Today, she’d almost been his death.
I have to get rid of her. It didn’t matter how much he might love her. She’d forever been his one blind spot. The one vulnerability in an otherwise impenetrable fortress.
He rubbed his finger over his ring as he finally admitted the one truth that he couldn’t escape. Mara didn’t need his harthfret to control him. He’d been her hopeless slave since the moment he first gazed into those amber eyes. She owned him, body and soul.
His only salvation was the fact that she’d been as blind to him as he was to her—that she’d never once realized he wasn’t the one in control of their relationship.
She was.
For her, there was nothing he wouldn’t do at her simplest command. That was why he’d brought her back to be their ship. He didn’t want to be here without her. Even if it meant enduring her hatred and scorching condemnation. So long as she spoke to him in any manner, he’d take it.
But no more. It was time that he severed their tattered past and let her go.
All things came to an eventual end.
It was time he cast away his heart and made sure that nothing stopped him from what was to come. He was the one who’d given Vine her powers. Who’d enabled her to become the threat she was.
Thorn had charged him with protecting the world and that was his duty now. He couldn’t let anything else get in the way.
Not even Mara.
And certainly not himself.
Nay, he would give his life to this cause. That was the way of it. There was no other outcome to be had, and he knew it.
14
Mara groaned as the tumultuous sea crashed against her sides and battered every part of her. For hours now, the storm had surged violently as if trying its best to send them to the bottom of the ocean.
All of the crew had taken cover belowdecks.
Meanwhile, she lay in her bunk, sick to her stomach, wishing for any reprieve from this misery. It was so bad, she couldn’t even change forms for it. The last thing any Deruvian wanted was to regurgitate in their wooden form.
That was a sight and sensation no one needed. Ever.
And just when she didn’t think she could take another minute of it, strong arms pulled her against an equally hard chest.
“Drink this.”
“I’m too sick, Du.”
He brushed the hair back from her cheek. “I know, love. This will help.” He lifted the cup to her lips.
Convinced she’d return it within a few seconds of swallowing, she obeyed. But as she got a bit of it down, it did indeed ease her nausea. After a few minutes, her headache began to lessen, too, and it was only then that she realized Duel was in the bed with her, holding her against his warmth while he rocked her in time to the sea.
He set the empty cup on her nightstand. But due to the storm, it didn’t stay there. Rather, it was thrown to the floor and rolled across the boards to land in a corner.
“What was in that?”
“Ginger root. Peppermint. A little honey…”
When he didn’t continue, she arched her brow at him. “And?”
The corner of his lips lifted into a teasing half smile as he smoothed her hair around her face. “Best you don’t know.”
Laughing, she let out a small groan as another wave went through her. “How much longer till the storm passes?”
“The worst of it is over. The sea should settle within a few hours.”
