A wave of irritation washed over me as I realized Lord Astraeus was pulling on the air oath connecting us.
A third tug.
I might murder him.
Another.
I stood, ready to make my way upstairs, when it happened again. This time, I grabbed hold of the air andyanked. Smug satisfaction bloomed in my chest as a choked cough came from above deck.
“What in Tynan’s Hell is wrong with you?” I snapped as I found him smirking above deck.
He was back in his deep blue coat, hair cleaned and braided, his beard neatly trimmed. He flashed a white smile and arched a dark brow.
“Milady.” He sketched a bow. “Is that any way to speak to your captain?”
My stomach twisted. “You’ll never be my captain.”
His dark eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. “We’ll see about that,” he whispered. “I’ve called you to?—”
“First of all,” I stopped him, placing a hand on his chest and shoving him back. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” he said, the sides of his lips kicking up into a smirk once more.
“You know what,” I snapped, and a glint entered his dark eyes as he tugged once more, flipping my braid over my shoulder.
My fingernails dug into my palms as I resisted the urge to claw his face off. “I swear to the gods, if you do that one more time, I will?—”
“You will what?” he asked, cocking his head. “This was your idea, you know.”
I opened my mouth to respond when Raek stepped to his side, eyes darting between us.
“Fish stew?” he said, holding a steaming bowl toward me.
I paused mid-breath and stared at the hand he outstretched. A savory blend of spices wafted from the hearty helping. I swallowed the growing amount of spit that formed in my mouth. Oh, gods. Thatsmell.
“Err… Yes. Thank you, Raek.”
I swallowed once more, taking the bowl from him as he stepped away. I lifted the stew to my lips and stifled the groan that threatened to escape.
I blinked my eyes open, not realizing I’d closed them after a couple mouthfuls. When was the last time I’d eaten?
Turning back to Lord Astraeus, I scowled, noting the look of satisfaction that accompanied the insufferable smirk still plastered on his face. His teeth slid over his lower lip, stretching the scar, as he watched me shovel the rest of the stew down. I shoved the empty bowl into his hands.
“Raek is a good cook.”
“Bit salty if I’m being honest,” I murmured.
“Liar.” He chuckled, the sound sending an involuntary set of bumps down my arm.
He handed me a waterskin, and I slugged it down before straightening my shoulders.
“Where were we?” he asked, crossing his arms.
“Right.” I lifted a finger. “I need our coordinates, Astraeus. Others will be joining us soon.”
“Tiberius, I assume?”
“Who told you that?”
