Page 127 of Fallen Stars

Enzo scanned Adrian’s body, surprised to see how toned and muscular it was. He’d expected the pirate to be weedy beneath his billowing shirts, but Adrian had a fighter’s frame.

“Elara, shall we—Oh my,” Merissa murmured, stumbling out and looking between the three shirtless, sweating men in front of her.

“They’re about to fight,” Elara said with glee. “I’ll fetch us a snack.” She disappeared back into the galley, returning a few moments later with what appeared to be chocolates. She handed one to Merissa, not taking her eyes off Enzo’s chest as she settled onto the floor. He winked, and she smirked, her eyes trailing down his rippled abdomen as she bit her lip.

Oh, dear gods, she knew what she was doing. Enzo may have flexed his muscles a little and felt a deep satisfaction to see her shift in her seat.

He then glanced at Merissa who was shoving a chocolate in her mouth, eyes wide as she took in Adrian’s form. Enzo stopped himself from rolling his eyes as he turned, pacing to a position a few yards from Adrian.

“Is that a lion tattoo?” Adrian scoffed as Enzo turned. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Is that anoctopus?” Enzo retorted, looking in derision to the tentacles that spread across Adrian’s chest and wrapped down his arm.

“I’ll have you know that the octopus is one of the most intelligent creatures in the sea.”

“Then why is it tattooed on you?” Enzo cooed.

Leo choked on his water as Adrian threw Enzo a venomous look. “Enough chit chat,” Adrian said, raising his sword. “Let me show you how a pirate fights.”

The next half hour was filled with grunting and cursing as Adrian and Enzo took out their hatred towards one another on the deck of the ship. Elara watched, enraptured, Merissa beside her, as the two men fought like animals.

And she had to admit—she was having a whale of a time.

Merissa took another chocolate from her lap. “This is far more entertaining than helping Isra with her scrying,” she murmured, and Elara noticed how her eyes raked down Adrian’s bronzed, muscular body. Elara bit back a smile.

“Like what you see?” Adrian called over, grinning as Enzo lunged, just missing Adrian’s shoulder.

Merissa’s cheeks reddened. “Just admiring your swordplay.”

Elara begun to cackle, and Merissa elbowed her.

“Swordplay? Really Merissa?”

“I’m a woman,” she retorted. “I can…admit that he’s…not unpleasant on the eyes.” She looked at Enzo. “Though I wouldn’t dare say the same about Enzo for fear of being turned to dust by you.”

Elara threw an arm around her. “That’s my girl. But gods, does he look edibleright now.”

“Point,” Leo said, gesturing to Enzo. Her lion punched his fist in the air, a fireball shooting from it. Elara and Merissa cheered, clapping as Adrian looked to the skies.

“Seems there’s a little bias here.”

“Aw, are you a sore loser?” Enzo said.

Adrian rolled his shoulders. “Not at all.” And with a smirk and the flick of a hand, he doused the Lion with water from thin air.

Enzo cursed, his curls plastered to his head as Adrian chuckled.

Flames licked him as they dried him up. “Do you think you’re fun—"

Another invisible water balloon drowned Enzo as the Lion sputtered. “Poor kitty cat doesn’t like water, does he?” Adrian crooned.

“Adrian, I swear to gods—"

Adrian yawned, flicking his hand again as Enzo’s sentence was cut off, another onslaught of water dousing him.

“Fine,” Enzo hissed. “Let’s play dirty.”

With simply a blink, a wall of fire licked around Adrian, forming a ring as the pirate yelped.