Page 101 of Fearless

She cups my face, head shaking and smile trembling. “Damn fate, and duty, and every other word meant to keep us apart.” Tears slip from those blue eyes I would happily drown in. “I want to hide with you beneath the willow tree. You are the secret I will spend the rest of my life keeping.” Her voice quivers beneath the weight of such a promise.“Us.”

That alone is enough to have tears springing to my eyes. So I nod. Her face in my hands, my heart in hers.

The countless screams echoing all around finally manage to capture our attention. Before either of us can spew a comforting lie, the ship is tipping again. We slide across the wood when the creature lifts its head farther onto the deck. Serrated teeth lash out for the captain, and he narrowly avoids being swallowed whole.

The boat is crumbling beneath the weight of this creature, straining to keep us all afloat. “We need to do something,” Paedyn murmurs.

“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t,” I order.

She looks over at me then, and I remember just how much I missed her doing something as simple as acknowledging my existence. A small smile pulls at her lips. She’s breathtaking in this light, as though her hair is a collection of the moon’s rays. “You forget, Kai.” Her fingers wrap tightly around the spear. “This is my Trial.”

And then she’s running.

CHAPTER 35Paedyn

The spear grows slick in my hand.

My boots pound against the slippery deck, drowning out the sound of Kai’s shout behind me.

But I’ve watched this beast. Learned its strengths. Discovered its weakness.

And this is not the first monster I have faced.

So when it turns its luminous green eyes on me, baring numerous rows of jagged teeth, I do not back down. I do not fail, or falter, or feel remorse.

Every beast can be defeated.

A creature. A Trial. A king.

I lift the heavy spear, cocking back my arm. Hot breath washes over me when the monster roars. Scaly skin flares around its face as it slithers closer, jaws snapping and teeth glinting.

And I roar right back.

The creature screeches louder, blowing my hair back and watering my eyes. Still, I stand before it. My chest heaves; heart hammers. And then I letthe spear fly from my hand to meet the beast racing right for me.

The monster’s jaw widens, readying to sink those lethal fangs into my flesh—

I look Death in the eye as my spear sinks into it.

The beast roars in pain, body bucking as blood pours from its once-glowing iris. Screeching, it rattles the ship, shaking its head in an attempt to dislodge the piercing weapon. I stumble when the boat pitches, falling to my knees beneath the creature. Even when staring up into the embodiment of terror, I realize that this is still half the beast I’ve faced in the past.

With one final roar of anguish, it arcs over the ship, over my crumpled body, and dives into the waves.

I feel numb. I’m shaking as water sprays onto the deck, misting me with salty droplets. What remains of the crew stands stunned and bloody, all staring at the stirring sea where the creature disappeared.

Kai is beside me in an instant, hands frigid atop my skin. His palms have slid around my neck to tangle numb fingers in my soaking hair. “What were you thinking?” he scolds, wide eyes searching mine. “Do I need to order you to your room next time?”

I smile weakly. “That won’t work when I’m queen.”

His lips are stained blue with cold, and yet they still twitch into a smile. “I can be very persuasive.”

“Well I’ll be damned, the Silver Savior does it again!”

I turn toward the captain’s bellowing voice, his timing impeccable as ever. The limping crew gathers around him, some dripping with water, others blood. Torri holds an arm tightly to his injured chest and pushes the pain from his voice. “We’ve conquered the beast!”

A weak chant begins to rise from their collective throats, one I thought I would never hear again.

“Silver Savior!”

---