Page 34 of Claimed By the Depths

A stone bridge sprawled over a rushing river, the laughter of children chasing its flow. Just beyond the light oak fence sat homes built from a mix of wood and light rock. The roofs all jutted to the same towering peak, their red tips pristine beneath the glinting sunlight. Cobblestone stitched the pathways, which provided trails to every neighboring structure and contained a liveliness I never would have expected from the mirage we’d docked into.

The stalls we’d found had seemed to await the arrival of those renowned for sailing the open waters, each housing different goods. One sold crystal jewelry, the next offered freshly cut meat that smelled so divine it made my mouth water, and another offered us a sample of a clear, potent alcohol. By the grace of the gods, I swore I had found myself intoxicated off one sip.

“What do you think?” Kael asked as he extended his hand toward me; an emerald ring settled on his pointer finger.

Taking a bite from the chicken leg he’d purchased for me to, and I quote, “keep me from whining,” I nodded. “It’s a beautiful way to honor him.”

He offered me what felt like his first-ever genuine smile. “I think so too.”

When we’d originally found the booths, drawn in by the sights and smells, Rohen had reiterated our need to search for the artifact. With me on board with her adamance, we both looked to the former prince of Serevalen, expecting the same. Except when we did, Kael had stood with wide-eyed wonder, gaze sweeping between the people and purchasable goods with curiosity, and we’d crumbled, agreeing to allow him time to explore a life he had never been offered.

Rohen had joined us for the first twenty minutes or so, but then she lost interest, her thoughts far too occupied with my best friend. While I now understood their natural pull toward one another, I was still getting used to it after not only witnessing their shared loathing, but Rohen’s willingness to butcher innocent men purely to spite Caspian. And still, even with memories of slaughtered corpses and seething words, it had only taken one glance for me to figure it out. When I offered her the chance to slip from the crowd and settle where she remained, she hadn’t hesitated.

The chime of the pouch Kael carried pulled me to the present, and I was quick to place my hand on his chest. “No.”

“What? You just said it was a great way to⁠—”

“Not what I meant,” I tried, but failed to clarify based on his twisted features. With a small grin, I untied the knot I mastered with one hand and passed him my coin. “I’ll cover it.”

He balked at me. “What the hell do you mean, Syoran? It isn’t a small purchase, and I⁠—”

“I will cover it,” I reiterated. “Really, it’s not a big deal.”

Throat bobbing, he dipped his chin, but I didn’t miss the ripple of appreciation in his seafoam irises. “O-Okay.”

His fingers brushed over mine as he accepted my offering, heat shooting straight through me with his touch. With a shaky hand, he unwound the cord and gathered the proper amount before passing it back to me. Taking it with the intention of savoring his touch once more, I closed my palm around him and tugged him toward me.

“Your body language suggests you feel guilty. There is no need.”

Lips parting, he contemplated a response before they fell into a straight line. Slipping free from my hold, he turned and headed toward the merchant awaiting his business.

“Did I just bear witness to what I believe I bore witness to?”

Flinching at the unexpected commentary, I pivoted toward Rohen. “For fuck’s sake, Levitte.”

The corners of her mouth curled upward, that shit-eating grin forming. “I must say, for a second in command, you’re far too easy to spook.”

“You weren’t even near⁠—”

“Your eyes seem to wander when it comes to the prince, don’t they, Kao?”

My brows narrowed as I pinned her with a glare. “We aren’t speaking about it.”

She craned her head to the side, two fingers jabbing into my sternum. “I suppose you are correct, considering it is rather clear and you have not denied it.”

“Denied what?” Kael’s timbre interjected as he returned to my side.

“Nothing,” I stated quickly, tossing a cautionary look at Rohen, whose smile only broadened. “We have land to cover.”

Arching branches loomed overhead as we padded down a limestone staircase. A stream stretched out before us, lily pads floating on its glass-like surface. Shrubbery lined its curves, chasing it through the enclosed clearing before it vanished in between two large trunks. Like a breath of fresh air, it was all vibrant, from the lush vegetation to the pops of yellows, reds, and pinks of various flowers.

Plucking one free, Rohen spun its stem between her fingers. She examined it for a breath before she yanked off a petal, another one quick to follow.

“Do you have a knack for torment?” I mumbled, tucking my hands in the pockets of my trousers.

Her emerald gaze met mine. “Torment? Oh, Kao, you haven’t even seen what I am capable of. If you wish, I could go into grave detail about how I sawed the prick off one of Marellan’s soldiers.”

My gut ached at the suggestion. “I think we can go without knowing⁠—”