Page 164 of The Crown’s Temptation

He stepped back. Then smiled. “Well now the problem is you are not dressed for killing. You’re dressed for….”

“For what, Lord Eravic?”

“Eating a human demon at a fancy Morrath dinner.”

I couldn’t help myself. I burst into laughter.

"You are stalling and making excuses," I said flatly. "We both know I will not die if we go. Not with a healer on the ship. Not if we leave now, in the early evening, and come back before dawn."

"Asharin." His voice was low and his eyes did not have their usual amusement in them.

"Yes?"

"Hurry up, then."

"What is the ship’s name?"

"Blue."

I raised an eyebrow. "How dull."

"I am a simple man."

"If by simple you mean dull, then perhaps."

"I was not dull when I beat you at cards the other night. Your coin debt is enough to bankrupt all of Veynar," he said dryly.

"You were dull then and now that I know your ship is named Blue you are most certainly dull now."

The men on his ship slowed as they saw me come aboard.

"They are staring at me."

"That they are. To be fair, you are supposed to be dead."

"It is supposed to be a secret," I hissed.

"Vaelor crewmen do not talk much."

I rolled my eyes. "I thought Vaelors could not lie. It cannot be both."

"Where to, Captain?" A man called from the bow.

"Turn the cloak," Eravic replied. "Thrykis."

"Oh, the invisibility thing you do," I said.

"Yes." A twinge of pride in his voice. "I am trying to impress you."

"Silly me. I thought you were trying to prevent us from getting eaten by undead."

"Aye. That too."

"Another Vaelor lie. I am beginning to grow skeptical of your lineage, Lord Captain of the Seas."

"Fucking Eravic."

I laughed. Harder than intended. He stared at me and shook his head. "Every time you laugh like that, princess⁠—"