I lean into him, not wanting Oak or Maines to hear me. “I want to run from my shadows, Silas, but I don’t feel safe, even now. In the light she hunts me, but in the darkness she haunts me.”
He grabs my jaw, hard. “Bury her. You know how to control her. She hasn’t fully taken over after all these years, which is a testament to your strength.” He relaxes his hand and kisses my forehead. “Keep holding on for a little longer, and we will figure this out.”
Silas’s finger traces my jaw, pulling me to him until our lips meet. In this moment, my worries vanish, and I let him kiss me deeply. His soft lips take their time, as if he wishes to freeze this moment forever, too. My eyes roll back as I savor this brief moment of intimacy before all hell inevitably breaks loose tomorrow.
He pulls back, and I wipe his lips with my thumb as he playfully bites it. “More of that later. Whatever you want from me tonight, my love.” He winks with a smirk, and my cheeks flush, a thrill running through me as his hand slides up my thigh.
Maines laughs from across the table. “Oak, what are you going to get me for my birthday?”
“Oh, Maines, darling, you won’t be able to handle what I will give you,” he responds, his voice stern, but with a joking lilt.
“For some reason, I don’t doubt that, Hombern,” she chuckles, shoving his broad shoulder as he flashes a wide grin.
For the first time in a long while, tonight feels normal. Tonight feels happy. I glance over the ship's edge, the dark sea surrounding us—as if the darkness is trying to suffocate me. I quickly shake off that thought as Rose appears from the narrow staircase leading below.
“Happy birthday, my shadow,” she says, her calming voice helping to ease my nerves.
Rose has been busy on the ship; she and Captain Darcy have grown closer, and she’s taken a role in the kitchen. According to her, cooking is the only thing that keeps her sane most days. Now, she carries a small dish of pastries with a candle sticking out of the center of the plate.
“Make a wish,” she whispers as she places the plate on the table.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath of the salty air.
A wish.
Silas’s words replay in my mind—bury Kalix.
When I open my eyes to find that the candle has already been blown out by the breeze, as if I wasn’t allowed to make that wish, I see everyone’s eyes on me again. Friendly smiles spread across their faces as they study me, and I know they are checking to see my current mood.
“Let’s do presents,” Maines says, taking another drink of her wine. “We all know what Silas is getting you for your birthday, but we wanted to get you something to open, too.”
I glance toward the box, which is now sitting on the floor. “When did you all have time to get me a present?”
“Don’t worry about what we do in our spare time,” Oak winks.
“Gods help us if it’s something from this old ship,” I mumble.
“Watch it.” He huffs in offense. “This ship is beautiful and mine; don’t speak ill of her,” Oak says, clearly irritated. Silas laughs.
Maines picks up the box and sets it in my lap.
The weight of whatever is inside presses against my thighs, sending butterflies dancing in my stomach from anticipation. I carefully lift the top of the box to reveal tan, crinkled papercovering something near the bottom. I glance at Maines, whose smile could brighten the darkest night.
Focusing back on the box, I remove the paper to see a golden point peeking through, and my heart leaps.
My mother’s crown.
The familiar black crystals resemble vines swirling around the points, and the bright gold glimmers in the night sky. I take a deep breath as I remove it from the box, and tears start to well up in my eyes. "Where...” I stammer. “Howdid you all get this?”
Maines nods at Silas. “Well, I can’t take all the credit. It was his idea, and Oak retrieved it.”
I glance between the four of them.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t have a choice,” Oak slurs, taking a sip of his drink. “Silas would have killed me if I messed this up,”
Silas laughs into the rim of his drink.
“I can’t thank you all enough,” I say, fighting back the emotion welling in my throat. I snap my head in Silas’s direction. “What made you think of this?”
