Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2)(104)

We’re both panting, but I feel a bit of grim satisfaction when I note that there’s blood on his lip.

That satisfaction goes away when I swallow and taste my own blood.

Kilbourne lets me go almost instantly, but Rocco keeps Rian’s arms pinned behind his back. The captain isn’t struggling, but he’s glaring at me. So is Lochlan.

I look at Rocco, who’s waiting for an order. I remember the moment we stood in the Hold and I told him to break Sallister’s arms.

I’m tempted to do the same to Captain Blakemore. It’s the worst part of myself. The part that Tessa hates. The part that Lochlan fears.

I think Rian knows. I’m not sure if he expects the guards to hold him down while I beat the piss out of him on the deck, or if he thinks Rocco will do it on my order, but either way, I can see the expectation in his eyes. He’s bracing himself.

“As I’ve said before,” I say roughly, “contempt doesn’t suit you. Any other clever remarks?”

“I’m sure I can come up with one or two.”

I take a step forward, but he doesn’t flinch. His eyes hold mine.

“Let him go,” I say to Rocco, but I keep my eyes on the captain. I touch a hand to my face, and it comes away with spots of blood. “He was just defending himself.”

Rocco obeys, and Rian blinks in surprise. To my right, Lochlan does the same.

The captain swipes the blood off his own lip. He regards me for a moment, and this time I brace myself for him to take up the fight again.

Instead, he says, “Those ships have drawn closer.”

It’s not what I expected him to say, but I cast my gaze to the horizon. He’s right. They’re much closer.

“If they’re here at my brother’s order,” I say, “I’ll have them take command of your ship, and you can cry all the way to Ostriary.”

“They’re within firing distance,” he continues. “If they’re not here at your brother’s order, I’m handing you over.”

“You’re alone on the deck,” I say. “I could have my guards kill you right now.”

We can all feel the nervous energy in the air. Rian fixes his gaze on me. “If you kill me, you can’t outrun two brigantines. They’ll sink the ship or take you by force.”

“Perhaps we’ll have to take our chances,” I say.

“We’re nearing the most dangerous part of the ocean,” he says. “Are you sure about that?”

I look at Rocco. “Advise.”

“He’s right about the brigantines. If they’re not here by King Harristan’s order, it’s a risk.”

“Can you continue sailing toward Ostriary?”

He hesitates. “I’ve never sailed past the southern point of Sunkeep. I can absolutely try, but I don’t know what to expect in the next leg of the journey.”

Rian’s eyes flare as he realizes the implication of this, and then he swears. “So you brought a sailor anyway.”

“I brought a guard with sailing experience,” I say.

“He won’t get through Chaos Isle. The current is too strong. There are rocks beneath the surface. If you don’t know where they are, the Dawn Chaser will be destroyed.”

“We’ll see about that,” I say. “What are your intentions if they don’t demand my capture?”

“To sail straight through Chaos Isle and hope we lose them.” He pauses, his gaze darkening. “You should let me go while I’m still willing to maintain civility on my ship.”

I inhale to answer—but somewhere belowdecks, a woman screams.





CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Tessa

The lock is the easy part. It’s only been a few weeks since I last picked a lock, but it’s a simple padlock, and I have years of practice breaking into homes in the Royal Sector. The hallway was quiet and dark, with no one about this early. As I suspected, the captain is one of the few up and around, and if Kilbourne went to Corrick, the prince will keep him distracted while I find out what’s so important about this small, locked room.

I don’t know what I’ll find, whether it’s detailed records or secret weapons or barrels of gunpowder. I simply have no idea what Rian could be hiding in here that would be worth all this tension with the prince.

Somewhere deep inside, I’m terrified that I’m wrong, that this is a betrayal, that I’ll reveal something horrible.

But I keep thinking of every moment I’ve looked into Rian’s eyes. He’s not horrible. He’s not. If he’s hiding something from Corrick, it’s because he doesn’t trust the prince.

I wish I’d brought a lantern. It’s very dark down here. I might need to swipe whatever I find and sneak it back to my quarters. Hopefully it’s something small.

Click. The lock gives. The door swings open. I smell seawater and mildew, and something surprisingly floral, but the room is a well of darkness. I can’t see anything at all.

Without warning, a figure explodes through the doorway. It’s too dark for me to see much, but I catch a glimpse of long, wild blond hair, wide dark eyes, and a filthy face. It’s a woman—or a girl, I can’t tell. She screams in rage.

Then she slams right into me with enough force to nearly knock me off my feet.