She seemed like a queen right then—the way she spoke, and the way the warmth of the rising sun’s light brought color to her face in this colorless frozen sea. The heightened senses within Asterious caught her scent as the breeze carried her laughter. The sweet smell of pine and wildflowers mingled with the frosty saltwater mist, creating a fragrance that he longed to chase after.
“You’ve changed me too, Caramyn,” he said. “I once had but one purpose—to save my kingdom and take my rightful throne…But now, I’d let it all burn if it meant protecting you. I won’t let you risk yourself against the darkness I brought you into.”
“I’ve lived amongst the Shadows for a long time. I’m not afraid of your darkness,” she chuckled. “So, no more running. I’m ready to return to my Woods. This time, for all the right reasons.”
The corner of Asterious’ lips curved into a smile as he studied her features. Her beauty shone even brighter through her confidence. There was a fire in those violet eyes he’d never seen before, and they burned like beacons of hope in the darkest of nights. He took out a flask tucked away in his coat pocket and drank a swig before offering a drink to Caramyn. “To all the right reasons, my dear mystery.”
“To all the right reasons.” She smirked, sipping from the flask as her raven swept down to perch on her shoulder.
Asterious turned to leave, forcing himself away before the urge to seize her and claim her lips became unbearable. What once sparked fury in his veins now consumed him as pure obsession. He could hardly imagine a more dangerous place to be with her than aboard a small ship with no escape beyond the endless waters. He would have no choice but to keep his distance until they reached land, unless he wanted to risk tearing everyone aboard to shreds and damning himself forever.
He passed Brenn as he strode to the other side of the ship, who gave him a passing glare. Asterious noticed his direction, noticed he was heading for Caramyn, who still lingered at the bow with her bird. Without thinking, he grabbed Brenn’s arm.
“She tells me I should trust you. So I will. But if you break that trust, or if you bring any form of harm to her, I will make you pay for it in ways that leave you begging for death.”
“Oh, I see. Your suspicions about me are all because you don’t trust me with her, not that you don’t trust me with magic. That’s why she gets a pass from the killer prince for her own magic,isn’t it? Because you want to fuck her.” Brenn glanced past the prince toward Caramyn’s direction. “Or perhaps you already have.”
Muscles tensed like steel in Asterious’ arms, every nerve screaming as Brenn’s words hit him. Caramyn’s scent still clawed at his mind, sharp and maddening, driving him toward the edge of control. He knew he was losing reason. The beast was stirring beneath the surface, the shadowy veins scratching at his skin like razors as they threatened to claim control one last time as the sting of that insult from Brenn fanned the fire hotter. If he gave in now, there would be no restraint, and Caramyn would pay the cost. He had to bury the animal within, to find the strength to stay anchored to himself. Before he snapped.
He growled at Brenn in response, “Like I said, you’ll beg.” He forced his hand open freeing the man from his grasp and stormed away to the steps leading belowdecks.
50
A Day Like Any Other
Caramyn
Veylan said it would take an extra day to get back since they were sailing upriver. The old captain kept to himself and refused to speak to any of them, though Caramyn and Asterious took turns bringing him food whenever they’d found enough ingredients to put something together to give them a break from the dry jerky and berries.
Caramyn prodded him once when she was bored, when he was at the helm and couldn’t leave it to escape her questions. She begged him to tell her how he knew Zera in exchange for her silence the rest of the way.
“If you must know. I suppose it don’t matter. But every question after costs you a finger.” He grumbled his threats as his tongue drew out the last word, but Caramyn noticed the inkling of a smile that broke through as he spoke of Zera. “She was once one a High Council member of Gahmea, revered for her visions—until me and my father were caught stealing from one of the consuls there. She defied the other council members and argued that the son of a pirate shouldn’t pay for his father’s deeds. Instead of letting them put me to death alongside him, she freed me against their knowledge. They banished her for treachery. She fled to Evylere years before the King purged out all the magic. And here I am, an honest fisherman makin’ it far longer than my father ever did. And there she is, wandering the Silverean mountains in exile. A damn shame really.” There was a long pause before Veylan spoke again, gesturing with his hands for Caramyn to leave his post. “Now go clean all the bird shit off the deck before I feed that raven to the sharks.”
If anyone else had threatened Nocthar like that, they wouldn’t have lived to see the next day. But Caramyn had come to learn that Veylan was all bark and no bite, and almost found his bitter mutterings humorous—that, and the fact that he was their only way home. And they were almost there.
On the last night before making port, Caramyn woke, disturbed by something she couldn’t name. Her immediate thought was of Asterious, and she went to check on him in the galley. She found him tossing, groaning in agony or fear, and tears streaking from his eyes that were shut tight. His blanket was tossed aside, and he was shivering, shirtless, curled up defensively, bracing for an invisible foe and sometimes trying to fight back.
She ran and dropped to his side, calling his name. He didn’t rouse from his nightmare, so she said his name louder, grabbing him with all her strength and trying to still him. He foughtharder, until he clasped his hand around her wrist and the other hand gripped her throat. His eyes flew open, still shining from the tears.
“Caramyn!” He ripped his hand from her neck as though she were on fire. His voice was broken, jagged, and hoarsely desperate. “I could’ve killed you!”
“But you didn’t.” Caramyn whispered, shocked, but not afraid. “What’s happening? Are you…changing?”
“No.” He panted, tears rolling down his face. “Just nightmares.”
She put a hand on his shoulder, soothing him as his quick breaths slowed. He’d ripped some of his stitches open, and bits of blood streamed down his back. She reached for the blanket in the corner, pulling it over him. “I get them, too,” she said.
“I imagine living in the Shadow Woods made them all the worse.” Asterious put a hand to his head, damp with sweat despite the cold.
“Not exactly,” she tilted her head, kneeling beside him and drawing him close. “Mine are never about Shadows. Only fire.”
“The fire should fear you.” The prince rested his head against her breast. “Mine are mostly Shadows and blood. I don’t remember them when I wake up. I know they’re memories. Memories I can’t reach.”
It was dangerous, she knew, to be here with him like this, to run her fingers in soothing patterns along his bare, scarred back in comfort. But she would not leave him alone to face this.
“Sometimes I wish I couldn’t reach mine.” Caramyn exhaled, feeling the warmth of the prince against her chest. She watched him rest, closing his eyes peacefully as the tears dried along with the bloodstains on his back.
“You’re much more comfortable than the floor,” he mumbled softly, earning a small laugh from Caramyn.
