With each rat I’d bound, it became easier, and the evidence of my progress had left my right hand covered in scabs. In two days I’d managed to catch seven rats, and while I was proud of that accomplishment, I was trying not to worry about the diseases I might have caught from them. I did my best to hide everything from Leander, only attempting to lure the rats when the door was locked. So far he hadn’t noticed the bites.

Outside of that, the days passed slowly as we continued across the Emerald Sea. Leander and I hardly spoke, but in my boredom, I had taken to cracking the door open during the day. Of course, there wasn’t much to do except stare out into the hall where he apparently spent the majority of his days.

More often than not, I’d find him staring into space, but with his jaw firmly set as if deep in thought or meditation. He would look that way for hours. Other times, which were far fewer, I noticed he had a book with him. Even so, he seemed to grow bored when he did try to read, and I could never make out the title.

On the occasions that Leander noticed me watching him, he’d silently stare back in challenge, taking on an intense expression that I couldn’t match. He fascinated me with the pieces he presented, and I wished I could figure out how they all fit together. He was handsome, and dressed like he belonged to a well-off family, and yet he was working as a hired lackey for House LeMont. He also had a talent for healing, and yet he acted as a jailer. Why?

For someone so young, he almost behaved as if he was carrying years of burden on his shoulders. His posture was often slumped in exhaustion, and he rarely looked more positive than grim. When we’d first boarded, Leander had been quiet, but the nearer we came to our destination, the more haunted he seemed.

I could relate.

Each day, my prison seemed to grow smaller. I had no books to read, no paper to write on, and certainly no needles or thread to fix the hole in Alexia’s handkerchief where the bumblebee’s wing used to be. The only part of me benefitting from the lack of activities was my broken hand. With nothing to do except lean against the wall, lay on the floor, or look out the port hole, my hand was apparently healing quite well. At least, that’s how I interpreted the approving nods and hums Leander made while examining it every morning.

After hours of staring out into the hall, I realized that the light had noticeably dimmed. I stood up and walked to the window and peered out at the sea. It was barely past noon, but the clouds looked like they were made of thick shadows. Tiny flashes of light danced from deep within them, and choppy waves began to slap against the side of the ship.

I wasn’t the only one to notice. Two floors above on the deck, I could make out the shouts of the sailors. I couldn’t understand them, even as I tried to strain my ears. I sighed in defeat. If I had sharper senses, like the rats, I could probably make out what they were saying.

Footsteps stepped across the threshold into my cell. I turned, noticing Leander. He peered past me at the darkening sky, and the key to lock me in was already in his hand.

“I’ve never seen the sky look like that before.” I said nervously.

“Looks like we’re sailing into an early summer storm.” He fiddled with the key in his hand. “I’m going to go up and get a better look at it. I’ll talk to the captain, and see if there’s anything I can do to help. I’ll be back soon. Just stay put until then.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” I scoffed, turning back to the window. We both knew that once the door was locked, I’d have no choice.

Leander’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t say anything else as he locked me in, leaving me to watch the sky grow darker and the waves higher by myself.

Within half an hour, the storm hit us. The rain was almost deafening as it blew through the broken window and the ship pitched up and down. We had turned just enough that we were steering into the waves, instead of being rocked by them. I had watched with wide eyes from the window until the wind and rain had stung. Soon after, it became blinding and I was forced to back away from the hole.

As the storm’s intensity grew, I couldn’t keep my balance. I’d nearly been knocked off my feet when we’d hit the first large wave. All I could do was brace myself on the ground, huddled against the wall and wrapped in the thicker of my two blankets to shield myself from the storm that blew in.

At least the rain is warm. I thought, trying to stay positive. But I had never been on a ship before, and I’d certainly never been caught in a storm. I was growing terrified that one of these waves would knock the ship over, and I’d drown while locked in this room, unable to swim.

The ship crested another wave and then plunged down sharply. The tray I’d eaten lunch on slid down towards the door. My stomach dropped with it as we leveled out for a minute. The motion was nauseating, and I swallowed the bile back down, squeezing my eyes shut.

“Is this because I was asking what would happen if the Bridal Path ships went down during a storm?!” I cried. “Because I wasn’t wishing it on any of them!”

“Are you okay?” I heard a voice shout over the storm.

I opened my eyes to see Leander standing in the doorward, drenched. I hadn’t even realized he’d returned.

