“Sniffing arse is only half the job.”
I struggle to look at him, so drop my attention back to the letters on his desk. “And the other half?”
“Killing pirates, of course.”
DOUBT IS A HEAVYBURDEN
6
Rune
Soft skin—like silk—sends a jolt up my arm where my fingers brush against it. Odelia doesn’t even flinch when I weave the manacles around the iron bedhead before clamping them around her wrists again. Probably too busy realising that there’s no point in trying to escape.
Alone with a pirate in my sleeping quarters.
Not a position I ever thought I’d find myself in, but here we are.
The Gilded Hartrocks with a gentle sway, the motion casting the room in a quiet lull as I stare down at the woman in front of me. Her eyes have already skimmed the royal documents on my desk—drawing conclusions, no doubt. But then, what else would I expect?
Her pulse flickers under my fingertips as my gaze travels over her cream, sleeveless blouse to find her lips—so kissable despite who they belong to.
I beg my heart to still. The run still thrums in my veins, and its erratic beat threatens to jostle its way right out of my chest. If I don’t get a grip on myself, I’m afraid I'll dosomething I shouldn’t, especially because she is looking at me with fire in her eyes and venom in her blood.
Too bad she smells like rotten fish.
My hands curl around the iron chain that binds Odelia to her fate. “Impressive footwork back there.”
A huff escapes her lips. “Try not to sound so shocked. It’s easy when I’m running from arrogance.”
I don’t stop the smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth, shoving her back until the back of her knees hit the edge of my bed. She stumbles, dropping into a heap on the blankets. Her eyes widen, and her lips part slightly as I bend down, leaning closer. “Let’s make one thing clear, Odelia. There is nowhere you can run that I won’t catch you.” I let go of the manacles.
Umber eyes squint up at me. “So what now?” With her chains back on her voice has gone brittle—cold.
I don’t answer, turning on my heel to head back to the door to double check the lock is sealed. There is no way in the deepest depths of this vicious sea I’m leaving her in the brig when she’s already proven she can escape, and if she thinks I’ve brought her here because I plan on bedding her . . . she’s even more daft than she lets on.
The wooden floorboards creak as I saunter over to my desk. “You’re gonna take me to the treasure.”
“Like hell,” Odelia huffs.
Without turning to look at her, I reach for the crystal decanter filled with amber liquid and pour two glasses. “It was your idea. And now that we’ve established the likelihood of you getting away, it’s time we talk business.”
I can feel her stare in the back of my head. Placing the stopper into the bottle neck, I slowly spin to face her, both glasses in hand. Her eyes flick to the liquid then return to me—her throat bobbing ever so slightly.
A smile tugs at my mouth as I lift one of the whiskey glasses to my lips. The burn hits hard, searing down my throat as I throw it back in a single swallow.
Silver moonlight shines through the window. Its beams spread across the bed like fingers to frame Odelia in its pearly grasp. “Why allow me to run in the first place?”
Not even I know the real reason. Perhaps I wanted to manufacture a way that allowed her to escape. Then I wouldn’t have had to make the choice to either trust the curdled word of a sea scum or give up finding out why my mother’s symbol is on that map. I down the second glass of whiskey, not breaking my gaze. “Like I said. So you can get any escape attempts out of the way, and we can move forwards.”
The fire in her eyes dampens—like a candle flame snuffed out by a breeze, but it returns just as quickly as it left, only this time it burns brighter.
Odelia squares her shoulders ever so slightly. “I’ll only give you the riddles if you let me choose the order of the islands and you swear on your pathetic life that I will get half of the findings.”
I pour another drink before sauntering across the room. The green velvet chair creaks as I sit. “Map’s in my hands. You’re in chains. Doesn’t exactly put you in the position to bargain, does it?”
She purses her lips. “Good luck solving any ofthe riddles.”
Touche.
