Ariiaya
“Are you trying to capsize us?” Krepth thundered. He stopped short, head tilting and nose twitching in a way that reminded her of his wolf form, a predator scenting prey. Then his eyes narrowed, and his gaze darted to Arii.
The Shifter’s acute sense of smell told him what words would not, as he scented the sea salt mixed with desire in the air.
Ah shit.
As Elijah stood from the bed, Krepth was before him in a second – his hands grasping Elijah’s tunic, yanking him up as he snarled in his face, “Keep your traitorous hands off her!”
“Krepth!” cried Arii, leaping up from the bed.
Krepth slammed Elijah against the nearby wall, his fury palpable. Elijah snarled himself as he retaliated, throwing his arms up to dislodge the Shifter’s grip. Arii knew where this was headed and she slid between them, her hand flying up to press against their chests as the two males bared their teeth like dogs fighting over the last strip of meat on the carcass.
The ship moaned beneath them, and she felt that now familiar shifting weight upon the air, a crackle, snap and shudder that signalled Elijah’s power.
“Are you mad?!” she roared at Krepth, violet eyes promising violence.
“You’ve held nothing but contempt for me since we met! Have I not proven that I’m on your side?” Elijah bellowed at Krepth over Arii’s shoulder.
Her fingers pressed against his chest as she shot him a look that promised he would not be spared from her violence if a fight were to break out. Arii shoved them both again, but felt her voice was falling upon deaf, testosterone-filled ears. “Stop it!”
Krepth snarled, the sound entirely lupine, before taking a step back. “It isn’t a matter of what side you’re on, mate, it’s what’s at stake should you fail.” His eyes swept over Arii, not missing her state of undress. She fought a blush, absently tugging at the thin straps of her shift.
Gods, he was unbelievable! This was far beyond a brotherly need to protect her now.
Something else was wrong, and she was determined to figure it out.
Arii threw another narrowed-eyed warning at Elijah before spearing a finger into Krepth’s chest. “You, me – on the deck, now!”
The Shifter threw one last venomous glare Elijah’s way before slipping from the room without more fuss – which Arii thanked the gods for.
She found her folded clothing and dressed quickly as Elijah remained leaning against the wall.
“Arii.”
She straightened to look at him as she tugged on boots and tightened her belt. They remained silent for a few moments.
The mood of the room had instantly changed with Krepth’s anger. She could feel herself withdrawing back into the comfort of her steel walls. When she was with Elijah, she found that much of her control slipped through her fingers like sand, and her awareness of the world around them dimmed. It was dangerous, and she had to get a hold of herself. She should not have allowed him so close.
“Vanquish those emotions lest they blind you like a bat.”
Klotho’s words rose unbidden from her memories, dragging up doubt to dash away the remnants of heat from her skin.
Arii’s violet eyes did not meet his as she said, “Perhaps you should check on Emerson.” Her words were dismissive, bordering on cold, and she did not need to look at him to see his concern.
Sliding past him to head up on deck, Arii whipped her hair into a swift braid as she stomped up the stairs.
Krepth was standing with his attention to the sea, his arms crossed over his chest and his dark hair dancing in the wind. As she approached, he did not turn to face her, almost like he couldn’t.
“Explain what in the world that was all about?” she hissed, anger still lacing her nerves and sending tingles to her fingertips. She itched to grab her blade and find something to stab.
When he finally turned to her and his expression changed to sorrow, Arii felt her stomach sink. She barely heard him as he whispered, “Arii, there is something I haven’t told you.”
She stepped toward him, seeing his moss-green eyes shadowed with pain. “What is it?”
“It’s my mother… she…” he paused before saying gently, “She was taken by Red Guard soldiers from the market in Trader’s Bay, just before I returned from Viridya.”
Arii’s mouth turned as dry as dust as she pictured the raven-haired woman with eyes the same shade as the man before her. How had she not noticed her absence when they were in Evergrave? Gods, she was so caught up in her own world that she was missing the finer details of the people she was doing this all for.
Her friends and their families.
“No,” she whispered, more to herself than to him.
Krepth ran a hand through his hair as he turned to the sea once more. “She was taken to Bonemire.” His voice lowered an octave, venom coating his words as he hissed, “Herington knew she was there – yet he only got you out.”
Arii’s mind was a whirlwind of questions as she rested a hand on his arm. “Your mother was in Bonemire when Elijah and Nem saved me? Krepth, there were many innocent people in Bonemire – it was only luck that we escaped without raising an alarm–”
“–He could have at least tried to get her out! Get them all out!” Krepth snarled, spinning on her.
