Page 51 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

I frown. “What about your power?”

Rian’s stare continues to bore into the side of my face, but I keep my attention on anyone and everything but him.

Silas offers a placating smile. “Shadows can’t mend masts, nor can they propel a ship across the ocean.”

“So…we’re stranded?” My stomach twists at the thought of being easy prey for the monster if it decides to seek retribution.

If it survived my fire, that is.

“Not quite.” Silas motions to the left side of the ship, to tarps concealing large objects. “There are dinghies to take us to shore.”

“What shore?” Draven crosses his bulky arms and scowls at the expanse of blue that spreads out all around the ship. “We’re in the middle of the sea.”

Instead of answering, Silas turns to Jaxon. “We are close to one known landmass.”

Jaxon stiffens. “No.”

Silas sighs. “We don’t have a choice⁠—”

“We do. And I won’t step foot in that shithole.” Jaxon’s shadows writhe around him.

“You will,” Rian says, authority steady in his voice, though I catch the regret beneath it. “As Silas says, there’s no choice. If there were, I wouldn’t ask you to do this.”

A hiss blows past Jaxon’s lips. Without a word, he stomps away. The shadows at his back snap.

One second passes before Rian sighs and follows his friend to the railing at the front of the ship.

A breeze rolls over the deck, and I wrap my arms around my shivering body.

A cloak falls over my back.

I turn as Draven steps away.

I grip the sides of the fabric. “Thank you.”

He nods.

Rian and Jaxon continue their heated exchange. A few minutes later, the prince places a strong hand on his friend’s shoulder. Jaxon hangs his head.

“What is that about?” I ask.

Silas sighs. “It’s not our place to say.”

I purse my lips. “Can you at least tell me where we’re going?”

Until today, I’ve never seen a map of any land aside from Astloria, and that was only the territory that exists beneath the border between the old human kingdom and the northern Fae lands. My knowledge of the world outside my continent is extremely limited.

Draven huffs. Shadows gather at his boots like restless smoke. Silas shifts his stance, gaze fixed on the planks instead of me.

“Really?” I groan. “It can’t be anywhere that bad.”

The Fae exchange a loaded look.

Eventually, Silas exhales and says, “Yes. It really can be.”

My blood chills. “How so?”

Silas’s voice drops to a whisper that I strain to hear over the groaning ship. “It’s a land where Shadow Fae are not welcome.”