Page 151 of The Last Guardian

If one bought into such ideas.

Arystan responded, “Yes, indeed,” but his attention was elsewhere. “Please enjoy your reading,” he added before drifting away in thought. “We’ll see each other on the ship.”

THE AROMA OF iron and salt enveloped my senses. The sun was already setting on the sea as I boarded the ship two days later.

Barrels rolled against the hull, thrumming beneath our feet as we stepped on the deck, sailors shouting, running to prepare our departure.

Dorian, behind me, was busy taking in all the details of the ship, from the towering wolf painting on the sails to the sheer size of the vessel, which dwarfed the house we had stayed in just days before.

“Holy shit,” Dorian muttered under his breath, turning his head skyward, “it’s gigantic!”

Bennett elbowed him with a little wink. “You’ll see when this thing is on.”

Dorian raised a brow as Sam answered next to him, “It’s the fastest ship you will ever see.”

“It’s freaking amazing.” My brother smiled before he asked the men, “What are your positions?”

Sam passed a hand in his blond hair and snorted, saying to his friend, “This guy has the cap’ in his pocket.”

Bennett rolled his eyes. “Bullshit, I’m just more experienced than you—and it’s not the cap’ who chose the second officer, jackass.”

“Right,” Sam smirked, puffing and glaring at him. “Anyway, I’m on watch—first eyes on whatever’s coming for us.”

“Lookout?” Dorian raised a brow, and Sam nodded. Dorian chuckled, “Fucking awesome.”

Sam gave a satisfied look.

A small smile curled on my lips at the sight of Dorian—how aligned with the sea he was. How his soft brown eyes glinted with the sun, how his dark hair swayed in the wind.

Heavy footsteps rumbled on the floor as I turned and noticed Lyra stepping on the ship in haste. A flush rose on her pale neck as she clenched her fists, knuckles white.

I frowned when she stopped at my side. “Are you okay?”

Lyra’s jaw tightened, and she muttered, “I am going to kill him.”

I already knew for whom these words were when I saw Arthur step on the deck, followed by Nefeli, Zaid, and Dax.

I leaned against Lyra. “What happened?”

But Dorian moved near her before she could utter a word, curling his arm around her shoulders. “I feel like you need to relax, Lyra,” Dorian purred. “You seem tense.”

Lyra shook her shoulders to push his arm away, glaring at him. “Fuck off.”

As the others finally reached up, Nefeli bellowed to her sailors, “You two.” She gestured to Bennett and Sam. “Why aren’t you helping your crew members?”

Bennett had already moved to join his post, as Sam said, “Bossy today, Cap?”

“I will boss your ass off this ship if you don’t move right now.” Nefeli glared as she followed behind them.

My eyes drifted to Arthur for a moment, whose eyes were already on me. I dreaded the conversation that would follow between us.

“So, guys,” Dax bellowed against the gusty wind, “we have enough rooms for each of you. Alyana, you can stay in the same quarters as last time.” I nodded as I glanced at the general. Dax added, “Arthur, yours is on the main deck as usual.”

Dorian and I flinched as Lyra snarled at Arthur.

As usual.

Dax grimaced, glancing at Zaid. “Okay, tense.”