CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I will train Isla myself. The Mystic Magnum remains closed to her. Be careful what you trade for the power you seek. Not all sacrifices are worth it.
—Hidden correspondence from the Khato to Bayne. 33rdof Summer, 071.3E.
The beast surged past us, heading straight toward theHydra. Its massive head burst through the waves. Jaws opened, and my stomach churned as bits of bodies and blood clung to its long, jagged teeth. I reached inward, readying the Obscura, as a looming black fog swept in from behind a burning ship.
The Mortis Shroud swarmed, and the sea beast let out a bone-chilling cry. The pale white creature sank below the water in retreat, and the snaking, black fog settled on the surface of the sea before it shot high into the air. The Mortis Shroud hung above the surface and then flew west, in chase of its prey.
“Swim!” Vulcan commanded.
My body obeyed, and we surged toward theHydra.
We climbed the ladders thrown overboard, and the warmth of the shield enveloped us as we were swarmed by pirates.
Lord Astraeus’s blue coat flashed in the corner of my eye, and I whirled toward him.
“You bastard,” I seethed.
Tanned, tattooed skin peeked from under his unbuttoned shirt beneath the long, flapping coat.
“I am that.” He chuckled as he swaggered to us, removing his black hat. His dark, auburn hair was braided along the sides of his head, with half of it tied tightly back. A neatly trimmed, dark beard cut over his sharp jawline, and the pirate lord flashed a too-white smile. His voice was smooth, the Votruvian accent sliding over his tongue like silk. My heart squeezed as I thought of Morwyn, and he raised a dark eyebrow at me.
“You’ve looked better,Bonscaíh.” His striking eyes slid over my soaked leathers and ripped vest as his lips tilted in a grin, and he winked. “I’ve been looking for you. Though I rather expected to run into Captain Ravindra and theEvecta.” Lord Astraeus looked casually back at what remained of theCenturion, aflame and sinking beneath the waves, along with my father’s book.
“How did you find us?” Vulcan demanded from behind.
Lord Astraeus slid his eyes to Vulcan.
“It turns out,” he said, “that crafty queen of yours thinks she can buy loyalty from my spies.” He shook his head, beads from his braids clinking against each other as he did. “Little does she know that loyalty to the Lords of Marisarma cannot be bought. Though it did offer us a little insight into her plans.”
His eyes slid to mine. “It didn’t take long to convince the others of what we might gain, should we reacquaint ourselves with this little bloodhound of yours.” Astraeus lifted a leather and cedar-scented hand to flick my nose.
I blinked at the movement before slapping his hand away.
Vulcan stiffened, and I caught movement at the stern of the ship. A small group shuffled to the center of the deck. A flash of strawberry blonde hair caught my eye, and Vienah opened her mouth in warning when Lord Astraeus’s warm hand slid around my forearm. He clamped something cool onto my wrist.
The blazing red cuff seemed cut from the same stone that had hurtled into theCenturion, and though it glowed as if it were a living flame, the stone bit into my wrist like ice. I hissed as I tried to pull it free, whipping my hand back at its sting. I tugged on the Obscura, summoning enough to set my eyes on fire when I was met with a solid black wall. I blinked, and Lord Astraeus’s grin widened into an unnerving, handsome smile, teeth flashing.
“What—”
Lord Astraeus wagged a ringed finger at me as he chided, “I thought perhaps I might need a leash for my bloodhound.”
A leash. My gut churned as memories from Kayj swept into my mind’s eye, the phantom weight of that heavy collar pressed upon my neck, the chain, theleash, hanging down my front…
His dark eyes softened as he scanned my face, and I willed steel into my veins. He had somehow suppressed my powers. I reached down, searching for that tether of Transcindiel, and ran into a wall, but there was a pounding on the other side, as if my powers searched for a way out.
The cuff on my wrist chafed, the red glow of it pulsing, as if it were a living thing. And the cannonball… It had to have been made from the same material. It was the only thing that could break through Carina’s shield. My mind whirred at the implications of such a weapon.
My stomach pitched as a sound escaped Vulcan’s lips. Four men had his arms pinned to his side as a fifth held him in a chokehold, all attempting to wrangle him to the ground to get his hands bound.
I glanced at Vienah heading past us toward the stern, where they lined up prisoners from theCenturion. I scanned the group, searching for the others. Vienah’s brown eyes caught mine, and she gave me a soft shake of her head. From a distance, her soaked traveling dress was torn, and she had a small cut on her cheek. My heart began a panicked gallop as the unknown fate of the others sank into my chest. I eyed theHydra’smen, keenly aware I hadn’t been bound yet.
Pulling my gaze back to Lord Astraeus, I asked, “And what is it you think this bloodhound can do for you, Astraeus?”
The pirate’s eyes darkened, a look of predatory enjoyment crossing his striking face, as he stepped closer. The lines of black ink flexed on his neck as he leaned in.
“LordAstraeus, Bonscaíh. One of the five of Marisarma. Though I suppose I could be one of three, thanks to the mystic on board. We weren’t expecting that, were we, lads?”
