Just thinking the name made me shiver. It felt like I was listening to one of Grandmother’s stories that always kept me mesmerized.
After allowing myself a few moments of captivation, I glanced back at the Fae male, aware he was watching me.
“I’m Garrick.” He tipped his head slightly, revealing a crossed blades rune tattooed on the side of his neck.
The dark lines seemed to drink in the sunlight.
I recognized the design from the old language to mean warrior.
I wondered if the tattoo represented all the battles he'd won. Or all the lives he'd taken.
As if reading my thoughts about his warrior status, he added in a proud, reverent tone, “I am third in the Bloodsworn.”
“Bloodsworn?” The word tasted like copper on my tongue.
“The king’s guards, and part of Lord Nightblade’s Veythral Circle—his most trusted advisors. We are bound by oaths written in blood and sealed with ancient magic.”
Like King Varis’ knights. Tasked with protecting and dealing with people like me by executing them. “I see.”
“I will be guarding you.”
My mouth went dry. “Don’t you mean watching me?”
He smirked and raised his brows. “I suppose so. Between you and me, I’m the more lighthearted and less scary of the three of us. That’s perhaps the reason Lord Nightblade chose me.”
“I can’t imagine him thinking like that. He likes to scare me.”
“I assure you, you’d be more terrified with Bastian or Alaric, the other two members of the Bloodsworn. You met Alaric yesterday. He’s Wolfe’s brother.”
Brother. I was right they were related. “And Bastian? When do I get to meet him?” The question was a clever attempt to gather information.
“When he convinces himself you’re not a threat, and perhaps when you consider accepting Arielle’s apologies.”
The prickling sensation of guilt pulled on my insides at the mention of Arielle. I’d been hard on her, but I stood by my feelings. Everything was wrong here, including what she did. Regardless of why she did it.
“I’m not a threat,” I decided to say, ignoring the comment about Arielle.
“No, you don’t feel like one.” Although he smiled, scrutiny was still alive in his gaze. “I rather hate to break up this little lesson on who’s who and what’s what, but our lord has requested your presence in his private study.”
My stomach clenched. What in the hells did Wolfe want with me now? After our earlier encounter, I’d hoped to avoid him for the rest of the day—wishful thinking. “Why does he want my presence?”
“I suppose to discuss the next steps. We’ll be in Galaythia soon.”
My spine tingled with sharp spikes. I hungered for that information. At the same time, I feared knowing it and almost wished I could seek the refuge of blissful ignorance.
This was where I needed to be brave.
Whether I was ready or not, it was time to face whatever came next. At least Wolfe offered the opportunity to know.
I straightened, pushing my shoulders back and nodded to Garrick. “Okay, take me to him.”
“Follow me.” He waved me forward and I followed, each step taking me deeper into the ship's shadowed corridors.
My heart counted down the beats until I faced Wolfe again. Boom, boom, boom, boom. It pounded in my ears, matching the rhythm of my footsteps.
This time when I spoke to Wolfe, I needed to stay focused.
Meeting with him now could be the first steps to finding my way back home.