The sea rose violently, and a wall of water slammed across the deck hard enough to knock Gerald backward into the mast.
Edith cackled. Actually cackled. “Oh this is the best day of my life.”
The pirate clung desperately to the wheel, screaming prayers at multiple religions simultaneously. Mark grabbed onto the railing again, soaked through and furious.
“Gerald, stop!”
“You incompetent fool,” Gerald snarled, shoving himself upright. “Do you have any idea what the clan will do if she disappears again?”
“Yes, and I no longer care!” he shouted back.
Well that was interesting and Edith caught it too. Her expression sharpened instantly.
“They threatened you,” she realised.
Mark looked away, and that told everyone enough.
Gerald’s lip curled. “The clan protects its interests.”
Edith barked out a laugh devoid of humour. “No,” she said fiercely. “The clan protects powerful men.”
Silence cracked across the sea. Because Gods, there was the dragon princess beneath all the fear.
Fearless, proud, and furious. Spencer loved her a little more for it immediately. Which was probably unhealthy given the circumstances.
Dave noticed… again. “Oh you are absolutely gone,” the guardian muttered.
Spencer ignored him with dignity. Mostly because he was currently trying not to murder someone. Gerald pointed toward Edith sharply.
“She is promised!”
“And she said no,” Spencer growled. The words tore from him instinctively.
Not spoken aloud exactly, more like felt. Waves crashed violently around the boat.
Magic pulsed beneath the water. Gerald went still. Because he heard it. Not human words. Kraken intent.
Edith stared down at Spencer, wide-eyed. To everyone’s apparent surprise, except maybe Dave’s… she blushed. Actually blushed.
“Oh Gods,” she muttered. “That should not have been attractive.”
Dave immediately pointed at her triumphantly. “Mates.”
“I hate you,” Edith informed him weakly.
“You love me,” Dave replied cheerfully. Brutas finally moved.
One enormous tentacle rose slowly beside the boat before settling directly onto the deck with terrifying calm. Wood cracked beneath the weight instantly.
The guardian lowered his massive head slightly toward Gerald. “You will remove the bindings,” Brutas said. Not a request. The sea seemed to hold its breath as Gerald looked around finally. Really looked.
At the three Krakens surrounding the vessel. At Spencer holding Edith carefully like something precious. At Davegrinning like violence was a hobby. At Brutas looming over them like ancient judgement itself.
And for the first time, real uncertainty flickered across his face, because Spencer was done being reasonable.
37
Gerald finally broke first.Honestly, Edith had been hoping for tears too, but she was willing to accept fear as a consolation prize. Surrounded by three enormous Krakens, a panicking pirate, and one deeply furious ex-bounty hunter brother, the male’s composure had started cracking visibly. She grinned… excellent.
