Page 25 of Reign of Light
“I’ll make sure the rest of the crew knows it’s still to be kept between us until they hear from you directly,” Sig says.
“Good.” Weston turns to me, wrapping his arm around my back and settling his hand on my hip. “Ready to bring Fin?”
“Oh yeah, he can’t wait. Do we know where we’re meeting?—”
“EXCUSE ME?”
The call cuts me off and echoes over the deck, leaving the four of us to exchange confused glances.
It can’t be.
I sprint across the deck, hitting the rail on the other side hard with my palms, only to be crowded by Weston, Sig, and Jorn, who peer over my head toward the voice.
Mara stomps across the jagged reef, eyes wide as she takes in the sight before her.
“When thefuckdid this ship get here?” she yells. More members of the crew crowd along the railing of the main deck and at the opening of the gangway, leaning and peering out over the water. Murmurs rise as they look amongst themselves, and I glance up at Weston to find his calculating stare.
“Is anyone going to answer me?” Mara throws her hands in the air, waving them wildly. “I can see you all just standing there!”
“I think the island heard us,” Jorn murmurs beside me, and Sig huffs a laugh.
“The island must trust her,” I say, looking back up at Weston. “Maybe we can then, too. And maybe now we can just live.”
“I think you might be right,” he mumbles, and I feel him thread his fingers through mine.
“Hello? Anyone?” Mara calls before she turns toward us on the quarterdeck. “You! The one who punched me in the face. Answer me! Is this seriously where you have been this entire time?”
Sig laughs and cups her hands around her mouth. “The whole time!”
Her shoulders sag as a wave of shock washes over her face while she takes in the ship and the entire crew watching her, but Jorn’s boisterous laugh pulls my attention to him.
“I forgot you punched her, babe! How come you didn’t tell me before?” He jumps backward out of reach, and hops from foot to foot, throwing punches at the air. “To be honest, I don’t think I would want to be on the other end of one of your right hooks.”
A laugh erupts from my throat, and I rub my cheek at the memory. “Trust me, Jorn, you really don’t. They hurt like a bitch.”
The moment the words leave my mouth, I cringe and see Weston’s head snap down to mine from the corner of my eye.
“What was that?” he says, now glancing between me and Sig.
“Lennox,” Sig whines, and drops her head back, her arms falling limply at her sides. No one but Sig knew about the punch, well, other than the Voyagers who saw the bruise, but I had no intention of telling Weston. Sig already had enough to deal with the morning after I left, and I know how he feels about anyone laying their hands on me.
“Fuck,” I curse under my breath and turn toward Weston. Outrage burns in his eyes, and I slam my palms into his chest as I hold his stare. “It was nothing. You weren’t supposed to find out. Leave her alone.”
“Signee,” he grumbles, slowly turning to face her. “Explain. Now.”
“Shit. Cap, don’t hate me,” Sig starts, but I cut her off, pressing my hands harder into his chest.
“Weston, stop,” I say, and he looks down at me, raising one eyebrow. I know he won’t be satisfied until we tell him, now that I accidentally divulged the secret. I roll my eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.
“The night I snuck back to camp, Sig sucker-punched me. We were trying to make everything look believable. You aren’t allowed to be upset with her because it worked. They all believed it even more because I was hurt.”
His chest rumbles under my palms, and my face heats as his eyes trail over my skin, caressing the exact spot on my cheek where Sig hit me.
“Oh shit, it was a sucker punch?” Jorn says with a laugh. “Even worse, babe. Poor little Lennox!”
“Sorry,” Sig says with a wince, her shoulders rising to her ears as she throws her hands up in surrender at Weston. “I had a good reason. It was all to keep her safe, I promise.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks, and he finally drags his eyes away from my face.
