Page 25 of Tell No Tales
"Why?" Klaus asked.
"The more we do it, the harder it is to stop."
"Why do we have to stop?"
"I just told you," Vadim said. "There will be nothing left of me when you're done with me. You need to go … focus on Tovey or Milton."
"You want me to die?" Klaus laughed. "Hitting on Tovey is a death sentence. Stan won't let me anywhere near him." He grinned. "Besides, Stan's more my type."
Vadim scoffed. "Stan has been in love with Tovey since the first moment he came aboard this ship. You'd have a better chance wooing the captain away from Niall."
"But not Tovey?"
Vadim frowned. "Tovey's harder to read. I think he cares for Stan, but he thinks Stan deserves someone better."
"So, you and he are alike in that respect?"
It was rare to see Vadim blush, even if it was a moment before he jumped to his feet and turned to the crate door.
"I'll be back with lunch. Stay put."
Klaus didn't have a choice, since leaving would inevitably put him in closer proximity to someone Vadim thought was a better match. Klaus preferred to have Vadim all to himself, if only for the few minutes it took for them to eat lunch.
Chapter 6
Vadim
On his own in the hallway, Vadim's thoughts returned to Empress Delilah's letter. He'd done well to repress the memory of reading it. He would have drained the empire to get to Coryn if he'd remembered the empress's accusations.
Empress Delilah had gone to a former academy professor, searching for someone to teach Hugo fire magic. The professor had divulged three facts. First, Hugo would never learn fire magic if Coryn had her way. She used him to fuel her fire, but she kept him ignorant of his own abilities so he couldn't use them against her. Second, Coryn had already scouted the stone on Stony Eel Island and determined its uses before Delilah's death. Third, Coryn was keeping a secret in the tunnels beneath the library, one that made Vadim's skin crawl and broke the itchy seal on his memory wide open.
"Coryn has killed most of the healers she finds, but she's offered others a deal - their lives for their assistance. They're raising an undead army to fight for her. Everyone dies! Eventually, her dead will outnumber the living, and I fear what will become of us."
Vadim feared the secrets he would find in Hesse's journal. He hadn't read too much into the book. He was far more focused on the immediacy of Delilah's letter. She'd died for its contents. Vadim wanted to honor her memory by bringing Coryn to justice. He'd already made a far worse decision, though. Instead of accusing Coryn before a court of his peers, he risked execution by taking matters into his own hands.
This time, he would beg forgiveness rather than ask permission. Surely, Efren and Emperor Hugo would understand if he killed her first and answered their questions afterward.
Vadim met Frost at the galley doorway, his arms laden with four trays of food for the crew on deck.
"Need help?"
"It's more secure than it looks," the ice weaver said. "I'll be fine."
Vadim nodded. Knowing Frost, the two trays stacked on each arm were all iced together.
Codger Tim gave him a knowing look as he dropped two servings of hard tack, cheese, and sliced a paradise fruit in half on a single tray.
"What?"
Tim grinned, showing a gap where his left incisor should be. "You and your man worked your shit out, I take it."
Tim was a man of few words. They'd barely spoken since reuniting. Until that moment, Vadim would have sworn the man hated his guts.
"He's not my—"
"Sure he's not." Tim dropped two foil-wrapped candies on the tray. "You won't want to share these, then."
"Cocoa candies?" Vadim was surprised Tim had a chance to make them in the short time they'd been on Aquarion. "Thank you."
