A wave of violence crests at the surface of his aura, churning back into wherever he represses himself.Whenever he’s this focused, so far on the edge of dissociation, he’s like a lone man who happens to be on my side, guided by his own need for slaughter.
I’ll need that.
If we canhalvethe fire mages, we can do enough damage to fuck this entire kingdom in one night to finish what Jane started.
Leavingbehind the rowboats for the crew to raise and tether to the ship, we climb up the coarse rope ladders that will get us over to the deck. Sounds of sails flapping and ropes being tied and pulled taught mixes with the excited chatter of the crew.
Bones strides over, watching a few coiled ropes get neatly laid to the side. “I just don’t get the attraction to all of this,” he says, waving around. “We’re stuck on this wooden contraption.Again.”
I survey the slightly swaying deck. “It won’t be for long.”
Bone steps nearer, the twilight hours almost peaceful with the ocean water. “Are we really letting Ritter take Jesper?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he has been waiting for a long time to fuck him over. I wouldn’t poke the Scorpion when it concerns that.”
There’s still doubt within Bones, and I eye his mismatched gaze, darker circles showing how little sleep he’s gotten. Blankly staring off, he says, “It doesn’t feel like she’s dead.”
It might be that way to him, but I feel it. There’s a void that occurs when someone has left this world, their unique vibration utterly silent. It’s one way I’m certain that Serena is still out there, as she doesn’t feel dead to me.
Anya, on the other hand… I grip my jaw, running my fingers over the edge of my mask, and drop my hand. If she were here, she’d help us infiltrate the fire worshippers.
“We’ll give her a proper burial. Death’s Wing burial. I’ll send her ashes back to the Steep, where she can be fully laid to rest next to Amy.”
That comforts Bones, and I can tell he needed it. It’s protocol that when anyone in Death’s Wing dies, they’re cremated, so new life can sprout in their ashes.A portion isalwayscollected to return to the Steep, where we all trained and earned our stripes.
The vague image of a blonde woman flashes in my mind’s eye once again, and I glance at Bones. “You better live, too. There’s someone waiting for you to return.”
That actually makes him uncomfortable. “I’ve never had that. Makes me feel guilty, honestly. And then I—“ I don’t think he knows what to do with those complex feelings. He furrows his brows, the sentence never finishing.
I don’t reply, as I understand. He can’t worry about her, not fully, or else it will wreck his concentration.It doesn’t stopKathleen from filling his mind in rapid flashes, though. Just like how Jane haunts every shadow of mine.
My purpose is different, as I’malwayslistening to the energies of my mask that’s inside of Jane, her vibration felt in the direction that this ship sails in, and I’m so honed in on her I sometimes fail to read those around me.
My rage is only tamed by knowing that I’mfinallyon my way, and I can then unleash every ounce of rage that has festered in my soul fordecades.
Once the oceanis no longer visible in the darkness of night, we head down below deck. Ritter and my men sit together, having joined forces over the last few days as they’ve had nothing else to do but mingle. A few are passing around vials of poppy, tucking them away before we embark on our mission—I’ve made it clear that only those who are used to it are to consume it, otherwise it’ll be the death of others.
Basilisk’s energy approaches me as I lean in the ship’s wall, sitting and bracing my core so as not to sway too greatly.
He joins me in this silence, his leather crinkling as he mirror’s my position; we’ve never had a sentimental connection. We’re two, very similar men with matching powers, and he was willing to take me under his wing for a while.
“What did Cypress tell you your purpose was here?” I ask, absorbing the energy around me, the ship creaking and groaning.
“Honestly?” he answers, leaning his back on the wall. “To be present. She just wanted mearound,” he says, rotating his fingerin the air. “After helping your woman in the Undercroft, I’m assuming Cypress sent me here as anassurance, and since you know me, you won’t reject me. She told me she’d give me what I wanted as long as I remained close until this is done.”
At this point, I’m not going to ask any more questions. We’re all being arranged within a dirty machination. “I don’t feel your cat,” I comment.
“I left her in the harbor. It’s too volatile to bring her.”
“How do you plan to find acatafter this?”
His sigh carries the edge of a growl, motioning his head slightly as if he can’t hold something back any longer. “Jasmine is wearing the slimmest collar with a red ruby on it. It’s lodged in her fur so you can’t see it.” He looks at me, nearly rolling his eyes as he looks away just as quickly. “I’mveryeager to get my hands on a harpy killer, andalsokeep that damn cat alive. Cypress told me that if I had to leave Jasmine, that the necklace would keep track of her. Jasmine knows to wait.”
I absentmindedly move a ring on my finger before suddenly releasing a breathy laugh. “What the fuck have you been up to, exactly?”
“Who knows how I got here. I don’t think men like us are meant to live past thirty. If we make it, it's like we don’t know what to do with ourselves. Somehow I’m on a journey with a witch’s request to help you fuck over our own god.”
“You’re supposed to have a damn castle, an army, and aharem,” I say, laughing more. “This is one hell of a detour.”
