“I’m not talking about—ugh.” Eloise threw up her hands. “It doesn’t matter. Anyway! It’s not like dear old Daddy even knows where he’s going.”
Mrs. Smith frowned. “We all have the same information, don’t we?”
“Wedo. Andsome peopleprefer to ignore it in favor of fairy tales they probably didn’t even translate properly. So don’t worry, Edna. We’ll find the Soul-Eater’s prison first. Especially sincesomeonekeeps distracting himself with things that are none of his business.”
What is she talking about?Francine’s mind raced. Earlier, Eloise had mentioned skeletons in her closet—was this the samething? Something from her past that Francine didn’t know about?
They’d been friends all through middle school and high school. And they’d vacationed together at college, although Francine had studied art and architecture overseas while Eloise stayed in the States.
How much of Eloise’s life had she missed?
Or worse—how much had she not seen, the same way she hadn’t seen Mathis’s pain until it was too late, and nobody had seen hers?
Her lioness rumbled a warning.
“Why are you looking like that, Frankie?” Eloise asked sweetly.
Francine blinked. “I—no. It’s silly,” she stalled, trying to think of an excuse.
“You’re among friends. Come on. Out with it.”
Shit. “How—” she began, and realized she did have a question, after all. One that might make Eloise’s eyes flare with murderous intent… “How do you know the Soul-Eater is your mate? If you’ve never met him?”
“Oh. Haha!” Eloise exchanged a quick look with Angelo. “Because I’ve been dreaming about him. It’s actuallysoromantic.”
“That’s amazing.” Did she sound sarcastic? Goddammit. What was wrong with her tonight? “It must be so wonderful, to know in advance. To have that sort of … control, over meeting your fated mate.”
*Do I detect a hint of jealousy?*
Francine stilled. Julian. *When did you get here?*
“Well, it’s better than the alternative, isn’t it? Leaving things up to chance.Anythingcould happen.” Eloise smirked.
Julian was silent. Francine swore at him, then turned her full attention back to the table.
“How lucky we are,” Nikolaidis said idly, “to be born into an era where these figures of myth will walk among us. Dragons, gods … and whatever else there might be waiting out there.” He stared into his glass, one eyebrow raised sardonically. “How long until we make land, do you think?”
As he spoke, the ship lurched slowly to the port side, but Eloise’s certainty didn’t waver.
“Tomorrow.”
Francine’s heart thudded. She knew they were running out of time, but to hear it out loud…
“And then…?”
“Let me keepsomesurprises, Niki.”
“I’m just wondering, is this a weekend bag type of getaway, or a full set of luggage…”
“Nuh-uh. You knew the rules when you got on this ship. Nobody gets the location until I say so. And anyone who tries to break into my systems and find it early? Well. You could ask them how that went, but I don’t think any of them are in the mood to talk.”
So everyone here was after the Soul-Eater. But— “You’re not releasing a few early tickets, so someone keeps the dragons distracted while you free your mate?” Francine asked.
Eloise stared at her, surprised, then let loose a peal of laughter.
Tension thrummed across her mind. Not her own. Julian’s.
“The only dragon I’m worried about is sadly out of reach right now,” Eloise sighed.
