I turn from the railing, using my hand as a visor to block the sun’s glare. “So what exactly do you need me to retrieve?”
The Pirate King stands at the helm, fingers wrapped around the spokes of the wheel while the breeze toys with her platinum hair. The ship obeys her every command without hesitation, reminding me ofthe way Furi and I are together—how I barely have to think to have her respond.
Speak of the devil. I peer up to see her soaring overhead, bobbing between the clouds like a dolphin.
Thought I told you to lie low.
Thisislying low.
No, my dear, this is what we call a humblebrag.
“It’s a compass,” the Pirate King says, stealing back my focus.
“You want me to go to Skull Valley for a compass?” I quirk a brow, glancing at Zadyn. The sun dances off his golden skin, the wind tunneling through the loose white tunic tucked into his navy pants.
“It’s not just any old compass, girl. This one is special.”
“Why?”
“Not that I owe you an explanation, but it has magical properties. It’s said to be one of the oldest objects in the history of the world.”
“Sounds valuable. What do you need it for?” I answer her scowl with a sweet smile. “I just want to know what I’m getting myself into.”
“Let’s just say it has sentimental value.”
“Really? You don’t strike me as the sentimental type.”
She pushes a sigh through her dainty nose. “If you must know, it was my father’s. And now it’s mine.”
“Now who would be fool enough to steal from the ghastly Pirate King of Bleakwater Bay?”
She turns over her shoulder and hits Kai with a look sharp enough to draw blood.
“Aside from spoilt siren twats seeking certain death? The Valley Dwellers. Nasty little beasts.”
She pushes up the sleeve of her peasant blouse to reveal a long patch of creamy skin with swirling black tattoos. Running up her forearm parallel to the ebony ink is a large pearlescent bite mark.
“It’s from their teeth.”
“That is gruesome.” Kai pops between us, marveling at the double crescent moons. She tugs her sleeve down and faces forward, the blunt edges of her hair smacking him in the face.
Shuddering, I ask, “What exactly are the ValleyDwellers?”
She tosses her head back, the sound of her laughter annoyingly attractive. “For a Blackblood, you are startlingly clueless.”
I look to Zadyn, frowning.
“Treasure-hoarding cave creatures. Touch their gold and they will shred you to bits,” he explains, stands of brown, red, and gold skating across his forehead.
“I’ve read they’ll eat anything that moves. Including each other,” Eaton warns.
“And then they’ll eat you for dessert.” The Pirate King snaps her jaw at me and snickers. “Why do you think they call it the Valley of Death?”
“You want me to risk my life? For acompass.”
“I’m risking mine harboring you fugitives,” she retorts, thrusting her thumb over her shoulder.
Someone retches behind me, and I turn to see Dover curled over the ship’s railing, Mar holding back his shoulder-length brown hair and smoothing his head. Poor guy has been sick for almost a full day.
