He certainly hadn’t with Fiera.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely.
Vi waved away the notion and started along the beach. “I scouted an entrance up here. It’s a bit of a climb, but if we fall heading for it, we fall into the water.”
“What’s your name?”
The question struck her harder than she’d expected.You know me, her heart wanted to scream. But her mind knew better. She searched his expression. There was no familiarity there.
She was no one to him.
Even after all this time, this new world could still cut deeply, and it would hurt more with every year that passed as the people here grew more and more to look like those she once loved.
“It’s not important,” Vi finally said.
“I must have something to call you.”
“I’ve gone by many names. You pick.”Vi, pick Vi out of everything in the world, her heart asked as she began to walk again.
“Fine, I shall call you,” he paused and Vi’s heart pounded, “Nox.”
Vi chuckled. How dare she, after all this time, have hoped for anything else.
“Very well, if that’s the name you choose.”
“One more thing.”
“What?” Vi stopped just as she’d been about to start climbing.
“You never told me why you saved me. If you were here to kill the Adela impostor and put an end to this criminal ring, why throw away the chance you had on saving me? Even if I could help, you had your quarry.”
“Who said I threw away my chance? The woman we chased was not the leader.”
“That’s still not answering my question.” And curse him for seeing so.
“Because all men are worthy of saving.” Vi saw him open his mouth, no doubt with an objection. She cut him off at the pass. “Even—no,especiallyyou, Jax.”
His lips parted in shock and Vi turned away, beginning to climb. If she looked at him a moment longer, she would tell him there had been a young princess, long ago, who still thought of him like a father.
Chapter Fifteen
“So,how are we going to find them?” he asked as they headed deeper into the darkness of the caves.
“Patience.” Vi shrugged as if she didn’t know where they were going. Vi knew exactly where they needed to go to find Henrietta and her crew. If she led Jax there, perhaps she could encourage him to continue searching for the treasure. And if shehappenedto be there when he found it, she wouldn’t have gone against her word to Taavin.
“And what if we get lost in here?”
“Then I suppose it’s a good thing we’re both people who’ve lived colorful lives. We’ll have a lot to talk about while we wait to die.” Vi gave a smirk over her shoulder. They weren’t dying here.
“This, coming from the woman who wouldn’t even tell me her name,” he muttered.
“Well, maybe if we’re on the brink of death, I’ll tell you everything. Though, it’d take more lifetimes than we have.”
“You love playing the mysterious card, don’t you?”
“I am what I am.” Vi shrugged. She didn’t always know what that was anymore. “Quiet now. The ship docks in an inner cove to the south of town. I’m trying to listen for the workmen.”
They continued into the darkness, winding through the dripping caves by the light of her flame. The sounds of people talking grew and Vi stopped, turning in place to stop him as well.
