Chapter 6 #2
We sat silently on the floor of the empty library, Enfys’s head on my shoulder as Pablo lay his chin on her knee. I closed my eyes and breathed in my little sister. The girl I’d run from when I should have turned to her.
Pablo whined as Asher coughed from the doorway, a bright lamp held aloft, illuminating his gentle smile.
‘Is this a girls’ only event or can anyone join?’
‘Technically. Pablo’s a boy too, so I suppose you’re more than welcome, Captain.’ Enfys brushed a kiss to my forehead as she stood.
‘I grew worried when you spent an hour retrieving my queen.’ He offered his hand. For a moment, I glanced at it before reaching out and standing on trembling legs. ‘In all honesty, I’m not happy about leaving you alone in a castle where Danté gets a free run.’
I bent down and grabbed one of the books I’d thrown, wincing at the battered pages before returning it to the shelf.
‘I’ve got the wolf,’ I said, smiling as Pablo sniffed one of the tossed books.
‘And I’ve got wine and a portrait of a certain Duke that needs a few embellishments.’
‘So.’ Skye interlocked her arm with mine. ‘As much as I despise defacing a work of art, I think we’ll all find it quite cathartic to throw some daggers at it.’
‘Even I’ll say yes to that,’ said Enfys.
I scanned the discarded books. Wine had seemed like a terrible idea moments ago, but it could put a temporary gauze over those bleeding wounds of ours.
‘Let me put these away and I’ll join you,’ I said, picking up another dented book.
Asher tilted his head, his ebony coils glinting in the golden glow of his lamp. ‘And I said I’m not happy leaving you alone, my queen.’
Pablo whined.
‘I think you’ve offended him, Captain. I need… a few minutes. Honestly, if I’m not there in ten minutes, come and find me,’ I pleaded.
‘And did you think the wolf was enough last night too?’ Asher scratched the fur behind the wolf’s ear, his smile gone.
Huffing, I placed the book back on the shelf, much more carefully than I’d removed it.
‘I just need a minute… please?’
‘She’s got the wolf,’ Skye said. ‘Give her space. I’d think it’s something you’d find quite easy, Captain.’
I swung my gaze back over my shoulder at her clipped tone, narrowed my eyes. By Evella, please tell me there weren’t still issues with those two? Perhaps I’d throw them back on the boat and raise the anchor. Forcing them to share the same air might bring them closer.
‘Fine.’ He saluted, offering his arm to Enfys, who accepted with a shy smile. ‘Ten minutes, my queen. In fact, make it nine.’
Skye squeezed my fingers. ‘I’d make it eight,’ she whispered.
When the last of their chatter faded, my shoulders slumped. Pablo passed me another book, which I silently apologised to, before placing it on the shelf.
The wolf took his place under my hand. A drink was exactly what I needed right now.
But we hadn’t taken more than two steps when Pablo’s head swung round, his ears pricked.
I spun, my heart crashing as the faint gilded glow of a lamp receded into the gloom.
I tugged his fur, the skin on my nape chilling as the glow caught my eyes through the shelves.
‘Come on,’ I whispered, not wanting to relive yesterday’s assassination attempt. ‘Let’s get—’
What the fuck? The damn wolf ran towards the light, leaving me alone in the shadows with only my wayward gifts as protection.
‘Hey, boy.’
I groaned at the mariner’s husky voice. No. Not him. ‘Thought you’d all gone?’
Bristling, I grabbed my skirts with one hand, stretching the other as I took a few hesitant steps towards the wolf and the damned mariner. I had no desire to be under his scrutiny right now. What was it about him that appealed to the wolf?
I turned around a shelf, blinking away the shadows as Pablo leapt around the mariner, his tail wagging (wagging!) in the glow of—
The light extinguished as the man’s head turned in my direction.
It hadn’t been a lamp, but an orb he’d conjured in his hand.
My breath hitched before a smile tugged the corner of my mouth.
The fucker was an Anomaly. He’d kept that one hidden!
I shook my head. It wasn’t something I could complain about with my history.
The wolf slipped under my fingers as the mariner spoke.
‘Still wandering without a guard?’ He sucked his teeth and I fought the urge to tug his beard. ‘Anyone would think you’ve got a soft spot for me.’
He bloody winked, and I swear a satisfied grin spread over his face, the scent of red wine rising in the air around him.
‘You realise the wine cellar is on the other side of the keep?’ I said guardedly.
‘Already found that.’
I sniffed. ‘Really? I would never have guessed?’
He snorted. ‘Well, I was searching for some bedtime reading, but it appears Romero wasn’t a big reader.’
‘Most of his books are kept in the main library.’