So, this was why Krepth held so much anger towards Elijah – not only that he had served a twisted tyrant and an immature king, but that he was involved with Bonemire somehow.
She truly believed Elijah had not known about Bonemire prior to her rescue. She forced her mind back to when he swept her through that grim courtyard, past cages of bodies and crystals. The place had been thought to be a training ground, where the dregs of society were taken to earn amnesty by serving the Crown.
Had he seemed surprised? Had he seemed sickened by what they saw? Her brain almost hurt trying to remember, as if it did not want to. As hard as she tried, she could not remember anything save the relief and the exhaustion she had felt.
Another little seed of doubt bloomed a bloody flower in her mind.
“But… how could Elijah have known?”
The man scoffed. “Do you not think the King’s bodyguard would have access to the papers of those being sent to Bonemire? He has more knowledge about what was happening there than you realise.” He drew out his next words through clenched teeth. “I. Do. Not. Trust. Him.”
“I thank Nyx that he got you out when he did, I truly do, but he could have saved many more lives!” he continued, fists balling.
She swallowed back the bile and doubt, and stood stubbornly by her original belief. “If he wished us ill, we wouldn’t be standing here arguing right now. That’s why he’s here now, to learn how to use his power to save them all, save the entire land.”
“Sure, and once he has a firm grasp of his magic, he will run straight back to Lorch. He served under that family for almost twenty years, Arii! Maybe he is taking advantage of your newfound feelings to gather information about the other courts and their weaknesses. Once he has what he needs, once he has a grip on his magic, what makes you think he won’t go back and aid them in their sick plot to wipe us all out!”
“He won’t!”
“How do you know?”
“I just know, alright?”
‘How well do you truly know Eliverus, Ariiaya?’ whispered the wraith, slithering into her mind like an eel. ‘Is there truly more between you than a war of fire and ice?’
Arii swallowed, willing the voice to leave her alone. Strangely, the wraith departed, but not before whispering, ‘We are never truly alone, Violet One. Not when our minds are here to trick us.’
Sea wind whipped her braid as she blinked rapidly, then thrust her attention back to her friend, staring into his eyes as Krepth said with dead calm, “You’re going to get hurt, Arii. I can’t let that happen, I can’t lose you too,” his voice ended on a pained whisper, his face twisting in anguish. “I don’t even know if my mother is still alive. She could be one of those… things.”
Some of her anger ebbed away as she clutched Krepth’s face between her palms. “We will rescue them all, somehow,” she whispered as Krepth leaned his forehead against hers, a fine mist of sea spray around them as his eyes closed. “Just… try to keep things civil, Krepth. He is the future King. That earns a little respect.” She swallowed. “I trust him.”
He huffed a laugh in response, and she could feel just a tiny bit of his anger drift away on a sea breeze. After a heartfelt pause, she continued, “Krepth, you’ve always trusted me…”
“I trust you, little Fury. Herington though – that will take the moving of a mountain.”
She smiled ruefully as she said, “Something tells me that if you keep on prodding him, you may just cause that if you aren’t careful.”
The Shifter’s mouth tilted in a grin as the air around them lightened, the wild sea breeze taking their remaining anger with it – for now.
“Or if you aren’t careful,” he purred, flicking her nose teasingly. “Do we need to speak about the birds and the bees, little Fury?”
“Argh, no.” She knew what he implied, and it made her unable to meet his eyes.
“I don’t say this often, nor do I say it lightly, little Fury, but… be careful.”
“I know, I know,” she murmured in stubborn response. With a playful shove, Arii stepped away and turned her gaze to the sea. Beyond, the waves rolled like wings, and Arii’s attention rose to the darkening sky. Stars began to flicker in the obsidian blanket, peeking through a wash of deep purple as the day bordered on night. On the breeze came a chill not present before, perhaps a sign they were approaching the freezing southern court.
“Mosey your arses below deck and get some shut eye, you lacklustre mob of ingrates!” called the Captain as the crew began to finish up their tasks. Hips swinging and hat fluttering, Valerie sauntered towards them, her face splitting in a grin. “Good to see you up and about, Arii, and also good to see you ain’t walkin’ like a sand crab. Do us all a favour and perhaps refrain from rolling between the sheets with your hunk of a future King until we reach solid land, heh?”
Arii’s eyes widened as her cheeks flushed deep crimson.
Sand crab?
