Page 1 of This Vicious Dream

Madinia

There are few things I hate more than the rain.

Being hunted by my enemies is at the top of my list.

And being hunted by my enemiesinthe rain? Intolerable.

Wet drops splatter against my face, and I tilt my head to the side, narrowing my eyes in an attempt to peer through the deluge.

There.

The approaching ship looms in the distance, massive and dark as it rides the wave like it’s part of the storm itself.

The creak of wood and the snap of wet sails as our ship rolls across the waves almost cover the sound of our crew’s panicked cries.

Almost.

Daharak makes her way toward me, her steps sure, even as the ship bends and twists across the waves. “You know better than this. You need to get below deck.”

And leave everyone else to fight for all of our lives? I level her with a hard stare. “You knowmebetter than that.”

It’s not bravery. It’s a very particular kind of cowardice. It’s the refusal to be abandoned, even through death.

My insistence on my own space, on seeing the world on my own terms, is tainted with hypocrisy.

Leave me alone, but be available when I need you.

Daharak’s jaw tightens, but she doesn’t bother arguing as she turns and stalks away. Her stride is long for someone of her height. She’s small and slight, but anyone who glanced at her would have no doubt about exactly what she is.

In charge.

Just months ago, she lost both ships and people as we fought for our lives and the freedom of a continent. The loss of her ships was infuriating. The loss of her people was a devastation so great, she’s still recovering.

Their ship continues its approach, until it’s close enough for me to see my enemies’ faces. On our ship, pirates sprint for weapons, calling out to each other as they prepare for battle.

My jaw aches and I force myself to unclench my teeth. They don’t shout or announce themselves. They fire no warning shots. They avoid any flashy display of cannon fire. After all, they can’t risk killing me.

This isn’t a raid. It’s a hunt.

Our ship lets loose with cannon fire of its own, the deck shuddering beneath me. The air around the enemy ship seems to glow, and when the smoke clears, it’s even closer, no damage to its hull.

Warded.

Just weeks ago, our ammunition could have burrowed through those wards. But over the past few weeks, this hunt has been relentless, giving us little opportunity to refill our stores—of both weapons and food.

A flash of lightning cuts through the dim light, revealing the pale faces of the crew. The pirates know me. Despite my best efforts, some of them even like me.

And if I don’t do something, they will die for me.

The rumble of thunder is so loud it seems to rattle my bones. Even Daharak wouldn’t have chosen to risk this storm. But we had no choice.

The ship draws closer. Queen Vicana’s men are brutal and well-trained. And none are more brutal than Kyldare—her right hand and Queen’s Justice—a nicely ironic title.

Justice is a foreign concept to Vicana.

Kyldare stands near the helm of the ship, and our eyes meet for one moment. The thrill of the hunt is written across his face as his ship pulls alongside us, the hull scraping against ours with a chilling groan.

Cold rage slithers through me. And something inside me—something I’ve managed to keep carefully hidden—opens one eye, purring in approval.

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