Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 93948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Monsters are easy enough to find.
“I’m inclined to leave Lizzie here with you.” It will do double duty of ensuring Maeve stays safe, which will please the vampire, and protecting the ship. Lizzie can hold off a small army on her own if she’s not holding back—or at least a small army of people with limited magic. When it comes to Morrigan and the heavy hitters on her ship, even the vampire would only last ten minutes at the very most. But ten minutes is a small eternity in a battle, which makes her invaluable. “Dia knows Bowen and Evelyn, so I’ll likely take them with me and leave everyone else. We’ll move faster with just three.”
For a moment, it seems like Eyal might continue arguing with me, but he finally nods. “Those two will keep you safe and watch your back. We’ll do our best to ensure you have a ship to return to.” He eyes the islands in the distance. “Best to circle around Third Sister. No reason to give the bloated rich in Mairi even a glimpse of us if the north is our goal.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I clasp him on the shoulder and then move along. Poet and I have a nearly identical conversation, but she comes around the same way that Eyal did, and sets her sights on putting together the second team to get supplies. There’s a reason they’re my closest confidants on the Audacity. Poet is the voice of the crew themselves, and while occasionally we butt heads, we’re in agreement that the goal is keeping everyone safe.
It’s a testament to Bastian’s exhaustion that I don’t see either him or Siobhan in the hours it takes us to circle widely around the islands. A flicker of guilt inside me says that I should go explain the plan to them before leaving, but after that last conversation, I’ll admit that cowardice is winning. There are too many messy emotions inside me, and they run the risk of distracting me when I need my focus the most.
Or that’s what I tell myself. The truth is significantly uglier. Bastian didn’t have much to say after my proclamation, and Siobhan hustled out of the room rather quickly. I’m afraid that, while they both independently showed interest, their intentions never went beyond interest and into action. Someday, when this is all over, they’ll resume their relationship, I’ll retreat back to the safe embrace of my crew, and we’ll never see each other again. Better to start that retreat now, before my heart becomes any more entangled.
The crew is looking particularly haggard as we find a spot just past the wave break on the north side of First Sister to throw down anchor. It’s several hundred yards to shore, and even with my magic, it’s going to be a rough ride, but at least the Audacity will get to rest for a short while.
I glance at Poet as the pair of boats are lowered toward the surface of the water. “If there’s trouble, cut anchor and go. Don’t try to come for us, and certainly don’t wait. We’ll catch up with you when we can.”
Poet’s lips thin, but she finally nods. No one likes giving that order, but it’s the smart one to follow. It makes no sense for them to die trying to save us when we are more than capable of stealing a sloop and following. Assuming we’re alive to do it.
Bowen and Evelyn appear, both their cheeks rosy enough that I suspect they were having one last hurrah before heading into even more direct danger. I don’t tease them. I’m too busy weighing exactly how empty my magical reserves are. I’ve recovered from the fog, more or less, but when I get this low, my well refills slower than it usually does. Normally, I find that spending hours in the midst of the elements themselves, swimming or other things, helps, but there hasn’t been time for that.
I prod at my magic, frowning. Is my well shallower than it was before? Surely not. I barely passed out after using the amplification circle. I wasn’t even unconscious for an hour, let alone long enough to require Orchid’s help. Even so, my skin prickles in warning. I’ll have to be careful going forward—or at least attempt to be.
I turn to the four crew members doing the supply run. “Take the ship around the west side of the island, closer to the city. It’s best that you aren’t seen with me.” They nod and climb down into their boat. My magic aches as I pull it forth and use the waves to send them rushing west. They’ll have to start rowing before too long, but the boost is helpful all the same.
Then I turn to Evelyn and Bowen. “We’ll only take Dia if she wants to come,” I say quietly. “This isn’t a kidnapping. We’ll ask our questions, and that’ll be the end of it.”