Page 74 of Fearless

He nods, looking slightly apologetic before continuing. “Your meals will be brought to your cabins. Where you eat them is up to you.” Deliberating, Leon seems to find nothing else of importance and concludes the tour with a reassuring string of words. “If you need anything at all, find me. And trust that I will find you in case of an emergency.”

Before I can question what emergency that might be, the first mateis walking away. My doubt forms into a single sentence. “What are the odds we survive this journey?”

Kai runs a hand through his windblown hair. “You tell me, Little Psychic.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m sensing that we may end up in the sea before even spotting land.”

He smiles, and suddenly, the frigid water starts to seem like a good idea. “Then I’ll swim for the both of us.”

CHAPTER 27Kai

The ship rocks beneath me, lulling my body into a quiet place that isn’t quite sleep.

Lacing my hands beneath my head, I stretch out on the cot, listening to the muffled waves outside my porthole. The sea is kind today, perhaps only to lure us into a false sense of security. Water is fickle, and man is foolish enough to think we can tame it.

The sun is setting beyond my small window, casting the cabin in an orange hue. I stare idly at the slatted ceiling above, unsure what to do with myself. I’ve never been so useless on a mission. One might find this dullness relaxing, but it’s restlessness I feel.

My dinner plate sits atop the bedside table, now empty of the potatoes and beef that once filled the chipped dish. Reaching over it, I grab the bottle of rum that was graciously brought to my room and lift it to my lips. I sit up from the rough pillow, grimacing as the alcohol burns down my throat.

“Shit.” I cough out the curse before deciding it’s a good idea to take another sip. This may be some of the strongest liquor I’ve had in years. Likely since Ava died.

The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth that has nothing to do with the rum. My grip is tight around the bottle’s neck. Since boarding this ship, I’ve been continuously reminded of just how dangerous it is to be alone with my own thoughts.

So I have no choice but to be with her.

That is what I tell myself as I stride out into the hall and rap my knuckles against her door.

Paedyn’s voice is muffled behind the wood. “Yes?”

“Would you like some company?” I call back.

“Is it yours?”

“I’m afraid so, darling.”

“All right, come in,” she says, sounding amused. “By turning the handle, not kicking down the door.”

Smiling, I do as I’m told and step into the room. She’s sitting on the bed, ankles crossed in front of her and back propped against the cabin wall. The dying sunlight streams far brighter through this porthole, splashing color and warmth over her. A worn book is held loosely between her fingers when those blue eyes flick up to mine.

“See,” she says sweetly, “that wasn’t so hard.”

I give her a look before sprawling onto her bed, my head in her lap.

“Are you drinking away your boredom?” she muses, looking down at me.

I shake the bottle still clutched in my hand. “I was. And then I remembered that you are a far more appealing distraction.”

She rolls those bright eyes at me. “Did you come in here just to flirt, Azer?”

“Darling, I haven’t even started.”

Groaning dramatically, she snatches the bottle from my hand. “Then I’m going to need this.”

“Don’t act like you don’t love it.”

She takes a swig of rum, twisting her face at the taste. I’m laughing before her lips have even left the bottle. She coughs and sputters and shoves the liquor back into my palm. Composing herself, Pae looks down at me with watery eyes that may just be a drop of the sea itself. “There are a lot of things I pretend not to love.”

I still at her words. My gaze wanders over the face she tilts toward me, over every strand of silver hair falling around it. I reach up slowly, running my fingers through the shining, sun-drenched pieces. My voice is a murmur, a quiet confession. “You’re far better at pretending than I am.”

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