Page 90 of Rise of the Vicious Princess
“ALL RIGHT, OUT with it.” Holland joined Charis as they stood on the ship deck, a damp, frigid wind kissing their cheeks while the bow plowed through the black waters of the sea. They were sailing north, far from the shoreline to avoid running into the creatures they’d heard before, with the plan to weigh anchor outside Portsmith and take a rowboat into the sheltered cove.
It was madness, but Charis couldn’t find it in herself to care. Not when it was taking every ounce of strength to remain on her feet, just two days after being poisoned. And not when someone close to her was not only dedicated to killing her but had already managed to change the treaty wording to make sure that Charis’s death cost Calera nothing.
“Out with what?” Charis tugged her cloak tighter, glad she’d decided to wear gloves when the wind pried at the gaps between her clothing, chafing her exposed skin raw. Tal was at the helm with Orayn, discussing their approach to Portsmith, satisfied that Holland would keep an eye on Charis for a few minutes.
“The thing that has been churning through your brain for the past four hours.”
Charis sighed. “It’s that obvious?”
Holland laughed. “You’ve either been ignoring anything we say or snapping at us like we just suggested you abdicate the throne and move to Morg.”
Charis leaned her elbows against the rail, watching long trails of silvery starlight shimmer on the water and then disappear beneath the boat. Behind them, Orayn and Dec were deep in conversation at the helm while the rest of the crewmates either manned a mast or stood along the opposite rail, their eyes searching the dark horizon for the shadow of an enemy ship. There were several crew members belowdecks as well, though not as many as usual. They were running short tonight since Charis had sent a message that tonight’s trip wasn’t likely to return to port until midday at the earliest. Some of her crew had jobs or families who needed them first thing in the morning.
Charis had understood, but even running with a bare-bones crew hadn’t changed her mind. They needed to go as far north as Portsmith so they could check the harbor and the caves. Even if it meant hearing that eerie sound from beneath the water.
“You see?” Holland slapped his hand on the railing, startling Charis out of her thoughts. “Abysmal.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you.”
“Probably upset about being poisoned. Terrible way to go. Father has been in talks with the queen,” Holland said, his voice rough though the shoulder he bumped against Charis’s was gentle. “We’ve dedicated every guard we can spare to help hunt down those responsible. I’ve personally volunteered to gut the traitor when he’s found, but apparently I need to get in line.” He sounded disgruntled.
“In line?” Charis frowned.
“Father says the queen will execute the traitor publicly and doesn’t need my help.”
“Not if Tal gets there first,” Charis muttered. Tal had made a list of truly inventive ways he wished to punish the traitor, and for some reason, knowing he wanted to destroy the one who had hurt her made something warm and sparkling dance through her veins, leaving a trail of heat behind that felt like a promise.
“What’s going on with you?”
“I wasn’t thinking about Tal,” she said.
Holland snorted. “I didn’t say you were.”
“Oh.” The trail of heat threatened to turn into mortification.
“Why would you say that? Has Tal done something to upset you?”
“No! I mean . . . not really. It’s not . . . I’m not upset.”
Holland shot a look over his shoulder at Tal and said sternly, “Speak plainly. If he’s dishonored you in any way, I’ll deal with him immediately.”
“I can deal with him myself.”
“So he has done something wrong?” Holland sounded disappointed. “Just when I was starting to like him, too.”
“No! He’s fine. We’re fine. There’s nothing to discuss.”
Except the fact that she was far too aware of Tal when he was near her. And she could understand his thoughts by simply glancing at his face. And then there was the troublesome heat in her stomach when she thought of his protectiveness toward her. All of which added up to . . . “Oh no.”
Holland slapped a hand on the railing. “Listen, I am going to need you to start making sense. You toss Tal’s name in the discussion and then say it’s nothing and then say ‘oh no’ like it’s definitely something, and I am not a mind reader.”
Never in her wildest dreams had she ever considered discussing something like this with Holland, but of all those on the short list of those she truly trusted, he was the one least likely to tell her what he thought she wanted to hear. Gathering her courage, she said quietly, “I think I might like Tal.”
“I just said that I’m just starting to like him too.” Holland sounded impatient.
“No, I mean . . . I find him interesting.” When he frowned as though he didn’t understand, she said, “I think about him. A lot. And I notice things about him that maybe I don’t need to be noticing. It’s . . . there’s the way his smile is a little crooked, and when I see that, something inside me—”
“Stop talking this instant, or I will throw myself overboard.” Holland stared at her, panic on his face. “This is clearly a Nalani conversation. Why are you having it with me?”