Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2)(101)

There’s enough of an edge to the suggestion that I study him.

“You were jealous,” I say.

“I was.”

“Are you still?”

His blue eyes are dark in the dim light from the lantern. “It’s more than jealousy now.”

I shiver at the warning in his voice. “Do you trust me?”

“Trusting you has never been a problem. I told Rocco to make sure one of the guards is nearby the entire time.”

That’s probably intended to make me feel better. It doesn’t. I fasten the last button, then give my vest a tug to straighten it. I finger-comb my hair and rebraid it loosely.

I peer at Corrick as he buckles his own jacket into place. “Does it ever bother you that the guards see everything?”

A line appears between his eyebrows. “How do you mean?”

I gesture at the door. “They saw me come in here. They know I never came out.”

“Tessa, I’ve had guards outside my door from the moment I first drew breath.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly. “Moments of true privacy are rare and precious.”

I suppose there’s something to that, but I can’t keep the blush off my cheeks. “We … ah, we probably shouldn’t go up together. If you want Captain Blakemore to trust me.”

“I agree. Go ahead.” He lets go of my face, and I turn for the door.

All three guards are still on duty: Rocco stationed between my room and Corrick’s, Silas near the other end of the hallway, and Kilbourne at the bottom of the steps.

I wonder if they’ve all been on duty throughout the night.

“Tensions are high among the crew,” Rocco says. “Kilbourne will accompany you if you go above.”

Even though Corrick warned me, a ribbon of fear wraps around my spine. I thank Rocco, then turn for the steps.

When I reach the deck with Kilbourne at my back, the morning sky is darker than I expect, heavy with pink and purple clouds that obscure the sunrise. Wind blasts my cheeks, sending the sails and rigging to rattle. The water seemed so calm yesterday, but today, the ocean is choppy, small waves slapping the hull from all directions, making it hard to walk evenly.

Off to our east, those two brigantine ships have drawn closer. I can make out the flag of Kandala now.

That ribbon of fear around my spine seems to tighten.

A flash of motion catches my eye, followed by the smack of boots on the deck just to my left.

I jump a mile, but it’s the captain. He must have jumped down from the rigging, because he’s a little red-cheeked and windblown, his light eyes just as stormy as the sky.

“Rian,” I say in surprise.

He gives me a nod. “Miss Cade.” Without another word, he moves away.

Oh. Well then.

That tightness in my chest goes nowhere.

After a moment, I follow him. He’s stopped near the railing, where the boom is tethered. Sea spray has collected on the deck, but he ignores it, unwinding the rope from the steel cleat. I watch his hands move, the motions tight and controlled.

I don’t know if he’s upset about the ships, or upset about Corrick, or upset about me—and not knowing is leaving me off-balance.

I try to be direct about it. “We’re back to formality, Captain Blakemore?”

“We probably should have maintained formality from the very beginning. Watch yourself.” He nods at the beam.

I step out of the way, but I follow him. “You’re upset with me.”

“I’m upset that Kandalan ships are drawing closer just as we’re going to enter the most difficult part of the ocean.” He follows the swinging beam, then grunts as he digs in his heels to stop at the next cleat, deftly whipping the rope around the steel bar. “It’s hard enough to navigate this part. I don’t want to do it while fighting off two well-armed brigantines.”

“I don’t have anything to do with those ships,” I say.

He laughs under his breath, but not like anything is funny. He knots off the rope and then strides to the next.

I follow him again. “Don’t do that,” I say. “Don’t treat me like—”

He whirls so quickly that my breath catches, and then the boat is hit by a swell of water, knocking me into his chest like the first night I boarded the Dawn Chaser.

He catches me by the arms, and I can feel the warmth and strength in his hands through the loose muslin of my shirt. But he’s holding me a touch too tightly, and my heart skips.

“Don’t treat you like what?” he says.

My mouth is dry, and I can’t tell what’s driving his temper, whether it’s betrayal or anger. I don’t really like either option.

“Captain,” says Kilbourne. “Let her go.”

In the space between heartbeats, I think Rian isn’t going to obey. His grip is too tight, those storm clouds in his eyes too tumultuous.

But then he does. He releases my arms, then steps back, running a hand across his jaw. “You should return to your quarters, Miss Cade. Or Prince Corrick’s quarters. Whichever you find most suitable.”

Nothing even happened between me and Corrick, but my cheeks flame. I can’t help it. “Why are you acting like I betrayed you?” I demand. “On the day you invited us on board, you knew—you knew—”