Page 27 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

“Sleep, Shadow. I’m coming for you.”

CHAPTER10

SHADOW

The problem with ships was that hiding, or rather, staying hidden, was impossible. It was only a matter of time before someone stumbled across you. Thankfully, the pirates were content to let her hide, and she’d managed to avoid Ronan for the better part of the afternoon while fighting to get her emotions under control.

This restless, unsettled feeling was uncommon for her. And it certainly didn’t help matters that she didn’t understand where her anger stemmed from, only that it was there. Much like she didn’t understand the constant pull she felt to Ronan but could no more deny it than cease breathing.

She was no closer to puzzling out how she’d ended up on theRevengeor why. Nor had she come any closer to recalling the details about what happened during the trials. Everything was a blur of time passing. She obviously knew Ronan but couldn’t recall when or where they met. Nor could she remember any relevant conversation they might have shared. It was like she’d woken up in the middle of somebody else’s life, but that somebody was her. Or like being presented with an alphabet to a foreign language, but none of the words. She knew only enough not to be completely lost, but nothing that gave her any sense of true understanding.

That was the only thing that kept her from descending into a full-blown meltdown. She knew who she was.Whatshe was. There was no doubt she could handle whatever was thrown her way. She simply needed to bide her time and let those around her fill in the blanks. Someone would slip up soon, and then she could put together a plan to get back to the High Lord.

You could always take Ronan up on his offer...

That pesky little voice in her mind had been unhelpfully offering advice all day. Shadow knew Ronan held all the answers, but she couldn’t bring herself to go to him. Not even to ask the relevant questions. She told herself it was because she didn’t trust him to tell her the truth.

Or maybe you’re the one you don’t trust...

Shadow let out a little growl, kicking at a bit of coiled chain. There was something patently unfair about being called out in your own head. Surely if there was someone she should be able to count on to have her back, it should be her own damned self.

You’ve never been a liar, Shadow. Why lie to yourself now? You want him... why else did you react that way to what barely even counted as flirting?

“Stop. It,” she gritted out, kicking the chain a second time. This time with enough force, she felt the blow reverberate up her leg.

“Yikes. What did poor Archie do to deserve such punishment?”

Shadow spun around, finding herself face-to-face with the blond man she’d met earlier.Bronn, that perky little bitch of a voice supplied.

“Archie?”

He gestured to the length of chain. “The anchor.”

She snorted. “You named your anchorArchie?”

“What else were we supposed to name him?”

“Uh, nothing?”

“Well, that seems rude.”

Shadow couldn’t help but laugh. The man was so damned earnest; there was nothing for it but to warm to him.

“There, that’s better,” he said, giving her a full-blown smile. “I hate seeing a beautiful woman frown.” He glanced back to her feet, adding, “And commit unwarranted acts of violence on undeserving objects.”

Were her mind not already filled with thoughts of another charming rogue, she might not have found herself immune to his beauty. As it was, she couldn’t help but note the flecks of gold ringing his pupils or how they made her think of sunlight rippling along the surface of the cool water. Or the flex of muscle beneath the white cotton of his shirt. Another time, another place, she might have allowed herself to succumb. If only to collect the experience.

“Is there such a thing as a deserving object?”

“Aye. Plenty.”

“Such as...”

“An empty cask of grog, for starters.”

“Ah... of course. The bane of many a pirate.”

“Just so.”

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