“No!” I yelled back in response. I was so relieved that he came back, I almost started to cry. “Are we going to die?”

“Not today.” Leander braced himself against the door frame, waiting for the ship to level out before crossing into the room. “Who were you shouting at?” He asked as he grabbed the second blanket and braced himself on the ground next to me, holding it over his head.

“The gods!” I answered, but suddenly I was too loud. The rain suddenly sounded farther away, even though it was still flying sideways through the window.

He cocked his head to the side in genuine surprise. “I wasn’t aware you were religious. You haven’t ever shown any interest.”

“I’m not. Well, maybe I am now. I don’t know!” It’s not like he’d known me nearly long enough to even know.

The ship pitched again, and Leander shot out an arm to try and keep me from sliding forward.

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“Why the faith now?” He asked. Were we really having this discussion now?

“Because I have to believe that out of everything that’s happened, that there is someone out there watching over me. Someone who is watching me pay for my mistakes but won’t let me die for them!” I shouted the last part, like I could point out to any of the old gods that I had suffered enough.

I thought of the one person who had apparently been watching me, and glowered. “Someone who isn’t Caspian.”

His expression turned confused. “Caspian?”

“Yes, Caspian.” My teeth clenched. “You may have seen him. Giant jungle beast with wings. He’s an Eidolon, and because Eidolons are some kind of spirit beings, he can apparently be wherever he wants to be without being seen. If he hadn’t spied on me, there was still a chance that—” I stopped myself, shaking my head. “Nothing would have changed.” I pulled the blanket tighter around myself.

Leander’s mouth set in a firm line as the ship rose in another incline. “I don’t know if it’ll change your opinion of him or not, but maybe Caspian didn’t mean to spy on you. Maybe he had no choice?”

“Ha! That’s a laugh. Of course he had a choice. He’s one of the god’s messengers, and they’re not even around anymore. That’s what makes it so much worse. His presence alone makes my father Godsblessed, even if there’s no god left to care.”

The tray started to slide at me, and I kicked it away in frustration. “If he was sent by the gods, then I could pretend it was for some cosmic meaning. But the gods are gone. He’s with my father by choice. I’ll never forgive him for supporting such a man.”

Leander listened without interrupting, but I could tell that he didn’t agree with me.

“I think...” He spoke, slowly like he was afraid I might start yelling at him next. “...that there’s a lot going on where your father is concerned. Few things are as easy as we believe them to be, the gods and their messengers included.”

“How very noncommittal of you.” I scoffed. “Why are you even on this ship?”

A fresh gust of air blew in through the window, splattering both of our faces with water.

“Did you forget where we’re going?” He asked through clenched teeth himself. “I’m bringing you to your groom.”

I shoved his arm away from me. “I’m not stupid, Leander. I know where we are going. I just don’t know why you’re here.” I slid a foot away from the wall without his support and had to scramble backwards.

“I’m here because your father was worried that you’d be able to escape the Steward.” He bit out. “Satisfied? He wants this arrangement with Count Lovick so badly that he sent me. Because he thought that even if you didn’t escape, Daniel wouldn’t be able to stomach the exchange.”

I licked the salt water off of my lips, wiping at my stinging cheeks. “Why wouldn’t Daniel be able to stomach the exchange?”

Leander didn’t answer, not as the ship pitched again violently. He didn’t ask permission as he grabbed me, holding me to him before I slid with the trunk to the other half of the room. It crashed noisily against the wall, and I flinched at the sound.

“Answer me!” I shouted, struggling in vain to pull away. Desperate for answers.

“The count...” Leander hesitated, closing his eyes. “Daniel used to serve the Lovick house when he was younger. It was before he came to serve the duke. He doesn’t speak of his time there.” His tone was angry as he continued. “Lovick is known for the creative ways in which he disciplines his staff. He’s been desperate for a wife, but he’s not had any success finding a match. The emperor hasn’t allowed him to participate in Trasenmar after his first wife passed.”

“Did he kill her?!” My mouth dropped open in panic.

He eased his grip on me as the ship leveled out again. “She was caught with another man and then executed for infidelity.”

“Oh gods...” He killed his own wife when he could have just divorced her instead! I’d thought that I’d already suffered the worst of my punishment, but I hadn’t tried to think of my groom…

I started to hyperventilate.

