Page 47 of The Demons in the Deep: Extended Edition
“Your pardon,” Feral said. “I just returned from a very long day in the city, and I was freshening up.”
“Aren’t you staying at your family home?” Mai asked.
“Home? My father’s fortress isn’t home. I suspect my brother would say the same. And yes, I’m staying there, but I like to return here as often as I can, to keep an eye on things.”
“But your man Allan seems trustworthy,” she said. “He keeps everything in excellent shape. I wish I had his knack for neatness.”
“He is trustworthy in certain matters. Other things I handle myself. Now what may I do for you, little scientist? Have you brought me my weapons?”
Mai’s spirit revolted at the phrase “my weapons,” but she took out the sheaf of papers she had brought and held them out. Feral took the designs, flipping through them with ring-laden fingers.
As he examined the drawings, Mai’s stomach twisted, and her pulse hammered harder. She had never shown anyone these designs. What if they were no good? What if they were stupid, unworkable, useless? And she had just handed them to one of the most powerful captains in the known world.
Feral looked up at her, his gaze far more incisive than she would have liked.
“Well?” she said, breathless.
“These are very good,” he said quietly. “Where did you study?”
“Study? I haven’t studied anywhere.”
“But there is a school of science and mechanics in Meroa. A small one, to be sure, but I thought someone with your interests would have attended there.”
“Oh.” Mai winced. “Shit.”
“It’s all right. I already knew you were lying about your origins, and your cousin’s, too. And Flay is hiding the source of his treasure and his champion. No matter—I will leave those questions aside for now and honor our original bargain. I will tell you what I know of the obstacles and elements each ship will encounter during the race. And I will tell you the dimensions of the checkpoint targets, as well as their distance above the surface. That is all you’ll get from me, until you realize that complete honesty is the best way to win my favor.”
He prowled toward Mai, and she could have retreated, but that would look like fear. So she held her ground, even when he was right before her, an overwhelming expanse of heated skin and male power and flashing eyes. He was so huge, so dominant, so monstrous—
She nearly whimpered at that last thought, because it clarified everything suddenly, sharply—it was the link she’d been missing, the reason why both Feral and Rake inspired those delicate sensual feelings in her.
Her body responded to one kind of male.
Monsters.
Rake, monstrous in aspect, and Feral, monstrous of soul.
Feral reached out, rubbing a lock of her hair between his fingers. “My favor is worth having, little scientist. Why do you think I am the most powerful captain in this fleet? Because I take care of those who serve me well. The more power, skill, or knowledge they lend me, the more benefits I give them.”
“What kind of benefits?” Mai’s voice was faint, nearly lost in the breeze from the windows.
“Anything they desire. Knowledge, power, money, supplies, pleasure.”
“What about time?” she asked. “Can you give me time?”
“Time?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“If Flay and Kestra place in the top three, they’re leaving Stragnoag immediately. But I’d like to stay and study. And to do that, I need a sponsor.”
The idea had just come into her mind, and she’d spoken it before she thought, before she could contemplate how such a proposal might seem like a betrayal of Flay.
She could not retract the words. Feral was nodding, musing, stroking his jaw as he strode toward his desk. “Interesting proposal. I might be tempted to consider it, if you would agree to design me more weapons, traps, and other things I might need. I’ll think on it, and we will see how well these function.” He tapped the designs. “Have a seat, little scientist, and I will share what I know of the race.”
He told her many things, while Mai sat in the chair at his desk, scribbled in a notebook, and sketched hasty depictions of the targets as he described them. He spoke of mazes, obstacles, and fire. And then he said, “A strong current might be your friend, if you encounter anything swimming toward you.”
A vague warning about monsters, Mai thought. Perhaps the creatures they’d seen functioned best in still waters, and did not swim well in the channels of the open ocean.
But how was she to manufacture a strong current?
