But he didn’t need to, and both of us know it. While the others wear curiosity, wariness, even concern,thismale wears his immediate dislike of me like a shield. He ignores me completely, looking to Callan with his jaw clenched. His shadow nudges my feet, cast by the deep orange light of the setting sun behind him. “You can’t intend to let her roam free.”
It has been a long time since I watched the sunset. Behind him, the sun sinks further into the sea on the horizon. I slide my eyes to it, focusing on the beauty in the sunset rather than his words. But they reach me anyway.
“She didn’t chain herself to the wall.” Callan straightens, any humor exiting his voice and leaving a layer of steel behind. “And she can’t leave the ship, unless we want to toss her over the side. So she’ll be joining us, under supervision.”
A flash of excitement crosses Leo’s face as he inhales. “Can I—”
“No.” Five matching voices ring out, and his head drops.
“She’ll stay with me for the time being.” I twist to look at Callan. But he’s not looking at me, his eyes narrowed slightly. “But I think we can handle one small faeyte between us, no?”
“She’ll kill us in our sleep.” Solomon’s mutter doesn’t go unheard.
Callan points at him. “Do not kill the faeyte, Sol. Matthias would be furious.”
“Matthias is the one at risk,” the male snaps back. “Petyr will not like this, Callan. At least keep her hands tied.”
I shift in place. Esme’s eyes lower. “She’s wearing copper, Sol.”
“Doesn’t stop her using a weapon. I assume this is the female they were looking for in the market? Wanted formurder?”
Esmeray, Riordan and Merrick all tense at that.
“That’s what I thought.” Solomon crosses his arms. “Bound or not, it’s not right to let her walk around. And if she does get loose, we’ll all pay the price.”
They talk over my head as though I’m property. A possession, to be inspected and stored correctly. “I will not hurt anyone while on this ship.”
They all pause at my words, but nobody looks at me. Instead, they look at Callan. Who shrugs. “Truth. Do you think I'm a fool, to not have checked?”
Something in his words has suspicion rising in my throat, even as they all relax.Especiallythen.
I’ve never heard of a Caelumnai with that gift. It has always been a distinction between them and us—Caelumnai, with their physicality and dominion over physical world, and the faeytes with our own gifts. focused on growth, on healing, whether earth or soul. But a split, as clear as Caelum and Hala in the sky.
But this…? I frown, running my eyes over him again. Truth-telling is not a gift I have ever heard of, from either side.
No. He is unusual.
He catches my assessment, and his lips press together. “Are you hungry?”
Silent, I shake my head. I have no appetite for food. The movement of the ship beneath my feet is enough to have my stomach turning over as it is.
“Fair enough.” He glances around. “Space is a commodity on this ship, as you may have noticed. You’ll stay in my cabin while you’re here. Sol, you’ll join Smee and Rio for the time being.”
Solomon’s jaw tightens, but he nods.
My own muscles grow rigid at the declaration, my voice flat. Beneath the cloak, my hand reaches for my arm, scratching at my wrist, my nails digging into the skin.
“She can stay with us.” Esmeray is watching me closely. I wonder what she sees. “You need the—”
“No.” Callan’s voice brooks no argument. He lifts the glass lantern he carried above deck. “It’s fine, Smee. Let it be.”
He sweeps out a hand. “This way.”
Slowly, I move past him. My stomach churns further as I glance over my shoulder. Merrick opens his mouth, but closes it again when Esmeray shakes her head, her curls bouncing lightly. Their eyes all follow as Callan leads me away from the deck, toward another door set into the opposite side of the deck from the way we came in. “Other side is storage. The galley, for cooking. We use this side for sleeping arrangements.”
Cold. So cold. “Fine. Is there a bathing room?”
He snorts in clear amusement. “There is. But I’m afraid water is rationed – we have to make what we have last until we get across the Never. There’s a small allocation for washing.”
