"It's a decoy."
Doryss met him, stare for stare, a smug expression settling over his face.
"What was that, Captain?"
He kept his gaze fixed on the Siren as he repeated the words loudly enough for the whole crew to hear. "This was a distraction; the real smugglers are still out there. Who are you working with?"
Doryss rose and mirrored Casper's stance, his icy glare communicating that he knew he had gained the upper hand. "I don't know what you're talking about. We're just out here fishing."
Casper moved forward a step and was rewarded by the flash of trepidation in the Siren's eyes. Though it was clear from the stubborn, defiant tilt of Doryss' chin that Casper would be getting no further information out of him, at least he could remind the Siren who he was dealing with.
He gripped Doryss' shoulder with his cold, icy grip. "You should find somewhere else to fish. These waters can be dangerous." He squeezed just hard enough to get his point across, then, because he was not a pirate, stepped back and barked a command to his crew. "Return to the ship and prepare to provide our new acquaintances with an escort to the nearest port."
If Doryss and his crew really were innocent, he wasn't going to leave them alone and undefended so close to the breach. If they were working with the smugglers, he would make sure they knew he was watching.
Even if another shipment had gotten away.
Casper scowled as he stalked back to thePetrel.
I should have expected something like this. It was too easy for us to overtake them.
"Could I have a word with you when you're done mentally castigating yourself?"
Casper glared out the corner of his eye. Jem was at his shoulder, keeping pace easily with his long, lanky legs. His hands were linked behind his back, and his expression was much too carefree, considering they had just been excruciatingly outmaneuvered.
"What is it?"
"No, no. I'll wait until you're back to your sunshiny self. If I wanted my head bitten off, I'd hang upside down from the prow in shark-infested waters."
Casper snorted. "Since when have I ever been sunshiny?"
"I mean, it's not a brilliant sunshine—more like the dim, muted light of an overcast sky."
"How flattering."
"It takes all kinds. You know what my dear old Mormor used to say, ‘You can't control the weather, but you can control whether you let your storm clouds gather.’”
"I thought she said that you can't appreciate the rainbow unless you weathered the storm."
"And having seen your stormy expression, I would very much appreciate a little more rainbow in your face. Preferably an upside down one. In this general area." Jem pointed in a slow circle around Casper's mouth.
Casper brushed his hand away. They had reached the railing of the fishing boat, and he jumped lightly onto the wide plank of wood that spanned the short distance between them and thePetrel. "What is there to smile about? They got away."
Jem followed close at his heels as they crossed the board. "So? It's happened before. You're only human."
Casper spun on his heel, nearly knocking them both off-balance with the force of his movements. "And that's the problem, isn't it? We're only human; they're fae. We've been at a disadvantage since the moment we entered this realm."
Jem met his eyes, unflinching. His friend had known him long enough that he was neither intimidated nor impressed by Casper's temper. "We're only at a disadvantage because you insist on fighting in a battle that we were never asked to fight. No one would blame you if you just left the fae to their own devices."
"Iwould blame me." Casper ground his teeth together in frustration and turned back to his own ship.
Jem gave a weary sigh. "Casp, I know you think you're the reason that the smuggling started in the first place."
Casper tensed his jaw and squeezed his hands into fists at his sides.
"But the truth is, if it wasn't you, she would have just found someone else. You were a useful, convenient tool, but you can't continue to blame and punish yourself for trusting the wrong people."
Casper moved across the deck, heading straight for his cabin with quick, determined strides.I don't have time for arguingmotivations with Jem. I need a map to determine where the nearest port is and some peace and quiet so that I can try to figure out where the smugglers might be headed.