“Daelyn?” Leander’s eyes widened, realizing a moment later what was happening. “Shh…It’s going to be okay.”

“I—can’t.” I gasped.

He moved himself from my side so that we faced each other, his golden eyes nearly glowing as they reflected against the dark. He placed a wet hand against my cheek and he leaned forward to touch his forehead to mine.

“Just breathe.” He encouraged.

“I won’t—survive the count.” I was starting to get light-headed. How much had his wife suffered before she’d found comfort in another man? She’d been willing to risk death for a reprieve—

“Try, mistress. Just breathe with me, in...” Leander inhaled deeply. “And out...” He exhaled, and I did my best to follow along.

Mistress. The word reminded me of Caspian.

“I. Hate. That. Word.” I hissed between my teeth.

“I know.” He chuckled.

Thankfully, the burst of irritation helped disrupt the spiral of my thoughts. Seconds turned into minutes as I leaned against Leander’s forehead and into his palm. I wasn’t even sure if the moisture on my cheeks was from the rain or if I’d started crying again.

His thumb gently rubbed against my skin. Comforting. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

I wished that I could let him lie to me. That we could both pretend that he wasn’t my jailer and I, his prisoner.

My lip trembled as I spoke. “Why is it that Daniel might not have the stomach for it, but that you do?”

His thumb stilled, and desperation clawed its way out of my chest. I needed the truth. I needed to understand where he’d come from and why.

I asked again, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. “Why did my father send you, Leander?”

We were so close that his warm breath ghosted against my lips. If not for fear of the answer, my heart would have raced from the proximity alone. I’d thought Leander’s touch on my hand had been intimate, but it was nothing compared to sharing his breath. I wondered if his mouth was as gentle as his hands.

I didn’t move, frozen in place as I stared into his pained, golden eyes.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, pulling away, letting his hand drop from my cheek to fall to his side. The absence of his touch felt like a slap.

It wasn’t an answer, it was worse. It felt like pity.

“No,” I choked, scooting farther away from him. “You don’t get to be sorry. You are knowingly handing me over to a monster.” My voice cracked. “And you are apparently better suited to the task.”

Leander reached a hand out towards me. “You don’t understand—”

“And whose fault is that?” I snapped, glad that the ship seemed to have passed through the worst of the storm. Carefully, I stood up on shaky legs. The fabric of my clothes clung to me, making me itch.

He had been so kind and caring, and had only ever shown me how gentle he could be. He had lowered my guard, and I’d forgotten who he worked for. It didn’t matter why Leander was here, only who had sent him. My father, who would have let me stab my own eye just to prove that he still held power over me.

But Leander did stop you... A quiet thought interrupted my anger. But only for a moment.

“I can’t change your fate. I’m sorry, I’ve tried.” He said as he rose to his feet, his face a mask.

“How have you tried, Leander?” I braced a hand against the wall as the ship rocked forward and then back. “If you wanted to help me, you would let me run.”

“I can’t—”

“Then I don’t wanna hear about your supposed efforts!” I shouted, turning on him with an anger that surprised the both of us as he backed away. “You don’t know me. You don’t care about me or my fate. Your kindness is cruel, and I am tired of suffering.”

The muscles of his throat strained as he stared at me. His mouth opened just to snap shut again. My eyes focused on his throat, recognizing it for what it was. He really couldn’t explain.

My eyes widened as the pieces that I’d been unable to string together began to fit. Leander was bound to my father. He was just as trapped as I was, forced to fulfill the commands forced upon him.

He stared at me, his mask slipping enough to show a man desperate to be free. Hope burned in his gaze, like he was waiting for me to understand, to do something with the knowledge.

“I’m sorry.” He said, and I knew exactly what he was sorry for.

He had been commanded to escort me to Count Lovick. He had no choice but to do it. How many of our interactions have been genuine? Had he been commanded to appear charming in order to disarm me? Was he Count Lovick’s representative, sent to secure this match on his behalf?

I couldn’t let him succeed, regardless of who his master was. I needed to escape as soon as I could, as soon as we reached the shores of Etheroz.

His voice was hesitant. “Daelyn?”

“Don’t be sorry.” I finally answered, “I shouldn’t have believed things were any different than they are. Thank you for reminding me of the forces at play.” I hugged my arms to myself. “But I can’t trust you. I don’t know the lengths my father went through to prepare you for this task. I’m sorry.”