“No one makes a pet of a creature like that,” the second sailor said. “But I’ll help you, my lady.” He tugged on the rope, and the nyxin clung, his eyes wild and his ears drooping, his silver fur plastered to his sides. Water sluiced from his tail, splattering back into the sea.
“Better to eat him than have him eat you,” the first sailor said, his face darkening with heat.
“He’s too small to eat more than mice.” I lit my finger once more.
When a blue fish jumped out of the water, its jaw scissoring and its teeth snapping with glee as it soared toward the nyxin, I shot it out of the air with a bolt of fire. Scorched, it toppled back into the water.
The sailor eager to eat the nyxin took a step away from me, his arms spiraling and his mouth ajar. “What did you do, my lady?”
I pointed my finger at him. “Try to eat that nyxin, and you’ll soon find out.”
He spun and darted across the ship to the other side.
When the sailor had tugged the rope up as far as it would go, the nyxin jumped, latching onto the lip of the ship with his teeth while his claws scrambled along the side to find purchase.
I dropped to my knees and grabbed onto his wet, silky coat and leaned back, hauling him on board. He flopped on the deck beside me, panting.
Another fish shimmied up the side of the ship and over therail, smacking onto the deck. Its jaws snapping, it snaked across the surface, aiming for me and the nyxin.
Sailors latched onto it and heaved it back overboard.
I tentatively stroked the nyxin’s wet hide. “You’re safe,” I whispered. “No one will harm you.”
“No animals on my ship,” a man who sounded like he had authority called out. Dressed in a starched, silver-etched red uniform, dark pants, and polished black boots, he stood beside the cloaked man, both of them glaring at me. “We’re underway,” the man I realized must be the captain said. He waved to one of the sailors. “You, there, Brax. Toss the creature overboard for the fish. If they’re busy with the puny thing, they’ll leave us alone.” He turned and strode toward the large wheel mounted on a high platform that would give him a view of the direction ahead. “As soon as we clear the harbor, lift the main sails and bring out the windrams. We need to make progress tonight.”
“Come along there, tiny nyxin.” Brax stooped toward the shivering creature with his fingers outstretched like bait. “I promise it’ll be quick.”
“No,” I shrieked, ready to bite off his fingers myself. “You’re not throwing him to the fish. I told you he’s mine.”
“Stay away from her,” someone growled.
I spun, nearly falling onto my ass, and looked up, finding the man who wasnotmy fated mate standing behind me, near enough to make my skin pepper over with goosebumps. He smelled too good, like the horig cakes my best friend loved, plus a spice I couldn’t name.
Despite how confused I felt about him, I couldn’t keep thepleading from my eyes. “Please. Don’t let them toss him into the sea to die.”
The scar on his face ticked with his pulse for a very long moment, before he grunted. “She can keep the nyxin.”
“Thank you.” I stood, lifting the poor, shivering creature with me, wrapping my arms around his lean frame.
Wiggling, he licked my chin.
The man frowned at the saturated beast before giving me a clipped nod. “I’ve notified your staff that you’re here.”
“I have staff?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” he drawled, his jaw tightening. “Lord Briscalar will help you change your clothing.”
A fae lord was going to play my lady’s maid? Not happening. “I don’t need to change my clothing.”
“Do you plan to get married in that wretched outfit?” He plucked at the neckline of my leather tunic, the warmth of his fingers searing my skin as sharply as my lightning had done the fish. “As soon as we’ve cleared the harbor, you and I will marry.”
3
REYLA
Isputtered. “I’ll never marry you,” I bellowed, startling the crew working efficiently nearby. Not a single one turned our way to watch the show, however, telling me whoever ran this ship was in complete control.
When the nyxin squirmed, I placed him on the deck beside me.
