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Engèli's lips pressed into a thin line. "Probably an entire dawn."
I threw my head back, fighting with everything I had to not explode.
"Okay, so we have to make a couple pivots," Nyala said, floating to perch below my elbow. "That doesn't mean we won't get our hands on that stone."
She was right. There was still time and opportunity to achieve the impossible. I thought of King Izakaya getting to Azizi, not seeing me, and pitching a dangerous fit. Skies. We had to get there fast.
I looked outside of the ship. The waters were clear and beautiful. If we had the time, I'd ask Corellis to take me for a swim. I scanned the ship and found her talking furiously with her Seaveillers.
Something about it gnawed at me.
Once we arrived, she'd be out of my life as quickly as she entered it. I didn't like that at all, but I also had no way of changing it. I watched her for so long I could see when her expression darkened. When she looked out at the sea and hated what she saw. I turned with her and found the waters almost like blackened pools.
"What in the rot?" I muttered.
"I don't like this, Cap." Engèli's ethèr surfaced reflexively, swirling around him protectively. "Something about this is off."
The waters grew rough. I planted myself where I was as the Ashweaver burst out of the waterway. In the distance, a magnificent palace made of pearl, gems, and glass, surrounded by corals and perched on a high mound of ancient boulders, stood proud.
"There it is," I whispered.
Jabari whistled. "That's a palace, alright."
"We're getting close!" I shouted. "Ready yourselves."
"Aye, Captain!"
Motivated by sights of the looming palace, Engèli thrust ahead. I had eyes for nothing now except the Pearl Palace. Somewhere in there was the Atlanthyst Stone. In there was my ticket to having my payè love me like he did Ishaèli. Somewhere in there was a stone that would give me the one thing in all the blasted Elledelle realms that I wanted most. Wetting my lips, I hungered for the stone. I could practically feel it in my hands. I could almost see myself handing it over to King Rhòdhaire.
"Soon, we will say goodbye, pirate prince."
I whipped around and found Corellis beside me. Nyala was gone. Engèli made it his business to study the water ahead.
I cleared my throat, excused us, and pulled Corellis with me. She glided like the graceful angel she was in the water. She was back in her natural element and thriving. The water melded to her body, clung to her skin. My nostrils flared at the emotions rising in my chest.
"Thank you, Yakobba," she said, looking up into my eyes.
I could get lost in those pools of blue. I floated closer, wanting to bear my hearts to her right there, but not finding the words to do so.
"You protected us, protected me. Yes, we have loss, but yours is greater. It may have been I alone who survived, if not for you. And the kindness you showed us while on your ship..." She looked around, struggling for words. At least I wasn't the only one having a hard time with reality crashing in. "In another world, in another life, maybe we... Thank you for everything, High Prince Yakobba. I won't ever forget you. And maybe... maybe one dawn, I won't have to."
Corellis flushed. My hearts raced. Before I could stop myself, I looped an arm around her waist, tugged her close, and crushed my mouth against hers. She tasted like the salty sea and fresh mint leaves that topped freshly brewed tea. My lips moved against hers, hungering for more. She fisted my tunic in her hands, tilting her head back, pressing herself into me. Skies. I could do this for a lifetime. But all too quickly, it was done.
We both cleared our throats, working to calm our breaths. When she looked up again, her eyes were bright with yearning, hope, and immeasurable sadness. What could plague her so badly?
"Thank you, my pirate prince. I won't ever forget you." Her last words were a broken whisper that wrenched me in two. Before I could say another word, she wormed her way out of my tight grasp, laughing to herself. Then she was swimming back to the Seaveillers, leaving me breathless and confused.
"We're here!"
I whipped around and gaped, my jaw hanging. Engèli had brought us to an open cove directly beneath King Au'Pearl's Pearl Palace.
Chapter 22
The Hunt Begins
YAKOBBA
Iwatched Corellis and Kianga as they swam away. Corellis looked back once, pausing in the sea, looking at me with secrets buried in that knowing gaze I wished I had more time to learn. Then she turned away and the pair of them were gone.
