Page 18 of Tik-Tok

“Rise and shine, my star,” Tik-Tok purred. “Time to train.”

She let out a yawn and pulled herself up to a sitting position, the salty air filling her nose.

As her gaze scanned up Tik-Tok’s form, she took him in from boot to firm body to wickedly beautiful face. He looked pristine, and she wondered how long he’d been waiting for her to rouse. She hoped a while.

North stared down at herself, appearing as if she just rolled out of a bird’s nest. She ran her fingers through her hair to comb out the tangles instead of going downstairs to get her brush.

“Do you want to put on a different dress yet? I can help if you want. I’m quick with my fingers when it comes to unfastening buttons.” Tik-Tok grinned, his eyes dancing.

She shot him a glare, and her stomach decided to do the speaking when it let out a loud growl.

“Eat.” He tossed her something red from his hand. She tried to catch it, but, of course, she dropped it onto the deck. Arching a brow, he watched as she scrambled to pick up the apple and bite into its juiciness.

She thought of her grandmother while taking another bite—they were her favorite fruit and she always had bowls of them at her palace.

“Here.” He fished out a silver flask from his pocket and held it toward her.

She eyed the flask with suspicion but took it from him anyway. She brought it to her face, inhaled the strong scent, and wrinkled her nose. “What is it?”

“Do you not drink alcohol?” He reached to take it back.

She pulled it away before he could think her too innocent, like everyone else did. “I do.”The one time.

If it were possible, his dark brow arched even higher.

North threw her head back and took a swig of the liquid. And holy gods did it burn as it slid down her throat. It was like fire, lava, and beasts’ claws. How did he drink this? She managed to hold back her cough, but she could feel red staining her face.

“That color suits you,” Tik-Tok commented with a wink. “I’ll have to share my ale more often.” Before she could tell him what a bastard he was, Tik-Tok unsheathed an extra sword attached to his waist, then threw it down in front of her feet. “Ready?”

North puckered her lips and stared down at the sharp blade, the golden handle, the sparkling encrusted ruby jewels. “I already know how to defend myself.”

“Withallweapons?”

“Just the axe.” And her gods-awful aiming with a dagger and a bow.

“That isn’t good enough. Lift it,” he instructed.

With or without magic, most of the guards at her palace carried swords. Others, like Birch, used a bow. She thought of him now, already missing his face, his kind words. Even though he was worlds away, she imagined he was speaking to her.You can excel at anything you want to. You just have to try. Want it bad enough.

She picked up the sword, its weight heavy in her hands as she held it up, and prepared herself.

“Why are you standing like a hunched hobgoblin?” Tik-Tok motioned to her body with the tip of his sword. “Straighten your shoulders, adjust your feet, bend your knees slightly.”

Hobgoblin, indeed… But she nodded, figuring she would learn what she could, take in the necessary skills she was lacking so she could defend herself better. No one had been able to teach her thus far, but she would try again anyway.

North held up the sword, the blade shining beneath the sun’s rays. Tik-Tok swung his weapon, striking hers, metal against metal echoing. Her body lurched forward and the sword shot out of her hands, flying to the floor of the deck.

“Pitiful.” A grunt came from Rizmaela as she passed them, carrying a large barrel almost the size of her body. “She would be better suited as a prostitute.”

North wanted to knock the barrel from her hands and punch the dwarf in her face. Tik-Tok’s gaze traveled up North’s form, making her feel that he believed Rizmaela might not be wrong.

“I hate you,” she said to him as she scooped up the fallen sword.

“Were you planning to tell me that the other night as I made you quake with pleasure?” He chuckled, his shoulders shaking.

She could feel her face heating again, but then she focused on his laughter. It was different than she would have expected—musical, beautiful. Not vicious or cocky, but pleasant. North attempted to block out the sound. “It wouldn’t have gotten that far.”

“Oh really?” He sauntered forward, backing her up until she was caged in by his arms at the rail. “Tell me, my star, how far would you have allowed your seduction to go?”

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