Chapter 15
Ryvin
Vanth was sittingon a crate against the railing of the ship. His elbows rested on his knees, his head lowered as he stared at the floor. I took a few steps toward him, then paused to look at the crew. They were busy, talking with each other, or doing their work, oblivious to me or the shifter in their midst.
We’d promised unrestricted access to Konos and Telos to the merchants who owned this ship upon the defeat of the Fae King. I think they were already imagining what they could do with the wealth they’d access through such open trade. While we’d allowed the occasional human vessel in, it was rare in Telos, and even more rare in Konos. Plus, I might have alluded that I’d put in a good word with Ceto to help their crossing be less dangerous. I’d figure that out if we survived.
I continued on, stopping in front of Vanth. He glanced up. “I’m getting a little tired of ships.”
“I don’t think we’re quite done with them yet,” I replied as I sat down next to him.
“It has to end eventually,” he said. “I’m just hoping when I meet my end, my feet are on solid ground. I don’t want a serpent’s teeth as my last view of the world.”
“I’m not sure a sea serpent would touch you, given how much time you’ve spent around Ara,” I pointed out.
“I’m not the one with the gift from a goddess.” He nodded to the gold circle around my wrist.
“You have enough of her scent on you,” I said, my tone harsher than I expected.
Vanth laughed. “Trust me, if I wanted your woman, I’d have made my move already.”
I tamped down the jealousy that clawed at my chest. “I know.”
The shifter turned to look at me. “Do you? You finally conceded that I am not a threat to your mate?”
“I don’t always control my responses.” I hated admitting that, but it was true. “But I know you’re a good friend to Ara. She’s lucky to have you. And so am I.”
We sat there for a long while, listening to the chatter of the crew and the roar of the waves. For the first time in a while, I felt myself relax just a little.
“Why’d you do it?” Vanth asked.
My brow furrowed. “Do what?”
“Save me. Why didn’t you send me to the executioner’s block?” His expression was deadly serious.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“You’re lying,” he replied.
My brow furrowed.
“I know you well enough to know your tells. Your fingers tensed.”
I looked down at my hands, then made myself relax. I didn’t even realize I was tensing. “How long have I been doing that?”
“I noticed it about a year after we started working together,” he said.
“And you tell me now?” I shook my head. How many others figured that out?
“I wasn’t about to give that information up. It kept me alive,” he said.
“You thought I’d harm you?” I hadn’t ever considered killing the shifter, which was a decidedly strange thing now that I was thinking about it.
“No, but it helped me react and made me realize you weren’t as bad as people said you were,” he replied.
I laughed. “Not as bad? The only one with a death roll as long as mine is Hades himself.”
Vanth shrugged and we fell back into silence again.
“I knew it would anger my father,” I blurted out.
“What?” Vanth looked confused.
“Keeping you alive, promoting you.” I shrugged. “It was a childish move to make my father mad. It wasn’t benevolent, or particularly thoughtful. It was petty.”
Vanth laughed, the sound infectious. “All this time, I thought there was a deeper reason. But it was just childish rebellion?”
I joined in the laugher. “Yep. Nothing more than a pissed off kid.”
“Well I’m grateful, no matter the cause. I don’t think I’ve ever told you that,” Vanth said after he caught his breath.
“You owe me nothing.” I set my hand on the shifter’s shoulder. “I’m the one who owes you my thanks. You’ve always had my back. And you have Ara’s. I am honored to call you my friend.”
He nodded, then turned his attention to the distance, where we could see a tiny speck that would grow to be our destination.
I stared at the tiny landmass. It was so small that it wasn’t even recorded on most maps. If Aspasia’s information was accurate, we were close to showing up uninvited at an incredibly powerful sorceress’s home.
“Do you think she’s loyal to my father?” I asked Vanth.
“No. Your father has never done anything to earn true loyalty in his entire life. She’s either afraid of him, or he gave her something she really wanted,” Vanth said.
“I guess we have to figure out what she might want more,” I replied.
“There’s always something. Those with power always want more,” Vanth said darkly. “My concern is the problem we might create if we give her what she wants.”
The island looked like a mountain rising from the sea. A peak bathed in shrubs and trees that grew from the water itself.
Glittering scales reflected in the distance as we neared the shore. The monsters were just out of reach, staying away from our vessel, for now. I wasn’t sure how long they’d be able to wait for us before the creatures decided to attack. I had to hope there’d still be a ship waiting for us when we left this island.
The rocky shore was nearly all cliffside, with one area that was lower. A narrow sandy beach gave way to rocks before giving way to shrubs and trees at the base of the mountain.
There were no signs of life as we waded through the water toward the sand, but I could feel the magic. It was cloying, almost sweet. It hung thick around us, making the air feel like it might explode with a single touch. It was powerful, but unstable. We had to be in the right place.
“Where now?” Vanth asked when we came to the base of the mountain.
Something shimmered, creating a rainbow suspended from nowhere. I reached for it, my fingers making the rainbow distort. There was something here, some kind of magic ward. I’d read about these but hadn’t seen any in use. We had no need to ward things in Konos.
Carefully, I pushed my hand forward and it vanished behind the ward, making it look like my hand was suddenly missing.
Vanth made a startled sound.
I pulled my hand back, showing him that it was intact. “There’s a shield here, but it’s letting me through. I think we’re supposed to go through it.”
“Why would she have a shield, but then allow visitors to just walk through it?” Vanth asked skeptically.
“She wouldn’t,” I replied. “Which means she’s expecting us.”
Pulling my sword from its sheath, I stepped through the shield before Vanth could object.