A plank was already waiting for us onMynastra’s Wings. A red-haired man on the ship waved and shouted. A handful of sailors on deck shot harpoons at the Wolves as we boarded. My legs nearly gave way on the rickety plank, but a Dag woman practically threw me onto the deck.
The red-haired man shouted down the hatch. “Row for your gods-damned lives!”
The ship started to coast from its berth. A few sailors quickly pulled up the gangplank before it fell into the water, leaving a group of seething Shadow-Wolves on the dock. As one, they threw back their heads and uttered a shrieking howl.
Chills erupted on my skin. Were they calling for reinforcements? Or their master?
Above me, white sails puffed and snapped with a gust of wind.
“Thank fucking Myn!” the red-haired man bellowed, striding back to the large wheel.
“Thank fucking Myn!” the sailors chorused back, shaking their strings of bones.
I stood rooted to the deck as groaning warriors collapsed around me. He wasn’t here.He wasn’t here.
A hand closed over my shoulder, and I whirled around.Aiden.Blood, sweat, and soot covered every inch of his skin, but he was alive.
“You saved us back there,” he said. “Thank you.”
I didn’t do it for you,I wanted to say.
The red-haired man—probably the captain, Skelly—called for Aiden, then pointed to the stone wall that curved around the harbor to the guard towers. “Friend of yours?” he shouted.
A rider swathed in black astride a black horse galloped along the narrow path atop the wall.
My body quivered with dread.Renwell.
Aiden swore and hurried to Skelly. “Can you reach open water before he reaches the guard tower?”
“Bloody watch me. Spread her wings!” he shouted.
Sailors scrambled up the rope ladders that hung from the mast. In moments, they released two more sails that stretched out from the ship like wide white wings. The ship sailed faster, dipping higher and lower. My stomach rolled with it.
Renwell nearly kept even with us, beating his horse with the reins.
My heart pounded like the waves against the ship’s hull. Closer, closer to the tower. The huge watchfire burned like the sun in a sea of darkness.
Aiden walked among the exhausted warriors. “Get below deck. Don’t let them see you. We don’t want to fight if we don’t have to.”
They slowly disappeared down the hatch, leaving trails of blood behind them.
“You too,” Aiden murmured next to me as we both watched Renwell nearing the tower.
“He’s coming for me,” I whispered.
“He can’t have you.”
Nikella joined us at the railing, staring at her brother as he leapt from his horse and sprinted up the tower steps just as we sailed past.
I breathed a sigh of relief, then choked when Renwell stepped to the edge of the tower. With a bow and arrow. He aimed at Aiden, but Nikella quickly shoved him out of the way.
Renwell roared with fury and swung the arrow toward me. We locked eyes across the water. He fired, and my body jolted. His arrow struck the railing in front of me.
And somehow, I knew. I knew he’d missed on purpose.
Thank the gods foryourlittle weaknesses, Renwell. I’ll make sure they’re your downfall.
Let the war begin.
