Page 83 of Fearless

Staring at those ten freckles, I throw the blanket over her.

It meets nothing but air as Paedyn’s body vanishes.

Illusion.

I jump from the bed, my pounding head clearing enough to realize that I have been drugged. All so someone could rip her from my bed.

Boots are suddenly on my feet before I’m buckling a sword around my waist. I shove open the door and do the same to those awaiting me at the end of the hall.

It’s as though I’ve stepped out into the sea itself.

Wind whips at my thin shirt, instantly numbing every inch of me. Water pours from the sky to pelt my skin and soak me to the bone. I can barely keep my footing on the drenched deck as waves continually crash over the railing. The ship groans with each dip into the water, leaving me swaying like a drunk as I try to keep my balance.

I stride out farther onto the deck, struggling to see anything through the sheets of rain. “Where is she?!” I shout the words into the storm, hoping the whipping wind will carry them toward the scattered crew members.

It’s the sea that responds with a towering wave, drawing my attention to the far end of the boat. I squint through the rain, watching water curl over the railing to drench the three figures huddled there.

The Illusionist’s ability burns hot beneath my skin, growing stronger with every step I take toward the group of men. I feel for the other powers, finding a Tele and Gust awaiting me.

My heart beats wildly against my soaking shirt as I stride toward them. When the ship pitches violently, I drop to a knee until I’m able to get my feet beneath me. Then men grow closer, clearer against the rain. The three of them—

No. Not three.

The world goes quiet. The storm fades. Lightning dulls.

There are four figures beside that railing.

One of them is gagged and bound, her arms tucked tightly behind her back. She still wears that green vest, having fallen asleep with the comfort wrapped around her. The men have her raised in the air, two of them clutching her roped ankles while the other sinks his fingers into her shoulders.

I’ve found her.

Lifting Paedyn toward the rail, they grin as she thrashes in their hold, desperately trying to free herself.

And something snaps in me at the sight.

I unleash that piece of myself that Father carved into me. That lethal sliver of darkness he once commanded at will, having known it by name. Created it in the depths of his dungeons, in every one of my fears, in a shadowed home with my sword through an innocent man’s chest.

It’s a piece of Death himself that lives within me.

And now, I command it.

I grip the Tele’s power in my hand, feeling the ability course through me. My steps don’t falter or slow. Nor does my soul repent for what I’m about to do to theirs.

With little more than a vengeful thought, I throw the Gust over the ship’s edge. It’s a lazy toss that has his head cracking against the wood before he’s plummeting into icy water.

After watching a wave swallow their friend, the other two men whip around to find me steadily striding toward them. Paedyn’s legs drop to the ground, her frantic gaze widening when it lands on me. The men react the same, though it’s fear filling their eyes, not relief.

And I smile at it.

Paedyn struggles against the Illusionist’s grip while the Tele steps toward me. Even through the pouring rain, I recognize his blurry face. This is one of the men who was watching Paedyn dance that first night on the ship.

He throws out a strand of power, wrapping it around my neck. It feels as though a phantom noose has been knotted against my throat, squeezing hard enough to have black creeping in at the corners of my vision.

He’s choking me with his ability.

Pathetic. All that power, and this is how he thinks I’ll meet my end?

I can no longer breathe, but I’ve faced far worse from my own father. Closing the distance between us, I throw a punch at his face. And when he dodges like I knew he would, it’s already too late. My left hand isdrawing my sword from its sheath and slicing the blade across his stomach within one swift movement.

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