Page 7 of Sea and Sky
His Majesty straightened on the throne. “Howdareyou speak to me in such a manner? And to question the Task?” He smoothed his hands over his thighs. “Perhaps I should revoke your Mage status and send you to Avondra instead of Ailey coming here.” His Majesty looked Gavin up and down. “I don’t need you here anymore. Without the phoenix stone, you’re useless to me in Lane.”
Gavin burned. His Majesty knew exactly how to manipulate him. “You’ll get your stone,” he ground out. He had to prove to His Majesty he was just as worthy as his brothers.
Chapter 3
Kylerranthroughthealley, clutching the stone to his chest. His half braided hair swung from side to side. Sweat soaked through his clothes. Muddy water splashed up his legs as he stomped through puddles. Ravens croaked above and he pushed on harder. He had to make it to the dock before getting caught. That was the game. Find and take the captain’s mark, then get it to him before the other player could steal it away. Kyler always won.
Almost always.
Heavy steps thundered in his ear as he planned his way. Straight through the alley, then take a left and he’d almost be where he needed to be.
“Kyler.” Jessi sounded like she was behind him, but with her ability to throw her voice, she could be anywhere. “I’m going to catch up with you this time.”
Kyler reached the end of the alley and took a left. Instead of going straight to the dock, he took to the roofs, hoisting himself up with a bakery sign. He stayed away from the edges and continued his run, jumping from rooftop to rooftop.
“Fucking barnacles,” he grumbled.
Jessi stood in his path, arms crossed over her chest. Her short red hair waved in the wind. Piercings lined her softly pointed ears. A smile spread across her face. “Told you I’d catch up.”
“That means squat and you know it. You have to take my prize and deliver it to the captain.” Kyler leaped and landed on a thatched roof. Tumbling to the edge, he fell to his knees in another alley.
Jessi dropped to the muddy ground, splashing Kyler’s face. She blocked the only thoroughfare to the street. Pushing to his feet, Kyler grinned at her. He enjoyed a challenge.
Snarling, Jessi lunged forward and grabbed the short braid draped over Kyler’s shoulder. She yanked him close by his hair and pulled out a knife. He wasn’t expecting that. With each step, she pushed him back against the wall. When he hit the solid barrier, she pressed the knife to his throat. “Hand it over.”
“Ask nicely and maybe I will.” His breathing betrayed his words, and he tried to calm himself. Jessi wasn’t the captain. She wouldn’t hurt him.
With a grunt, Jessi knocked him on the forehead with the butt of her knife.
“What the fu—” He pressed a hand to the spot where she’d hit. That wasn’t like her. They’d never fought before. “Jess? What’s—”
“You’re safe.” She practically spit the words. “You’ll always be safe. The captain will never sell his little mer.”
The bite of the knife’s blade pierced Kyler at his collarbone. Warm blood trickled down his chest, but he wouldn’t look. He glared at her. Hating how true the words were.
Jessi’s green eyes flared gold with anger. The tips of her ears grew red. “Little Kyler, he’s so pretty, we can’t get rid ofhim. He’s too valuable to the ship. He gets special treatment.” She dug the knife deeper, stealing Kyler’s breath. “We can’t even tell anyone what you are without our voices being ripped out. Did you know that?”
He had.
“The captain will kill you if you kill me,” he whispered. Special treatment? No one knew what hereallywent through. He hated the tremble in his hands.
“I know.” She screamed. “Just. Give me the jewel.”
“I can’t. He’ll know and he’ll punish us both.”
She released his hair and threw the knife against the wall. Screaming, she threw a fist against the bricks right by his head. “I know!”
Kyler’s heart beat painfully. He had to force himself from squeezing his eyes shut. He couldn’t let her know how close he was to shutting down. Just like he does with Captain Vex. Kyler had to be stronger than that. Jessi was his friend.
“Jess.” Kyler reached out to press a shaky hand to her shoulder, but she shrugged him off.
“Shut up. Shut up! I never should have taken his offer.” She threaded her fingers through her short hair and slid to the muddy ground. Lifting her hand, she showed Kyler a binding spell that nearly matched his own. “I was a fool three years ago and I’m a fool now.”
Kyler knew most, if not all, the crew were bound to Captain Vex in some way. No one was allowed to share the reason they agreed to Vex’s binding, though. Not that Kyler had agreed to anything. His binding was forced on him. Vex stole his life before Kyler even got to live it.
“He’s tired of me, Ky, I know it. If I don’t bring back the prize, he’s going to sell me to a brothel. I ain’t strong enough to live through that.”
“You’re stronger than you think.” The words came out softer than Kyler had intended. “You do what you have to, to survive. We all do.”
