Page 50 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

I glare at my skin, then suck in a breath.

Despite the burn that ravaged my body, my skin is unmarred. My clothes are soaked and heavy, but also not burned.

Was it all in my mind? Was there no fire?

Or, like Ferria, am I immune to my power’s flames?

I can't be sure.

My twin sister is resistant to fire in general, and after foolishly sticking my hand in a candle’s flame when we were thirteen, I know I’m not.

Rian’s forceful stare continues to press against my face. I lift my chin and narrow my eyes.

His voice weaves through my thoughts. Don’t look at me like that.

I gasp. “What in the⁠—”

Careful, Sunshine. We have an audience.

I stiffen and shift my gaze. All of the sailors stand outside the semicircle the Shadow Fae have formed around me and Rian. Their wide eyes scream of awe, terror, and uncertainty.

One man, who looks to be in his late fifties, sees my attention and barks, “Are you a magic wielder, girl? Did you summon the beast from its slumber?”

I rear back as if slapped. “What? No! I-I didn’t do anything⁠—”

“Pelagors only rise when called upon by sea witches!” a different man cries, his youthful face darkening. “We all saw how the beast fixated on her. It recognized his temptress.”

Of all the idiotic accusations…

“It tried to drown me.” I throw a hand out toward the sea. “You saw it attack me.”

“And yet you sit here, unharmed.” The original man spits on the deck. “Cursed sirens. We should throw you back into the⁠—”

A shadow wraps around his throat, choking off the words.

“Draven,” Rian drawls, tone bored, but the darkness writhing at his fingertips paints a different picture.

“On it.” The stoic Fae faces the sailors.

“No!” I scramble to my feet. “Don’t!”

I take a single step before Draven’s dark power flies across the ship, splits into over a dozen strands, and plunges into each sailor’s ear.

As one, they stiffen, and their eyes roll into the back of their heads. My heart leaps into my throat.

In seconds, the sailors shudder, then their gazes refocus and tension disappears from their bodies.

“What…” I stare, slack-jawed, as each man moves away.

One calls out orders about what needs to be done to clear the deck, and the rest follow.

“What did you⁠—”

“Mindspeak.” Draven’s dark eyes meet mine. “Remember?”

I snap my mouth shut. Oh…

“So.” Silas clears his throat. “This ship is destroyed. We won’t be finding the Sea Fae on this vessel.”