Page 38 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

Shadow was still looking down, readjusting the buckle of her belt, which is why she didn’t see the towering wall of brooding male heading her way until she bounced off it.

Please don’t be him. Please don’t be him. Please, if anyone out there is listening,don’t be him.

The moment she and Ronan shared last night ranked among the most important and meaningful in her life. It was the first and only time she could remember letting her guard down with anyone since Erebos found her. But vulnerable Shadow had made a full and hasty retreat with the dawn. In the dark it had been easy to lean on Ronan, to admit things aloud she’d barely even acknowledged in her own mind. However, in the soft light of the early morning, what felt safe became all too real and overwhelming.

So she’d run.

As far and fast as she could on a boat. Which was how she’d ended up outside the captain’s door before the sun had fully risen, begging for something to wear. Much to the other woman’s amusement.

Emotions now safely locked away where they belonged, Shadow lifted her chin and braced for a confrontation she’d hoped to avoid. Not forever... just another eighty years or so.

She’d only just managed to lift her eyes to a muscular chest when a shrill chirp answered her prayers. Her breath left her in a gusty exhale as her head shot the rest of the way up, Buttercup’s inquisitive squawk as much a relief as it was a surprise.

“Jagger!”

The boson reached out, steadying her as he let out a grunt she translated to mean, “You all right?”

“Sorry,” she blurted, giving him an embarrassed shake of her head. “I should have been watching where I was going. I’m usually much more graceful, not to mention aware of my surroundings, but it’s taking me a while to find my sea legs with the rocking, and...”

His lips twitched, and she realized she was babbling.

“Sorry,” she repeated lamely.

He gave her shoulder a squeeze and tilted his head toward the stairs behind him. This time she guessed he was asking whether she was going up on deck.

Shadow nodded. “Thought I might see if there’s something I can do to help. I’m not used to being idle.”

Buttercup trilled in what Shadow hoped was approval and not the avian version of derision.

Jagger dipped his chin and then swept out a hand for her to go around him, so she did. But his enormous frame made that difficult in the cramped quarters, and she couldn’t help but laugh, feeling as though they were in the midst of some sort of partner dance but neither of them knew the steps.

Once she’d squeezed past, she lifted her hand in farewell, only for him to frown and gesture for her to start walking.

“But you just came from this way,” she said, her brow furrowing.

He nodded again, his expression seeming to indicate that she was stupid for stating the obvious.

“I know I was a little clumsy, but I promise I don’t need an esco—oh!”

Before she could even finish saying the word escort, the entire ship jerked sharply, sending her flying into the wall. Jagger remained upright, arms out on either side, knees slightly bent, but she was sure it was only experience with rogue waves that kept him from crashing into her.

Heart hammering beneath her ribs, she pushed herself upright. “Is that norm—ahhh!”

Another shudder beneath her feet knocked her back. Jagger’s lightning-fast reaction was the only thing that kept her standing. He reached out, fisting her shirt and tugging her forward. She was going to ignore the fact that his fingertips ran nearly the full length of her cleavage because his intention had been to help, not grope. Still, she was relieved as soon as he let her go.

Before she could ask what in the darkness was going on, shouts from above reached them.

“Sound the alarm!”

Jagger jumped into action. He flung an arm out, opening a door and shoving her toward it with his other hand.

“If you’re thinking I’m going to stay down here and hide instead of fight, you’ve got me seriously confused with someone else.”

One side of his mouth curled up. Instead of wasting time debating the point, he pulled free one of the twin cutlasses from the scabbard that sat low on his hips. “Here,” he rasped.

She returned his grin and pulled out two of the daggers she’d tucked into a special belt that hid them along her lower back. “I’m all set.”

His laugh was a breathy rumble. “Suit yourself.”

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