“Rune, how are you feeling?” he asks, coming to stand beside my bed.
I try to sit up. The sheets cling, damp with sweat and salt, twisted somewhere around my legs. My body aches—but I know the fever has left me. “Why is everybody in my room?”
Elio’s hazel eyes dart towards Odi. “She said someone tried to break in the other night.”
I flick my gaze to Odi. She folds her arms across her chest and leans against the wall, brows slightly raised in defiance. She’s still convinced of the assassination attempt.
My shoulders lift and fall. “Since when do we trust the word of a pirate?”
Usually my choice of words don’t bother me, but this time when they slip past my lips they feel wrong. Odelia might be a pirate, but so far she’s given no reason for me not to trust her—not since I caught her in the streets that night. A pain tugs deep in my chest, the kind that made its presence known the moment I rescued her from the water.
Tavi’s brow knits together as she folds her black leather-clad arms across her chest, an evident scowl on her face. She’s not pleased. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
Elio pipes in, his weight shifting as he shoves his hands into his trouser pockets. “We should start an investigation.”
Everyone begins talking at once, their voices blending together in a frantic hum. For a brief second, I close my eyes and take a deep breath knowing full well that Odi is standing in the corner of the room watching my crew fuss over me.
Otto stands from his chair, the legs squeaking on the wooden floor. “Are you hungry? Because I can bring you eggs five different ways real quick. I know you hate them but I did some research and I found that the yolk is really good for healing wounds internally so it would probably be really good if you ate some.”
I can’t help but smile, shaking my head softly before I turned my attention to them all. “I’d appreciate a moment to speak?”
“Sorry, Cap,” they murmur in unison.
“For starters, if someone is trying to kill me or Odelia, we’ll figure it out sooner or later. I’m not blind to the idea of someone trying to harm either one of us because they’re mad she’s on the ship,” I say with confidence.
Elio swings his arms out wide. “But Cap—”
I throw him a look. One that tells him I’ll hear his concerns later. “Secondly, I definitely could do with some food, butby the seado we have something else besides quail eggs?”
Bear grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He heads for the door, throwing a glance over his shoulder. “I’ll make you the most delicious seafood boil, garlic butter sauce included.”
“Otto, wait,” I call after him.
He stops mid stride, spinning to face me.
“What got me down there?”
“Thrall squid was one of them, Cap. Not sure about the barbs, but you’d be wise to avoid them in the future. Nearly took you clean out they did.” Bear grins, but I know internally he’s not smiling.
I can see the fear behind his eyes and all too quickly guilt creeps its way into my chest. I’d been so sure that I’d be fine when diving into the unknown, that I hadn’t stopped to think what it might mean for those who’d come to rely on me—for those who were meant to protect me and I them.
Bear lingers by the door, hand resting on the knob.
I offer him a smile. “Thanks, Otto . . . for everything.”
“That’s what family does.” He returns the boyish grin, then the door clicks shut behind him, his voice echoing through the walls as he heads for the kitchens.
My thoughts suddenly return to the reason I’m cooped up in this space. The reason why I sacrificed my body to find the answers I longingly seek. “Did you get the key?”
Elio pulls it from his pocket, holding it up for me to view. “That we did, Cap.” The sunlight catches it, glinting off the side of the polished metal. It’s a flat, solid circle, with a wave down the centre. I notice the way Odi’s eyes light up with excitement as Elio flashes the piece around. She’s just as pleased as I am to have it in our possession, even if we’ve no clue how difficult it’ll end up being to assemble the pieces. I’ll definitely be locking it away—forsafety reasons.
With a gentle groan, I swing my legs over the side of the bed, being careful not to disturb the neat bandage work that can only have come from Otto’s hands. As I glance down, I realise that I’m utterly naked.
Everyone in this room is about to get an eye full.
I throw a glance around, looking for the pair of trousers I’d been wearing on the island. Odi’s necklace is still in the pocket.
Tavi rushes forwards, her white braid trailing behind her. “What are you doing?”
