Page 63 of Tik-Tok

Kicking the door to his quarters shut with his heel, Tik-Tok shed his filthy coat and muddy boots. He should’ve taken a bath in his private tub, but he was too tired. Too …nothing. The desire to be clean paled in comparison to hisneedto sleep.

He flopped on his bed and rolled to face the wall. Instead of holding North like he wanted, he tucked the pillow that smelled of sweet vanilla, ofher, beneath his chin and closed his eyes.

Today, his father got what he deserved. But three brownies and Echo got something theydidn’t.

Tik-Tok had won. He’d also lost.

And soon, he would lose more.

Chapter Twenty-Four

North

The next three days seemed unending—they connected and spanned an eternity. North tried to sleep, but every time she did, the sight of blood from Echo’s stomach filled her mind, causing her to jerk awake.

Kaliko and a few of the other brownies had already scrubbed the deck, but North stood at the handrail, studying the now-empty spot. She had tried to visit Echo, but Dax refused to take her to see the siren.

Her gaze flicked back to Tik-Tok. He stood near the end of the ship, alone, his arms dangling over the rail.

Dax brought a pear to his mouth and came up beside her. “You keep staring at the captain.”

North had tried speaking with Tik-Tok, but he’d been distant, different. He gave one-word answers and chose to eat alone in his quarters. She wasn’t angry about it—she didn’t know how she felt. Whatever emotions spun through her were her own issues to deal with, so she gave him the space he seemed to need.

“You should go talk to him,” Dax suggested as Tik-Tok tilted his head in their direction.

“I’ve tried.” She turned away from him and studied the opposite side of the empty ship.

“His loss.” He shrugged as he chewed.

“I’m surprised you haven’t ventured off to enjoy Phreex.”

“This is the one place where my cock shall remain in my pants.”

North had heard the story about a clan of females there who would lure strangers to their bed, and in return, the males would end up chopping off parts of themselves to feed to them.

“Don’t talk to her about your cock,” a deep voice drawled from behind her. She hadn’t heard Tik-Tok saunter up.

Dax smirked and pushed off from the rail, leaving Tik-Tok and North in silence.

“So…” she said, toeing the floor, trying to figure out what to ask first as she gazed at his beautiful face. But he was staring past her at the sails. “Gods, why won’t you at least look at me?”

“North, you—”

A shuffling of feet sounded behind her, and she whirled around to find Respen coming onto the ship. He looked as though he hadn’t slept in days. His blue hair was rumpled, purple bags rested beneath his eyes, and even his normally straight body hunched forward.

“They’re both going to be all right.” Respen sighed, and there was such relief in those words. “She’s asking for you, North.”

Tik-Tok gave a slight nod. “Don’t let her walk through town. It’s too dangerous, and they don’t want me there. Bring her back once she’s finished so I can speak with her before you take her home.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“And, Respen? I think it goes without saying, but anything you or Echo needs is yours.” Tik-Tok turned and headed back toward the front of the ship.

Respen studied him as though he wanted to say something else. Instead, he placed his hands on North’s shoulders and blew out a breath. “I wouldn’t let you walk through town either.”

Based on the rumors, she wouldn’t want to anyway. “I’m perfectly fine with that.” As soon as she closed her eyes, the rush of falling blasted through her, her stomach dipping, but only for a few seconds this time.

North opened her eyes. She stood outside a small silver and gold cottage made entirely of metal. Large boulders hovered off the ground and leafy trees brushed the sky overhead. She glanced over her shoulder and gasped. They were on a mountainside, at the edge of a cliff—a woozy feeling shot through her as she peered down, finding the base of the mountain terribly far away. Huts and cottages were sprinkled all over the town, and in the center was a massive palace, each of its three tiers a different shade of gold. The hues flickered underneath the sun, making the palace shine like it was enveloped in fairy dust.

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