Krepth leaned over and slapped a hand against his knee, and Arii noticed he was struggling to breathe as the Shifter wheezed with laughter. “Sand crab! Nyx’s tits, Valerie – where do you get lines like that?”
Valerie’s grin remained as she slid her arm around Krepth’s waist. “My little black book isn’t just for cataloguing my conquests, Krepthy. Care to join me? I may just let you sneak a peek.”
Krepth’s deep laughter fluttered in their wake as they headed below decks, leaving Arii alone to stare out to sea.
Her hand lifted to her cheek, the skin hot and flushed after Valerie’s crude remarks. It took a lot to make her blush, and only once the woman had disappeared below decks with Krepth did the meaning behind her words register.
Elijah’s power was obvious to them all now, and one would assume such power could be applied to the bedroom, too.
Arii’s fingers probed her slightly swollen lips, heat still rising up her neck.
Could Elijah have truly sunk the ship if they had allowed things to continue further?
He was not in control of his power yet, and the true extent of his abilities was still a mystery – not just to her but to Elijah too.
A slim form slid into the space beside her and Arii tilted her head to gaze at Tikkani, as the girl sighed deeply. “The sooner we get to land, the better. Gods, if I see another ship after this, I think I’ll feed myself to a fucking Kryvern. Or better yet a sea drake.” She leaned her head against Arii’s shoulder and said, “Thank you for saving my brother, Arii.”
Arii allowed her to rest there, her own eyes drifting closed. “Don’t mention it, kid.” Her words were short, yet amiable as they stood in companionable silence, watching a flock of gulls caw and swoop on the sea’s surface.
She should tell Tikkani that this was why she had not wanted them to follow – the dangers they would no doubt face along the way. Yet in that moment she could not voice her fears. She was happy they were here – sharing this adventure, no matter the perils.
“Let us head below. Tomorrow we will reach the Southern Court, and we need to be rested and ready.” Arii said, and she led the elf below deck.
***
The room was flickering with candlelight as Arii entered, gently closing the door behind her.
Her entry cut off a hushed conversation between Elijah and Nem from where they lay in their separate beds.
Elijah was covered with a thin cotton blanket, his arms folded behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. Nem was on her side, head propped up on a palm, causing her silver hair to fall in a curtain against her pale skin.
Arii paused as she sensed tension, violet eyes sweeping the two Fae with thin suspicion. “What’s going on?”
Nem inclined her head in Elijah’s direction as she said, “We were just discussing the future.”
Elijah’s eyes rolled as he huffed, “Nemesis was asking questions which I believe are irrelevant.”
“Irrelevant? How is ‘What is the first order you’ll give as king’ irrelevant?”
“It is irrelevant because I’m not going to be king.”
Nem sighed heavily, falling onto her back and pulling up the sheets as Arii sat on her own cot, sliding off her boots. Nem continued. “Here I thought we were making progress. You can’t escape your fate, Eliverus.”
Elijah loosed a breath through his nose in response, silver eyes tracking Arii’s movements. “I will learn to use my magic to help fight against Valdis.” His voice was low, gentle and monotone as he added, “But I will not be ascending to the throne.”
He was not going to change his mind easily, Arii knew that. She also knew how incredibly stubborn he was. Just agreeing to work on his magic was a colossal leap alone.
One step at a time.
“Get some sleep, both of you,” said Arii, earning her two sets of rolling eyes.
“Yes, mother,” drawled Nem, turning her back to them as she nestled into the squeaky mattress. Arii lay down on her side, facing Elijah as he stared at the ceiling. His eyes slid to her in the dim light. “How are you feeling now?”
The question had her pausing, studying his face as her cheek pressed into the pillow, her voice dropping as she said, “I’m fine. Fae recover far quicker than humans.”
His lips twitched. “That is true. I often had to hide my injuries lest someone see how quickly they healed. Colleen noticed though…”
His voice trailed as his smile slowly faded. Arii felt a pang in her chest, knowing thoughts of his adoptive mother were occupying his mind. Slowly she propped her head on her palm, her voice serious as she whispered, “We will get her out, Elijah. We will get them all out, I promise.”
Not only did she mean Colleen, but her words extended to Lynnera, Hawke and Sybell too.
And Lorch.
Gods, she hoped he was alright. She hoped they were all alright.
Elijah remained silent, eyes drifting to the ceiling once more as the ship rocked beneath them. Arii took that as an end to the conversation. Lifting a hand, she snapped her fingers to snuff out the candles, plunging them into total darkness save a dash of moonlight from the window beyond.