Page 56 of Tell No Tales
"Aww," Stan petted the kitten's flank while Tovey rubbed between his ears. "Who named him?"
Klaus snorted. "Vadim."
"Damn it." Tovey glared at Stan. "Eventually, you'll have all my money."
"It's not like you're using it."
"We had a bet," Tovey explained.
"And he lost." Stan chuckled. "I told you, he's not all bad."
"He's really not," Klaus said. He didn't know why he felt the need to defend Vadim to Tovey, but he did. "He's kind, and sweet."
"When he wants to be," Tovey said. "Have you ever seen him in action?"
"Besides what he did to the air weavers who tried to hurt me?"
"Aye," Stan said, "that's an example, but you weren't on deck while they were dropping like flies. Have you ever seen him drain an entire room? Or slaughter an entire ship's deck of archers? That will stay with you."
"No." Klaus had seen Vadim drop Niall to the deck when they'd first arrived onStarlight Specter, but he had been below deck for the sailors' deaths. "I have seen a sailor attack him, in Landale's tavern." His cheeks felt overly warm when he remembered what Vadim had told him later. He'd killed the sailor not because he'd tried to stay his hand with an air weave, but because he'd threatened to choke Klaus to death while fucking him. Vadim had avoided repeating the sailor's words, but Klaus remembered.
"Imagine that, but twenty or so at once," Tovey said. "It's impressive. And scary as all fuck."
"That's why we're glad he's on our side now," Stan said, wrapping an arm over Tovey's shoulder.
Tovey elbowed him in the gut and continued to the galley door. "Sure he is."
"He'll come around eventually." Stan rubbed absently at his side as Tovey closed the metal door between them. "He was just starting to like Vadim when he left us for Coryn."
"And you?" Klaus asked. "Why don't you hate him as much as the rest of the crew seems to?"
Stan grinned. "This is the Vadim I know. That guy who betrayed us to Coryn and then left us? I don't know him."
Klaus understood. Vadim had taken desperate measures to save his crew. Klaus knew his worries, thanks to being linked to him during the trial. "He thought Coryn would kill you all if he stayed."
"I also know Vadim would do anything to protect Hugo," Stan said. "When he says he was playing the double agent to help Hesse's son, I believe him."
"If it's any consolation, he hated every moment of betraying your crew."
Stan took another step toward the galley but hearing him say the emperor's name reminded Klaus of the way Vadim looked at his journal. "Wait. Were Vadim and Emperor Hesse …?"
"Roommates at the academy." Stan grinned. "You don't need me to tell you what young men get up to in their dorms when it's lights out."
"A lot like orphans, I'd imagine." Klaus let Stan go to his meal, then. He hiked Mewskers to his shoulder and walked back to the crate. He wasn't surprised to find it empty once more.
"Gods, the man can't take a break," Klaus told the kitten as he set him down on the mattress. He sank down beside him and regretted the decision immediately as Mewskers attacked the open laces at his neck.
"Ow!" He shouted louder than necessary. The kitten flinched away from his loud voice. He returned to playing with the lace when Klaus removed it from his shirt and dragged it along the mountains and valleys of rumpled sheet, sail, and blanket. Klaus should probably make the bed, but this was more fun.
Once Mewskers curled up in the middle of the pile, Klaus declared it impossible to make the bed. He returned to the galley for breakfast, leaving the door open in case Mewskers wanted to follow when he woke.
Vadim noticed the kitten missing before he acknowledged Klaus had walked through the door. How had he gotten past Klaus to the galley? He must have walked across the top deck and come down the ladder by Olivia's cabin.
"Where is Captain Mewskers?" Vadim asked.
"Are you avoiding me?" Klaus asked instead.
"What would make you think that?"
