Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Leo laughed loudly, and Enzo’s lips twitched as he pulled off his sweat-drenched shirt. ‘Enough child’s play. How about we use real swords and see who has more skill?’
Victor and Leo had stopped fighting, instead leaning against the side of the ship to watch.
‘Oh good,’ Adrian said to them as he lifted his own shirt. ‘You can both referee.’
‘Elara, I found us—Oh my,’ Merissa murmured, plates in hand, head snapping to the two sweating, shirtless men.
‘I know,’ Elara said. ‘It seems the epidemic of shirtlessness has reached the high seas too.’ She clapped her hands in glee.
Merissa sat down—rather faintly, Elara thought.
‘Is that a lion tattoo?’ Adrian scoffed as Enzo turned. ‘Why am I not surprised?’
‘Is that an octopus?’ Enzo retorted, snatching up his golden sword and looking in derision at the tentacles that spread across Adrian’s chest and wrapped down his arm.
‘I’ll have you know that the octopus is one of the most intelligent creatures in the sea.’
‘Then why is it tattooed on you?’ Enzo cooed.
Santi choked on a laugh, and even Victor chuckled as Adrian threw Enzo a venomous look.
‘Enough chit-chat,’ Adrian said, raising a blue steel sword. ‘Let me show you how a pirate fights.’
The next half-hour was filled with grunting and cursing as Adrian and Enzo took out their hatred of one another on the deck of the ship. Elara watched, enraptured, Merissa beside her, as the two men fought like animals.
And she had to admit—she was having a whale of a time.
Merissa put another berry in her mouth. ‘This is far more entertaining than watching those drills,’ she murmured.
Elara noticed how her eyes raked down Adrian’s bronzed, muscular body and tried not to smile.
‘Like what you see?’ Adrian called over, grinning as Enzo lunged, just missing his shoulder.
Merissa’s cheeks reddened. ‘Just admiring your swordplay.’
Elara’s shoulders began to shake, and Merissa elbowed her.
‘Swordplay? Really, Merissa?’
‘I’m a woman,’ she retorted. ‘I can…admit that he’s…not unpleasant on the eyes.’
‘Well, I’m glad to hear it. Though, have you given any more thought to Leo? The poor man is following you around like a lost puppy.’
Merissa shook her head. ‘Nothing has changed. You know what my brother said.’
‘So you and Leo aren’t an item?’ Santi said, leaning in.
Elara turned. ‘We were having a private conversation,’ she said through a mouth full of pastry, courtesy of Pieter.
‘Ah, of course. In the open air. So loudly that I could hear it above the clash of swords.’
Merissa looked perturbed.
‘So,’ Santi said, drawing his chair further in.
‘You’re washing your hands of pompous Helion twats?
You know, I’ve heard that Altalunians are far better lovers.
If you want to take a dip in the water, you just let me know.
’ He plucked a blueberry off Merissa’s plate and popped it into his mouth, grinning as he sat back, turning to watch the show.
Merissa’s mouth parted, and she blinked several times as Elara grinned. ‘Yes, Mer. Doesn’t that sound like a good idea?’
Merissa mouthed something like, ‘Shut it,’ to her.
‘Point to Enzo,’ Leo called.
‘Seems there’s a little bias here,’ Adrian replied. ‘Victor?’
‘Is someone a sore loser?’ Enzo said.
Adrian rolled his shoulders. ‘Not at all.’ And with a smirk and the flick of a hand, he doused Enzo with water from thin air.
Enzo cursed, his curls plastered to his head, as Adrian chuckled. Flames licked him dry. ‘Do you think you’re fun—’
Another downpour of water drowned Enzo, and the Lion sputtered.
‘Poor kitty-cat doesn’t like water, does he?’ Adrian mocked.
‘Adrian, I swear to the Stars—’
Adrian yawned, flicking his hand again so Enzo’s sentence was cut off, another onslaught of water drenching him.
‘All right,’ Enzo said, nodding as he wiped his eyes. And then he started laughing.
‘Oh no,’ Elara murmured. ‘I know that laugh.’
With simply a blink, a wall of fire whipped around Adrian, forming a ring as the pirate yelped.
‘Are you fucking psychotic? Mine was in jest.’
‘Well, this is very amusing for me.’
Elara’s eyes widened as she heard a hiss from within the fire, and the slop of water.
Enzo chuckled darkly as it did nothing to the flames but, if anything, forced them to leap higher. The ice began to melt upon the Everchanging Deck and Victor let out a low, impressed whistle.
Enzo yawned while Adrian shouted every expletive that existed in the Celestian tongue.
‘Give the poor captain a break,’ Santi laughed, waving at the fire.
Enzo flicked his hand, the flames disappearing.
‘Pissing contest is over, gents,’ Victor added. ‘I’m sorry to say it, captain, but Enzo won.’
Enzo smirked. ‘Always will.’
‘That’s some power you’ve got there,’ Victor said, walking away with Enzo. ‘Tell me…’ The rest of his sentence drifted off as the two descended the stairs.
Adrian shot them a contemptuous look as he brushed off his trousers, which Elara noticed were a little singed, before stalking below as well.
Elara stood, pulling Merissa up with her. ‘I’m still hungry,’ she grumbled. ‘Let’s go and help Pieter with lunch.’