Page 47 of When Monsters Fight
Chapter 24
RUE
The sea wasn’t so bad. Two days in and we’d had steady winds and a calm surface to journey through. The relic was close and getting closer. I’d felt it as soon as I’d passed through the veil, and opening the channel had made that connection stronger.
Jilyana kept the relics shielded to allow me to maintain a lock on the fourth piece. The first day I’d had to keep opening the channel to make sure we were headed in the right direction, but now the relic’s presence was a steady vibration, calling to me.
I stood on the bow, looking out at the vast expanse of rippling gray and green. This circle was truly nothing but water, and although we’d spotted small outcrops of land, they’d been dry lumps of rock jutting out of the waves. So far, we hadn’t come across any Gehennans, and we hadn’t tried to lure any to the surface with blood either. Once we got to the location of the relic, we might have no choice but to get some assistance.
With so little land to speak of, it was logical to assume that the relic was on the seabed—somewhere we wouldn’t be able to go. We had to hope the Gehennans of this circle were as helpful as the other circles.
I sensed Gabriel’s presence before he spoke. Our bond was gone, but the connection we’d developed remained. In fact, it was stronger now than before, and I wasn’t sure what to make of that except…I liked it.
I liked that we were on the same wavelength. That he seemed to know what I was thinking most of the time. I liked sharing a bunk with him and falling asleep with the sound of his heartbeat against my ear. I liked it all a little too much.
“Jilyana says food is ready,” Gabriel said finally. “We’re close to the relic, aren’t we?”
“Yes. It’s so strong now. I think…maybe tomorrow, if not tonight…”
“Good. Then we should all get some rest.” He glanced down the boat toward the helm, where Kabiel kept his hand on the wheel, steadying our course. “He needs to rest. Asbeel can take the wheel for a while, but Kabiel needs to relinquish it.”
Kabiel had barely left the helm the past two days. Although the other watchers claimed they could steer the boat just as well, he wouldn’t let any of them take control for more than an hour at a time. Every time he took back the helm, he’d check with me to ensure we were headed in the right direction.
Gabriel was right; Kabiel needed to take a longer break. “I’ll speak to him.”
“Good. He’ll listen to you.” Gabriel squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
I turned away from the late afternoon sun and crossedthe deck to climb the steps to the helm where Kabiel stood, legs shoulder width apart, hands on the wheel.
“Do we need to change direction?” he asked.
“No. You need to take a break.”
“I don’t need a break.”
“Then humor me.”
He snorted softly. “Why?”
“Why not?”
“Because I’d rather be up here than down there watching you and Gabriel cuddle.” He said it in such an even tone that it took me a moment to register the meaning of his words.
“Why does it bother you?”
“You know why.”
I did. I fucking did, but I didn’t want to think about it. I couldn’t cope with more feelings right now. Him wanting to fuck me at one point I could handle. But nothing more than that. I didn’t have the emotional space for it.
“Kabiel, I?—”
“I know. I don’t expect anything from you. But allow me to deal with my unwelcome yearnings in my own way.”
I wasn’t about to push him right now. If this helped him cope, then so be it. “If you get tired, you need to switch with Asbeel. Promise me.”
“I’m not a fool, Rue. I know my limits.”
So abrasive. So like Shem. I backed away.
