Ezryn stays perfectly still, just kneeling in the puddle of saltwater that’s accumulated underneath him. Something hard flickers in his gaze.
“He’s a murderer,” Wrenley continues. “He killed everyone in Queen’s Reach. Not just the soldiers, but the acolytes. Women.Children.He’s a demon, Dayton! Cast him overboard and avenge my people!”
“I never—” Ezryn begins to growl, but I stand up and step between them.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Wrenley,” I say calmly, but the accusation sends heat flickering beneath my skin.
Her lip trembles, and she takes a step backward. “You don’t see it. He willhurtyou. He has struck down his own people—”
“Enough,” Dayton growls. “Watch your words. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
Slowly, I reach for Ezryn, but he steps away from me, shadows falling over his gaze.
“I do know,” Wrenley urges. “I was there! I saw him!”
“She would accuse me of such acts,” Ezryn says, shooting a glare toward her. “She served my brother directly.”
“I told you,” Wrenley whispers to Dayton. “He will come for me next.”
I look between Ezryn and the acolyte. Ezryn has lived in fear of what he’s capable of for so long. To be accused directly of such atrocities, claims Iknoware false, seems a cruel injustice.
But there is genuine fear on Wrenley’s face. Perhaps, in the chaos, she was confused about what happened. “Wrenley, I was there that day. I was captured by the Nightingale, one of Kairyn’s puppets. Ezryn rescued me, but he never—”
“The Nightingale,” Wrenley says lowly, “isnotone of Kairyn’s puppets.”
“But you are, aren’t you?” Ezryn says. “You served him faithfully. Why should we trust you?”
“Ez, she saved mine and Kel’s life from Kairyn. She’s not a puppet.” Dayton sighs deeply and takes her hand. “She’s my mate.”
Ezryn’s muscles stiffen the exact same way mine do at those words.My mate.My fucking mate.
“Enough yakking.” Delphia steps between us. Though she’s so much shorter and younger, she carries the presence of a queen. “This ismyship, and I won’t have any squabbling aboard. Is that clear?” She stares each of us in the eyes.
I look down at my feet and mumble, “Yes, ma’am.”
Adjusting her tricorn hat, she turns to Wrenley. “Ezryn is a member of my crew. I say if he stays or goes, and I say he stays. If that’s a problem, I can show you to the door. Though, around here, it’s called the plank.”
Pure rage crosses Wrenley’s features. Her hands tighten tofists and her lips become one thin line. Beside her, I watch Dayton barely holding back his laughter.
“Fine. If you’ll excuse me.” Wrenley turns on her heel and storms below deck.
A weight lifts from my chest, and I take in a deep breath. Ezryn runs a hand through his dark, wavy hair.
“So, when did Ez become a member of your crew?” Dayton asks Delphia.
“Met him in the market.” She shrugs. “He helped us get this.”
At that moment, Nori walks over with her usual awkward shuffle and holds up a large black feather tinged with red.
“A ratty feather?” Dayton raises a brow. “Wow, great find, Del.”
“This is not just any feather.” Delphia fixes her brother with an adorably frustrated glare. “It’s from a Pegasus and you know what that means.”
“That Hercules was actually a fae?” I chime in, resulting in receiving my own adorably frustrated glare.
Delphia grabs the feather from Nori and holds it up to the sun. “No, it means the Huntresses of Aura do exist and they’re in the Ribs.”
Ezryn and I exchange confused stares. For once, during my time in the Vale, I’m not the only one out of the loop. “I’m not sure what to ask first. Pegasus as in the winged horse? What are the Ribs? Who are the Huntresses of Aura?”
