Page 56 of Night's Reckoning
“Please. She’s a bird.” Ben opened the door. “A small, vicious, angry bird. With claws.”
Fabia paused at the door, looked up at Ben’s mouth, and held the book out to Ben. “You know, on second thought, I’ll look at it another time.”
15
Three days later, they boarded theJinshéjust after dawn. It was a seventy-meter research vessel built in Shanghai and used primarily for climate research. It was also equipped with enough geophysical mapping equipment to make Fabia clap her hands in delight and was used jointly by several universities for large expeditions.
Ben didn’t know how much Cheng had donated to the university, but it must have been a lot. He and Fabia stood on the dock, staring at the vessel. “This is way more boat than we need, right?”
Fabia nearly ran toward the gangplank. “I’m not going to complain!”
“Of course not, you archaeology nerd.”
It was a clear day with bright blue skies and a warm wind whipping across the coast. On board were twenty academics from the university maritime archaeology research team along with a full crew of humans Cheng had brought from his own operation, Ben, Fabia, and four hidden vampires.
“And a partridge in a pear tree,” Ben muttered.
Ben walked around the ship, familiarizing himself with the layout and introducing himself to crew members. The university team was pleased to know the American spoke Chinese and could act as an interpreter for Fabia, whom they were all eager to meet. Many of them hadn’t participated in an on-site survey before, and Ben spent most of their time during the day acting as Fabia’s translator.
Their rooms on the boat were simple but sufficient. While all of the university crew had to share cabins, he and Fabia—and all the vampires, of course—had private rooms. His was the size of a college dorm room with a padded L-shaped ledge that ran along the far wall, providing a long, narrow bed while the short end of theLmade a bench under the window. A desk sat on the opposite wall, and a small galley and bathroom were located on either side of the door.
There was a large galley on the main deck and a spacious dining area. Additionally, there were two conference rooms, one above and one belowdecks, closer to the diving equipment and remote-operated submersibles.
There was a game room and a library. There was even a pool, though Ben didn’t know why that was necessary on a boat that would be going through one of the most beautiful oceans in the world.
Ben retired to sleep right after the midday meal, knowing that theJinshéwouldn’t reach the wreck site until the next morning but wanting to be prepared for a full night’s work. He was on vampire hours now.
The sky was dark outside the window when Ben woke, and he immediately flashed back to the weeks he’d spent on the freighter years before. His bed had been too short, and he’d woken every morning with aching knees. This ship smelled better, was far more comfortable, and his knees weren’t aching.
And, of course, Tenzin was in his quarters.
He didn’t hear her. Didn’t see her. Didn’t know how she always managed to pick his locks without tripping his alarms. But he knew she was in his cabin before he even opened his eyes.
“Did you forget everything we discussed about boundaries?” His voice was rough with sleep.
“I didn’t forget the conversation. I’m just ignoring it.”
Of course you are.He cleared his throat. “What are you doing in here?”
“Aren’t you going to yell at me and kick me out?”
“No. I’m tired of fighting with you.”AndI’m tired of missing you.
“Good. You shouldn’t fight with me.”
“Sometimes that’s easier said than done.” He wouldn’t open his eyes. He refused. If he kept his eyes closed, this might all be a dream.
“You called me a miserable little troll once. Do you remember that?” Her voice sounded amused.
“Do you remember trapping me on a freighter for weeks to escort your container of gold back to Long Beach?”
Tenzin had tricked him into being a courier for a treasure cache they’d transported from Xinjiang. He’d made good money off the job, gotten a lot better with Mandarin, and discovered what it meant to live off rice for six weeks.
“That typhoon in the Pacific was not my fault.”
“Are you sure?” Could Tenzin cause a typhoon? Probably.
Her sigh was long and tortured. “I’m so bored.”
