Page 54 of The Edge of Darkness

I gave the commander a once-over, nodding toward the fighting leathers he was wearing, and jokingly replied, “I guess I’m missing the style you’re speaking of.”

He nudged my shoulder with his elbow. “You’re just jealous that the leathers look better on me than they do on you. These help.” He flexed his bicep as an example.

I flicked his bulging muscle with my middle finger, assessing. “Eh, could be better.”

His hand landed over his heart as he laughed. “Easy on the ego, little one.”

Little one.

The same term of endearment Silas favored.

I looked over to where the Dionach was standing near the bow of the ship, gazing out at the sea ahead as we pulled away from the dock. Shifting a bit closer to Roirdan, I asked, “Why is it so different when you call me that, versus when Silas does?”

Roirdan glanced over his shoulder. “I think that when he says it, it’s more like a father figure speaking to you. When I say it, it’s because I find you weak and small.”

I slowly lifted my head to drill a pointed look at him. He met me with a smirk.

Quicker than a flash, I jabbed a playful punch into his gut, and he bent at the waist laughing. He shuffled to the side, batting my hands away as I attempted to land a couple more jabs.

Niall’s voice boomed from the back of the ship. “He’s weakest on his right side!”

Roirdan’s eyes met mine, and he angled his right flank away from me. “Traitor!” he yelled at Niall.

After a few more smacks and jabs, I caught Silas watching us, and halted.

Roirdan followed my stare back to the Dionach and cleared his throat. He straightened himself and jerked his chin in Silas’s direction. “You should, uh, go have a word with him.” He gave me a surprisingly gentle pat on my shoulder and strode off toward Niall.

I sighed and tugged my sleeves back into place.

A couple of unfamiliar fae males passed by—crewmates, I guessed. They nodded their head at me as they maneuvered around the ropes of the ship, tying off the sails.

Silas dipped his chin as I approached.

I hadn’t really spoken with him one-on-one since a couple of days ago, when we’d first learned he was my Dionach, which made today a bit more awkward. I tried my best to ease into conversation. “So, it’s a full day’s voyage to the isles?”

“From here, yes. Coming back, it will be faster, since we’ll be sailing away from the storms.”

The storms. I’d almost forgotten. “Just how are we supposed to get through them without running the risk of capsizing? I don’t know much about sailing, but storms seem like something to avoid.”

Silas looked across the ship to Niall. “I think your High Lord has that part taken care of.”

“Right.” I could hear the tone of indifference in the way he said High Lord. “Look, Silas⁠—”

“I know, I know,” he said, cutting me off. “I’ll watch my tone. I apologize. It’s just been a bit harder for me since I found out you had a mate. Not that I want—I mean—uhh . . .” He stumbled over his words, then blew out a breath. “What I mean is, I have an innate duty to protect you. And a mate is going to want to do the same, naturally. It just makes me feel . . . unnecessary. Not to mention another Dionach has basically laid claim to you as well.”

“You can’t hold that against them. And you can’t hold that against me either. The fates destined this—all of this. And I really need you all to find a common ground and get along if we’re going to be successful as a unit.”

He turned back toward the sea. “I’m sorry that I’ve made it hard on you.”

“You haven’t. It’s just been . . .” I trailed off, not really knowing how to explain this broody, territorial triangle I was stuck in once again.

The past two days had been full of a lot of awkward silences and stilted conversations when Silas had joined us for meals, or training, or the occasional meeting to plan this trip. He had chosen to remain quiet most of the time, assessing our group’s dynamic, seeing where and how he could truly fit in.

The strain that I saw on his face now . . . it spoke volumes. He wasn’t sure how to navigate this at all. And neither were we.

“You are needed, Silas. And I’m very grateful to have you as my Dionach.” I tried to keep the words from sounding full of pity, because they weren’t. I truly was grateful. And he needed to hear that.

He closed his eyes briefly before meeting my stare again. “I’m beyond glad to hear it. I only want what’s best for you. To keep you safe.”