Page 2 of Of the Stars and Sea

I look back to the horizon, stars twinkling in the sky—a beautiful backdrop to the painful screams of death skating over the water. Goosebumps rise along my flesh as I imagine Grayson Tyde turning his eyes on me, waiting for a mistake. A single falter that will have him raising his sails and steering theCaelestiastraight for me.

My boots clunk over the sticky floor of the tavern as Amara and I wind our way through the crowd toward a door in the back.

Grumbles and curses shoot my way from every corner. Some utter their insults in hushed whispers, while others holler their disdain for me loudly.

I do not let them see the way their hatred marks my soul. My father’s name—my name—has been tainted twice over, now. Every pirate in here knows it. But I do not let them see what it has done to me. Eyes trained ahead, I raise my chin a little higher. I do what I must to survive in this cursed world, even if that means betraying The Code.

Not that the choice was given to me; my fate was decided long ago.

Suddenly, Amara’s hand is gripping my shoulder, forcing me to duck down right in time to miss the bowl of soup careening toward the back of my head. It clacks into the wooden pillar next to my face, brown goo splashing everywhere and dripping to the floor.

Everybody goes silent.

Stony rage settles deep within me. It takes all my might to keep my palm free of my dagger. Spilling blood here tonight would only worsen matters for me.

“Betrayer!” a man yells, his tone sharp.

I know the culprit before my eyes land on him. Blythe Quint. Scarred lines trail down his forearms and along the sliver of tanned chest that peeks out through the V shape of his tunic. Every raised line represents a kill and Blythe’s body is covered in them.

Blythe has always made his thoughts about me well known. He is a pirate ten generations over. The Code is not just a guideline for him to follow—it’s his religion. And I have broken The Code’s most salient law more times than I can count.

My soul was sold to the devil and every pirate in the Southern Realm wants a piece of me before I receive orders to hunt them down. Blythe hasn’t shown up on Red Beard’s bounty list yet, but that doesn’t mean his time isn’t coming.

There was a time when pirates ruled the sea and answered to no one. Not even the previous kings. Now, our numbers are dwindling. My contribution to those efforts is certainly no help. But I do what I must to survive.

I snarl at Blythe. He may be a notorious killer, but evenhewould not see theTrinitycoming for him, should he sour my mood any further.

Leaf green eyes settle on me as he wipes droplets of lager from his chestnut beard. He has made his point to his crew and the rest of the patrons in the tavern. He desires to see my headon a platter and I know one day our mutual loathing will finally come to a head.

So be it.

I have chased and been chased across the Southern Realm my entire life. Having one more pirate take interest in separating my head from my body makes no difference to me.

“Come, Amara,” I say to her over my shoulder, keeping my eyes locked on Blythe. “We have much to discuss with Red Beard.” I say the words loud enough for most of the tavern to hear, and I don’t miss the way Blythe’s eyes flare in response. He’s caught my meaning, my threat. I may be a Code breaker, but there’s still fight in us, and every pirate in this hell hole knows it.

Striding away from Blythe and his crew, Amara follows closely behind. We almost make it to the guard standing watch by the back door . . .

Almost.

A large wall of a man steps into my path, and I groan. “Don’t worry, little snake, you may be a slippery serpent, but I’ll still warm your bed,” the drunken sailor says, before taking a long swig of his ale. Bile rises in my throat when he belches into my face, his putrid breath making my eyes water. Ale drips down his wiry beard and some splatters onto the toe of my leather boot.

Fucking hells. I just shined them this morning.

“Not interested,” I retort with a sneer, shoving my way past him.

Not a moment later, and I feel his grimy paw land on my rear. A loud smack permeates the air and I freeze.The bastard just slapped my ass.

I whirl to face him, dagger already unsheathed and against his throat. “Touch me again and you will lose more than your hand!” I lower the dagger down the center of his chest, over his protruding belly, and further still until it lands just above wherehis miserable cock is likely hiding like a worm under the ground. “I’ll sever your favorite member and make you choke on it.”

These fucking scoundrels never know when enough is enough. “I didn’t mean no harm, Captain Stone. Was all in good fun.”

I shove the tip of my dagger against his shirt until the soiled fabric blooms crimson.

“Touch another woman without her permission again and I will show you the meaning of the wordfun.”

Amara clears her throat next to me before leaning her face toward my ear. “Um, Captain. The entire lot of them is watching.”

I look around to find dozens of eyes on me, the place utterly silent except for the ragged breaths coming from the bastard held at the end of my blade. “Let them watch.” I snake my gaze back to the sailor and shoot him a glare before sheathing my dagger.

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