“Who’s that?” Asher asked quietly.
“A stowaway,” Vesper snapped as he strode past them. Soon, they were all gathered around Evreux, shouting demands, until a stern voice cut through the air like a knife.
“Let him go,” Dominic’s order rang across the ship like a death knell.
Adara knew those words were not at all what the King of Keys truly meant.
Desmond lowered his knife and stepped away from Evreux, the latter’s shoulders relaxing. He straightened his ruffled clothing and stood straighter.
“We found him in the storage room,” Tyson said loudly for everyone to hear. He turned to Adara, pointing an accusatory finger at her chest. “What a coincidence that a stowaway was hiding in the same room she slept in.”
Though her heart pounded, Adara merely rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, maintaining an easy composure. “As if he couldn’t have been hiding elsewhere on the ship and only went in there once I was gone this morning,” she lied smoothly.
Tyson took a menacing step toward her, towering over her with a glare aimed down his crooked nose. He opened his mouth to speak.
Dominic cut between the two of them, raising a dismissive hand. “Doesn’t matter,” Dominic said, eyes dark and emotionless.
The singing of metal resounded as Dominic unsheathed his sword. He lunged, not giving Evreux a chance to explain himself—
Dominic’s weapon glanced off Infinova. Adara now stood between him and Evreux with her sword raised.
The Thief of Hearts’s features twisted into a furious scowl. “Get out of my way,” he growled.
“No.”
“Then I’ll kill you both.”
Adara raised her hand, displaying the scar on her palm. Evreux’s ragged breaths grazed the back of her neck. “You need me,” she snapped.
Dominic muttered something to himself and stood straighter, lowering his weapon but not sheathing it.
“Why are you protecting him?” Dominic said bitterly.
Adara waved a hand at the Andreilians surrounding them. “They made the same journey and now live on Andreilia. Why can’t he?”
Dominic ground his teeth together. “Because he snuck onto our ship.”
“Exactly,” Adara said. “Not only was he brave enough to sneak ontoDominic Nite’sship, but he was smart enough not to get caught until we made it back.”
“Or he was helped,” Tyson cut in, staring harshly at her.
“Why would I help him?” Adara barked back.
“Adara’s right,” Tobias interjected. “Doesn’t this prove his survival skills? He risked it all to come to Andreilia just like the rest of us. He deserves a chance.”
Ace shook his head. “He could be dangerous.”
“Let him loose one night on the island and see if he survives, then we’ll see if he’s worth our trouble,” Desmond suggested.
Vesper nodded in agreement.
Sawyer shook his head, light brown hair drifting with the movement. “I’m with Tobias on this one. He’s clever. I’ll give him that. He could be useful.”
“Perhaps a duel?” Niran suggested.
Silas pursed his lips, keeping quiet amid all the chaos as the Andreilians argued, yelling over one another. Zephyr’s eyesdarted nervously around, small hands fiddling with the hem of his tunic.
“Enough,” Dominic’s shout silenced them all. His emerald eyes fixed on Adara. “You think he deserves a chance?” he asked.
