Page 336 of Kingdoms of Night

Her grin annoyed me.

It was true. We were born under the same moon.

We were once friends. We’d grown up together—but she was a princess, and I was of the warrior class. Nonetheless, lately I couldn’t help but wonder if she was working with or against me. I held onto a tiny shred of faith that it was the former.

“You aren’t supposed to be here, Malia,” I said, narrowing my eyes and keeping my voice barely above a whisper. As if anyone could hear my soft voice over the fishermen arguing in the back of the bar the way I couldhear every word my patrons spoke…even when I didn’t want to. “What do you want?”

Malia leaned in even closer, until our noses nearly touched. She liked to test me. But, as delicate as I looked, I’d never back down first.

My looks were deceiving—carefully orchestrated to make it easy for me to blend in—pretty enough to be pleasing to the eye, but docile enough to not attract unwanted attention.

“I just came to check on things. You spend too much time with these humans when we have real problems back at home. The sea fae needs you—your kingdom needs you. It won’t be long before our people become impatient and start coming up with ideas of their own.”

Sighing, I titled my head. “Why do you think I do this? I’m not here on holiday. I have a mission.”

Malia shook her head. “Tell me.”

With an exasperated sigh, I shook my head. “I cannot.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You will. I command it.”

My arms fell to my sides as her words took effect on me.

“So, you’re commanding me now? And here I thought we were friends.”

I couldn’t resist her power—the power of her words. They were laced with enchantment.

It was literally impossible to resist the magic of a royal’s command.

Malia didn’t reply—she didn’t revoke the order. She simply held my gaze and stood her ground.

My jaw clenched.

“Very well, your bloody highness.” I said her title through clenched teeth. The longer I fought it, the more I would lose my grip on reality, and eventually pass out. “I’ve been sent to the human realm to get information about the immortal pirate who cursed the dragon-born. He has the power to create and destroy. He can walk between worlds, summon dark entities, and cure even the most fatal disease. If I can find him, I can convince him to break our curse.”

As if she needed the history lesson. But if she wanted to play a game of telling each other things we already know, then game on.

Her face paled at the mention of the immortal pirate who’d stalked our waters for centuries. He was like a myth—a legend—yet utterly elusive that no one had even seen his face.

I sweetened my smile. “That’s right. I’m after the Wizard Captain.”

She clutched the enchanted charm hanging around her neck, and whispered the following words. The jade crystal gave off a subtle glow from between her fingers wrapped around it.

“The soul stealer.”

CHAPTERTWO

THE PIRATE’S WRATH

Ilooked toward the tavern doors, a distant look in my eyes. The ease of her spell began to wane, but I was compelled to continue on—to tell her everything.

“He has walked this world for centuries, leaving behind death and destruction. And, no one had ever been able to catch him or stop him. Now, one of us is hunting him.”

Dark brows knit together, Malia reached for my hand. “It’s too dangerous. How can you stop him when so many before you have tried?”

I tensed, looking down at her hand upon mine. “Maybe I’m special,” I teased.

“Special? All I see is you wiping tables like a peasant—like a human. You’re a bloody Sea Knight. You were born from a line of warriors destined to protect the crown.”

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