The mariner clicked his tongue and mumbled under his breath. His eyes scoured my features, and the familiar stab of anxiety dug into my chest. I had as much desire to get to know this man as I had to speak to Vyrus.
‘See something you like…?’ I trailed off. What was his name?
His smile widened. ‘You remind me of someone, sweetheart. Someone I knew in another lifetime.’
A chill prickled against my arms and I turned, thanking Evella as the wolf settled under my hand.
The relief was short-lived as the mariner fell into step with me.
I shivered. Every fibre of my being warned me to get away from him.
But why? He’d come to my aid twice now. He’d had every opportunity to hurt me and yet I still breathed, so why couldn’t I bear to be near him?
I turned to ascend the spiralling steps to Skye’s quarters.
They were too narrow for both of us, so Pablo followed behind as I clutched the frigid stone walls, testing the height of each uneven step.
I tried to blank out the image of a boy and girl tearing up these very stairs, the heat of stolen bread warming our hands as we raced to my rooms. Every stone, wall and crack held a memory of the six years I’d spent with Matthias. He’d made my existence spark. And now…
Now, I trailed through the draughty keep with frozen fingers and a stranger at my back.
‘You and your sister.’
My body seized up as the mariner followed and I wondered if I should channel the queen within and dismiss him.
Far too often, I’d felt the prickle of his attention during the voyage to Drufaera.
Every time I’d looked up and met his gaze, he’d nodded and held my stare for a beat too long.
‘You’re Mercy’s girls, right? And the little turd? ’
‘Quite frankly, I don’t get why it’s any of your business, but yes, Queen Mercy was our mother.’
‘Villentes.’ He sniffed, and I stopped, turning to lay my back against the wall.
‘And?’ I crossed my arms as though I could smother the embers of ire bursting within. ‘Do you have a deep interest in genealogy? Is that why you were in the library?’
He snorted before taking a long swig from his bottle. I grimaced as he wiped his beard with his sleeve.
‘You could say I’ve got a vested interest in the Villentes.’
I narrowed my gaze, my skin crawling as I recalled all those stares.
Part of me was desperate to find the others, the other burned with a desire to find out what his interest was.
Then his hand snapped out. Gripping the back of my neck, he thrust his face into my hair, sniffing deeply. My knee jerked up, slamming into his groin and he crumpled.
‘Damn woman…’
With my heart racing, I turned to the wolf, his amber eyes on mine. The wolf had never, not once, resisted the slightest urge to leap to my defence. And this man, this drunken, vile beast had just…
‘Vyrus’s balls, man,’ I cried tugging on the traitorous wolf as I left the mariner doubled over, clinging to the wall as he chuckled. ‘You just… you…’
‘My apologies, sweetheart.’ He barked out a harsh cough. ‘Your… perfume. Reminded me of someone. I meant no harm.’
‘I’m not wearing any.’
‘Your sire,’ he said, standing far too easily. I cursed under my breath. If he ever attempted to touch me without permission again, I’d end him. With or without the wolf’s help. ‘Your father, your papa, what was his name?’
I tripped over the next step, and even in the shadows, flames seemed to bloom in his eyes. I deeply regretted not going with the others.
‘Stay the fuck away from me,’ I cried, finally reaching the corridor and tearing towards Skye’s rooms, grasping a hold of my silver threads in case they weren’t there.
‘His name, sweetheart.’
I cursed as he caught up to me.
I turned, slamming my fists into his chest.
And still Pablo watched.
‘I don’t know his name.’
He grabbed my wrists mere inches from his face, furrowing his brow. ‘No. I don’t suppose you do, do you?’
A relieved sigh slipped past my lips as Skye’s door creaked and he let go.
‘About time, my queen.’ I turned to face Asher, his blurry form stepping into the sparse corridor. ‘Everything all right?’
I cocked a brow, turned back to the mariner, desperate to see how he’d get out of this.
‘What?’ My neck twisted. Where was he?
‘My queen?’
‘I…’ I stared around the deserted corridor. I knew my sight had deteriorated, but this was impossible. Unless…
The orb he’d conjured? His disappearance into thin air?
The damned man wasn’t a simple Anomaly at all.
Gods, I think I’d kneed the answer to my prayers in the groin.
I should tell Asher what the mariner had done, how he’d grabbed me, but he’d kill the man for laying a finger on me.
Instead, I placed a wide smile on my face as I gripped Pablo and met the playful glint in Asher’s eyes.
‘I do hope you’ve poured me a large glass,’ I said as he led me into Skye’s rooms, my pulse skipping.
I didn’t hear his response, though. All I could think of was the Deviant who’d just vanished before my eyes. An older, more experienced Deviant with the ability to balance his powers.
A Deviant who could help. Only, I couldn’t bear to be near him.