Page 75 of The Never List
“Right,” she says as we walk farther onto the soft sandy beach, closer to the water as we turn to face it.“Wow.”She takes in the luscious sapphire ocean stretching out ahead of us. It touches the horizon, the sun high and bright above it. The cresting waves glisten like jewels.
My heart expands as I watch her take it in. The ocean is my home more than the villa I own on the highest peak of the cliff behind us. Her reaction to the water will tell me everything I need to know about her. The vastness of it can be overwhelming—consuming, even. But if you’re able to appreciate its infinite strength and respect it, then there is an endless well of power in it.
“Axl.” She says my name on an exhaled breath, and my senses heighten to the tone. Soft but sharp, awed but intrigued. She turns to face me, lifting her chin so she can meet my eyes. “This is unfair.”
“What is?” I tilt my head, my long black hair sweeping over my shoulders.
She waves an arm to the ocean. “You get to live here every single day? Get to see this, spend time with this every day? How is any other city supposed to compare?”
I laugh. “Every city in Lumathyst has its qualities.” I cock a brow at her, leaning down slightly. “But mineisthe best.”
“A close second,” Kal argues.
She laughs then, a real, raw laugh that wafts along my bones and shakes away the darkness clinging to us from everything we’re not talking about—the execution; the secrets we know she’s hiding, thanks to Jax’s lie detection powers; the very real fact that she may not choose us in the end.
“Your highness,” someone calls to me from behind, and I turn toward the person. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but…” The young man hesitates as he looks from me to Kal and back again, bowing at the waist.
“It’s all right,” I assure him when he continues to hesitate. I hate that my people have been trained to react this way. Schooled by my father to bow, grovel, and fear my presence. I’ve tried to undo that damage for years. “What’s wrong?”
“I work on theSapphire Six, your highness,” he says, breathless and still bowing.
“Has something happened to your ship?” I ask, instinct roaring.
Kal straightens at my side, as if he can sense the shift in me, too.
The Faders have been breaching more territory lately,and I’ve worried it was only a matter of time before they started attacking my ships. Our fishermen are vital to the survival of Lumathyst—their catches ensure we have food, not to mention the trade we do with allied kingdoms across the sea.
“Something caught hold of one of our largest nets,” he hurries to explain, and I release a tight breath. Not the Faders, thank the goddesses. “We lost it. A few of our best swimmers tried to retrieve it, but they couldn’t make it down far enough.” He wrings his hands, hesitance written all over his features.
Fuck me, the news of the execution last night must have this man on edge. I know my people respect me—something I’ve worked hard for—but they still fear the kings, and with good reason.
“I worry that if it’s left down there, an animal could get caught and—”
“I understand,” I say, cutting off his worried words. “I’ll take care of it. Give me the general location.”
Relief loosens his tight muscles so quickly, I worry he’ll topple over. He manages to stay upright but bows over and over again after giving me the details. “Thank you, your highness. Thank you so much.”
“Not a worry,” I say, waving off the young man. He hurries off the beach and up the stairs like he’s scared my generosity will wear off. Regret settles heavily inside me, but I wash it away with the hope I have for the future.
One day, my people will not cower in fear at the sight of authority.
“So, we’re going swimming?” Rylee asks, looking at Kal and then me.
“I’mgoing swimming,” I answer. “You heard the kid. It’s deep—”
“You don’t think I can keep up?” she challenges, and fire licks through my veins.
“You think you can keep up with me?”
She bites her lip. “Only one way to find out.”
I flash Kal a questioning look.
He smirks, giving me a subtle nod. “You’d be surprised what Rylee can handle,” he says, and she beams up at him.
I smile, folding my arms over my chest. “You do know what I can do, right?” I ask, drawing her attention. Before she can answer, I call to the water behind me, shooting it up in pillars so high, they look like they scrape the sky.
Her eyes follow the pillars, widening with a sort of awe that makes my chest swell.
