Page 81 of Seaborn and the Seven Seas

Selene was even more striking up close than she’d been that night on the ship—golden hair loose around her shoulders, skin sun-warmed and flawless, eyes clear blue that seemed to take in everyone at once. She had a softness to her, gentle in the way she held herself, even her voice.

“Welcome.” She crouched to greet the children, her smile widening at each face. She smelled of lavender and clean linen. “Come in, there’s food and warm beds for everyone.”

The children filed past her, shy but drawn in by her warmth. Hellena and the elders followed, murmuring their thanks. I went too, but not too far, keeping my ears open.

Theron held back, and Selene turned to him, lowering her voice just enough that I had to strain to catch it. I told myself not to look, not to listen, but I did anyway.

She stepped close, closer than the conversation seemed to need, and rested a hand flat against his chest, smiling. Her fingers trailed up, brushing along his jaw, inching toward his lips.

My chest constricted and still I couldn’t look away.

Theron said something low I couldn’t hear. He took her hand in his, easing it back down to her side. Selene frowned. Theron took a step back, uninterested in whatever she had to offer. Why did watching her get turned away feel like relief?

Hope’s grip on my hand tightened, pulling me back to her. She wasn’t looking at Theron and Selene. Her eyes were fixed on a large square room where bedrolls were already laid out for them, chairs to seat a few, and a table too small to fit all of her friends.

All of it too new, too much at once—from the mountain, to the ship, to this new place, and its people. I understood. As an adult, it was difficult to assimilate, but for a child, it must be much harder.

“You’re going to be just fine,” I told her, crouching down to her level. “You trust Pirate Theron, right?”

She nodded, smiling.

“That pretty lady is his friend.” I pointed to Hellena, who had come closer now that Theron had rejected Selene. “She and your friends are going to be right here with you the whole time.”

She nodded again, her grip loosening just slightly, like she was deciding to believe me.

“Good girl.” I kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back. Get a good rest because we’ll have to leave before the sun comes up.”

I gave a curt nod to Hellena, then to Selene, and followed Theron to the tavern where my friends awaited.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Theron pushed the tavern door open and held it for me, the noise hitting suddenly loud.

Merchants in fine coats haggled over prices at one table, voices clipped and businesslike, while a few tables over, pirates perhaps chuckled over some story.

“There.” Theron nodded toward the back, directing me to go first.

Fraya’s red hair stood out even in the dim light, easy to spot before I could make out anyone else’s face. Minha, Jina, and Ranis had claimed the corner table, half-hidden in shadow where the lantern light didn’t quite reach. Likely Minha’s doing, no doubt, always picking the spot with the clearest view of the door.

Someone had piled a plate between them with nuts and strips of dried squid. Jina wrinkled her nose every time she pulled a piece apart but ate it anyway. Minha and Fraya tore into theirs like they hadn’t eaten in days, washing each bite down with a gulp of ale. Ranis sat with his back to the wall, his eyes drifting toward the door every so often, the same watchfulness he’d carried since Russo’s ship.

“You’re back.” Fraya patted two empty seats.

Theron took the one next to Fraya, and I sat on the one next to Ranis. I should have asked Ranis to switch with me, put some distance between us, but I bit my tongue and stayed put. Every small movement he made settled somewhere under my skin I didn’t want to acknowledge.

“The kids settled well?” Jina asked.

I reached for a strip of squid, to keep my hands busy, and bit off a piece. Salty and chewy. Not bad. We had some in the cavern, but uncooked.

“Selene…” I cleared my throat, swallowing the piece. “She’s good with kids. I mean… she greeted him well… I mean us. Taking good care of him… I meant the kids.”

Oh dear gods. What was the matter with me?

Fraya’s grin spread behind her tankard. I hoped she didn’t think I was jealous.

“Who’s Selene?” Jina chomped on some nuts.

“I’ll tell you later.” Minha snorted into her drink, nearly choking.