Page 70 of Heir of Broken Souls

Closing the bathroom door, I can’t help but chuckle softly. They aren’t wrong.

I change into my fresh shirt but my fingers don’t fault for a second as I stride along the bridge and watch as Delilah, shining as bright as a star, smiles up at me softly.

I take it you will fill me in later on everything?

Of course. Maybe in the meantime you can play matchmaker with Axel.

I highly doubt it.

And why is that?

The memory of Axel atop the ship after Delilah declared how lonely Elysia was comes to the forefront of my mind. The moment he sneered at their retreating forms, spitting venomous words under his breath about traitors and betrayal before he stormed away to Zephlyn. Something tells me Axel is going to take a long time to warm up to any newcomers.

Mate or not.

I’ll fill you in later, I say instead.

The sound of their conversation resuming has me pausing. I never claimed to be a saint and with that thought in mind, I listen in as Harlow snorts.

“Gods, after this trip, I’ll never want to step on a boat again.”

Delilah’s beautiful laugh fills the room, making my heart skip a beat. “It’s barely been twelve hours! How are you tired of it already?”

Cracking open the door, I peer through the gap as Harlow points to her wine glass where the red liquid tips precariously high to the rim as the boat rocks sideways. “Because of that.”

“It’s a miracle nothing has broken yet with those buffoons steering,” Elysia murmurs before taking a sip of her wine.

My brows rise. They’ve bonded all right. And Elysia seems to fit right in.

“The only reason I stepped foot on this monstrous thing with them sailing was because the griffins are here and if we need to abort, they’ll fly us somewhere safe!”

Harlow’s grin is pure evil as she sing-songs, “Or you could rely on yourself and learn how to fly.”

Delilah pokes out her tongue.

Another wave rocks the boat. Elysia’s eyes narrow. “Have any of them sailed before?”

Making my eavesdropping known, I step back into the room and drawl, “Not particularly.”

The women burst into a fit of laughter, the faerie wine warping their humor.

“Dinner is up on the top deck in five minutes.”

I leave the drunk women to their fun. For once, my heart beats rapidly out of happiness and not fear. Delilah’s soft, fading giggle is music to my ears. I’ve missed the sound, have prayed to hear it for weeks.

Elysia and Harlow don’t know it, but they’ve just earned my eternal gratitude.

Chapter26

Delilah

My foot gets caught on nothing but air as I stumble up onto the top deck.

All eyes turn my way since I’m the first to emerge, though Harlow and Elysia trail closely behind and also stumble over the same pocket of air I did. I’d like to think that perhaps something is veiled, and we can’t see what is tripping us, but I know it’s just the faerie wine. I’d much rather have wobbly faerie wine legs than sea legs, though.

The setting sun casts a golden hue over the deck and the open sea. Everywhere I turn, there’s only endless water. It’s slightly discombobulating.

Harlow whistles. “We certainly traveled far.”