Page 67 of Claimed By the Depths

“I am the senior on these decks and have responsibilities to⁠—”

I fisted his shirt, ripping him toward me. “I said get behind the fucking helm, Lionel. Get your mate to provide supervision, but, as your captain, I am ordering you to steer this godsdamned ship.”

He blinked as if not expecting the sharpness of my utterance. “Y-Yes, captain.”

As I loosened my hold, his unwillingness to test my dwindling patience showed in the way he pivoted, rushing toward his second to rattle off the shift in roles. With him preoccupied, my attention settled on Kael and Ignis.

“Like Parran, are you capable of teleportation?” I posed to the Fae.

He nodded.

“Great. Hopefully you’re as attentive as they are, because I expect what I say to you now will be repeated to Alastair in perfect clarity. Understood?”

“Yeah, wholly. Though I don’t abide by the rules of mere human⁠—”

“Is. That. Fucking. Understood?” I growled, fingers curling at my sides with the temptation to throw him overboard.

“Yes.” Kael settled a hand on Ignis’ chest to fend off his rebuttal, and I couldn’t help but clench my jaw at the sight. “He understands.”

“Perfect.” Swallowing my desired reply, I offered them both a once-over before continuing, “We are returning to Serevalen.”

It was Kael’s turn to retaliate with venom. “What?”

“Hm,” Ignis hummed in challenge, testing hierarchy. “The former prince sounds rather put-off by⁠—”

The distance between us closed as I drove two knuckles into his sternum. Forcing my way past Kael, I shoved Ignis flush against the wooden partition beside the stairs to the quarterdeck. Positioning myself inches from him, my lips drew back in a potent sneer. “I have warranted you respect for your connection to the gods, but what you will not do is disrespect me on the ship I command. If you wish to oppose another, take yourself to the Scarlet Tempest, for I’m sure Alastair would love your company.”

Where I expected a snarky response, it caught me off guard when Ignis peered at me with satisfaction. Not the kind that insinuated mockery for the crack in my demeanor, but the kind that suggested he’d been… waiting for it.

Rewarding me with an open-mouthed grin, Ignis’ chest rumbled with a relieved laugh. “There you are, Syoran Kao. I was beginning to wonder how long it would take.”

“What?” Kael interrupted, confusion prevalent in his timbre. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I pulled back, giving Ignis the space to slip free, but he remained where I’d pinned him. His all-white eyes moved between us, and he shrugged. “Perhaps it's time to find out? Though it would be rude of us to continue interrupting our captain, wouldn’t it, Kaelivan?”

Cheeks reddening, Kael nodded. “Yeah, I… I, uh. What were you saying, Syoran?”

Combing through my thoughts, I tried but failed to understand the nuance of Ignis’ question, instead opting to explain the suggestion that had angered the former prince. “If we move forward with our route to secure the four remaining artifacts, we will be followed by the king’s men or Sorva’s hellish creatures. In my eyes, the destruction left behind and the lives lost aren’t worth the risk, nor is the chance they might gain insight into the locations Ignis has provided.”

“So we go back to Serevalen to what?” Kael asked as he folded his arms over his chest. “As far as I’m aware—though correct me if you saw differently—the Capital has been overthrown by all you’re wishing to avoid.”

“Yes,” I agreed, “but that is where the wickedness resides. If we plant ourselves on King Marellan’s doorstep, the reckoning that has been nipping at our heels returns to its home.”

“Or we throw ourselves right back into my father’s fucking arms and hand over the three who have reconnected with their respective gods.”

“There is risk, yes.” Holding his wicked seafoam stare, I prayed to whoever was listening to help Kael recognize that, no matter where we went, I would ensure he was not harmed as he had been. “But if we set foot in the other villages, we are bringing their damnation with us. And sure, maybe the attacks continue amid it all, but I am willing to bet Alastair’s luck that Sorva will keep her fiends on our asses.”

“Their focus has never been the surrounding land,” Ignis chimed in, his gaze finding Kael. “The Others, and your father included, have been chasing the Children of the Damned, the Divari, for centuries.” Turning to look at me, the Fae smiled. “Syoran is right. The sooner we move in, the sooner their reactivity will dwindle. While we may not have all five lineages uncovered, we have the two leaders of the pack.”

“Rohen and Caspian,” Kael muttered under his breath.

Ignis dipped his chin in confirmation. “And the armies their parents command.”

“Is Caspian able to wield his abilities though?” I questioned.

“Yes,” Ignis smirked. “Rohen’s nearness eats away at the bind Sorva holds over him, which is a big contributor to the state we found him in. And while her proximity does strain his humanity and threaten his aliveness, it also snaps the chains of restriction that have kept him in place. The depth of power lingering beneath Caspian’s skin is insurmountable, which is a large reason ‌Sorva elected to imprison him.”

“And you’re okay with that?” Kael posed, his brows knitting together in concern as he held my gaze. “You’re okay with putting Caspian at that extent of risk? Sacrificing his life when it is already dwindling?”