Page 29 of The Stolen Crown

“Heartwalker,” I shot back. “I am not returning without you.”

Her lips curled, like a wolfish snarl. “So, I have the power here?”

Dammit.

She glanced at the parchment. “You know, this is from a dear friend, a sea fae, actually. Perhaps you’ve heard of her? Celine Tidecaller?”

I scoffed. “You don’t correspond with Tidecaller.”

“So certain?” Mira flipped the missive so I might see. True enough, Celine’s slanted pen was there at the bottom margin. Mira snickered. “Stormbringer delivered it to me. Seems Tidecaller is looking forward to my visit. As are many, because they are not loathsome, like others I know.”

I ground my teeth together. This fiend of a woman was invading every bleeding aspect of my existence, including my damn home.

“You know, I think Celine’s allegiance has shifted, Hearttalker. If I tell her how dreary you’ve behaved, I wonder if the Lady of Blades might make your existence miserable when you return.”

“You forget I have known Tidecaller most of my life. I think you overestimate her loyalties.”

It was a lie. As much as I knew Tidecaller would stand at my side should I ever have a need, she’d already made her own insinuations about Mira, the likes of which I quickly silenced. I suspected Celine enjoyed her new belonging with the Ever Queen and glamour princess more than she let on.

“Celine is rather creative with doling out dreary fates for those who cause offense,” Mira said. “We’ll have to make something up that is deliciously horrendous for you.”

I scoffed. How little she knew. I had already lived the most wretched of fates. What more could she do to me?

We were at an impasse. I wanted nothing but to return to my ship until the day we set sail, but I had no doubt that if I left the glamour king unappeased, Erik would hear of it.

I let out a long breath. “What can I do to encourage you to return?”

“There you go again, giving me all the power.” She leaned in, voice low. “How did you know I love it when men get on their knees and beg, Hearttalker?”

Bleeding gods.

“I beg for nothing. You remain here out of spite for me. You are a woman who basks in the thoughtlessness of celebration, wine, lyres, and dance. Don’t pretend like you are not aching to return.”

Mira blinked, a groove shaped between her brows. “So that’s what you see. A thoughtless woman.”

There was a touch of anguish in her tone.

I pressed the heel of my hand to my chest and rubbed, as though dissolving the quick bite of remorse from rising again. “You twist my words, but should you remain here, all to dig at me, then neither of us is doing well in helping my king and queen build peace. I thought you cared for the Ever Queen.”

I knew how to manipulate well enough. It was a risk, a gamble, to see if the princess would react.

“What a low strike, using Livie against me.” Mira let out a sigh. “Fine. I’ll return and grin for my father so he does not have you assassinated tonight.” She paused for a breath. “I’ll even add a bit of appeal to our arrangement and leave for the Ever on the morrow as we originally planned.”

“You would set sail?”

“You keep up so well.” Mira clasped her hands behind her back. “I’ll do all those things on one condition: you must defeat me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I want you to fight me. At the dawn. If you agree, I shall pack my things tonight, even if I doubt you will be victorious, but we can never be certain what fate the Norns will spin for us.”

“And how would I fight you?”

“Hmm, I can imagine so many ways.” She winked—bleeding winked—before she went on. “But for this purpose, a spar. Blades. Gods, I do hope a few hands.”

My brow furrowed. “No.”

“Afraid?”