Page 80 of Ship of Shadows
“That was when it was just me and a boat and the ocean,” Driscoll hissed. “Not something that sounds like a cannon shooting from a ship.”
I perked up at that, and Driscoll eyed me. “Oh no, she has a look on her face. Like she’s set her mind on something.”
“What if it’s Bastian’s ship?” I asked. “I mean, how many ships have we seen on these seas that have cannons like that?”
Another boom rattled the air.
Driscoll looked up at the sky. “Why did I have to open my mouth?”
“Because that’s what you do,” Leoni said. “You open your mouth and inevitably something comes out that you regret.”
“Is she always this mean?” Driscoll asked me.
“Believe it or not, it means she likes you.”
He scoffed. “Well, in that case, she must really like me.”
Leoni just smirked.
A loud crash split the air, and all our heads snapped up.
“So you’re wanting me to go toward that sound?” Leoni asked.
I stood, shading my eyes and squinting. I could just make out two ships far in the distance.
“Yes,” I said.
“Here we go,” Leoni said. “You better hope we don’t find ourselves in the middle of an attack.”
“Well, if we do, we always have our magic,” I said.
“Oh yes, that’ll work well against cannons,” Driscoll said. “I’ll just grow a flower in my hand and hope that saves me.”
I stepped forward, trying to make out the ships, to see if I could recognize either one. “You wanted adventure. You’re about to get a lot of it.”
Leoni steered us closer, and my heart leapt into my throat when I recognized that billowing sail with the skull, a sword shoved through its eye sockets. We’d found them. Blood and water, we’d found them.
My excitement was quickly doused when I noticed the other ship, cannons mounted, ready to shoot right at the Lost Boys. We’d found them, but it might’ve already been too late.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Ididn’t stop to think, didn’t even question myself as my legs bent. It felt like slow motion as Leoni’s eyes widened and she reached for me while Driscoll yelled out “No” as I jumped into the water.
Unlike the last time I’d jumped from a ship into the sea, I was prepared. I summoned my magic, willed the water to lift me in its gentle grasp before it could suck me down. I lifted my hands, and the water rose under me into a wave that curled gently and pushed me toward the boats.
“Have you lost your mind?” Driscoll shouted after me while Leoni yelled, “Get back here right now!”
I stood on shaky legs and braced myself, hands out as I commanded the wave to take me to the Lost Boys.
“Prepare to fire!” a voice yelled from the ship opposite Bastian’s.
“No,” I said, urging the wave to go faster. I’d been gone for three days, and they’d already managed to get themselves into an all-out attack.
I had no doubt the Lost Boys could win, but at what cost? I didn’t want to find out. I was close enough now that I could see Bastian standing with a sword pointed toward the enemy ship,his crew grabbing long planks and stretching them to the other ship, ready to go and fight. Mia stood beside Bastian, yelling something at him as he cut his hand through the air to silence her.
She turned her head and spotted me, her mouth dropping open. She pointed a shaky finger in my direction, and Bastian’s head slowly turned, his eyes widening.
“Stop,” I yelled, waving my arms as the wave brought me between the two ships. “Stop, please!”
