Strength

by W. J. May

  “Someone’s jumpy.”

  Seth glanced up in surprise. “Me? Not at all.”

  Ellanden abandoned his lamentations long enough to join in with a cruel laugh. “What did you expect, Ash? He saw you on the beach. I’d be jumpy, too.”

  Asher’s face tightened in mock concern. “You might not have had many dealings with vampires, but when I said I was going to find something to eat...I didn’t mean you.”

  The men laughed again as Seth dropped his gaze with a thoughtful smile. He let them go at it a few seconds before lifting his head and looking each one right in the eyes.

  “I’ve haven’t had many dealings with vampires, but I’ve seen what they can do. Any child of the kingdoms would tell you the same. Those aren’t the kinds of images you can ever forget.”

  The laughter stopped abruptly.

  “Now if you’re really feeling thirsty, there’s a barrel of raw meat in the back of the hull.” The shifter’s lips twitched up in a vengeful grin. “Perhaps we can find you a straw.”

  THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSED in similar fashion. As the sun made its slow trek across the sky, the friends whiled away the hours on the main deck. Either by the necessity of their injuries or simply the company, none of them was at all inclined to leave. Neither were they inclined to get the ship moving in a more deliberate fashion. As long as the troubles that chased them were temporarily held at bay they were content to take a moment for themselves, reveling in the calm before the storm.

  Some were trying to put it from their minds. Others had a slightly different approach.

  “...the Dunes.”

  Evie kept her eyes shut, though her shoulders fell with a little sigh. For the last five minutes, she’d been hearing the words with increasing inflection and regularity. She’d sought comfort with Asher, laying her head across his lap, but it seemed there was no escaping them.

  “...the Dunes.”

  The others never shifted position. Most didn’t open their eyes. The only one who even took the time to reply was Ellanden, and he did so with increasing impatience.

  “Stop saying it.”

  Freya ignored him, lying on her back and staring up at the sky.

  “No point in avoiding it...the Dunes.” She rolled suddenly onto her stomach, propping up on her arms. “You know, they say avoiding a word gives it power. You should all be chanting like me.”

  Asher stifled a sigh, running his fingers absentmindedly through Evie’s hair. “And yet we’re somehow restraining ourselves...”

  The witch ignored that, too, returning to her original position. “I read a book once—a book about the Dunes—that said it was full of abnormally-sized creatures. Bugs as big as horses. Beasts that could touch the sky. Do you think that’s true?”

  “Absolutely not,” Ellanden replied curtly, though he refused to meet her eyes. “These days, it’s nothing more than a sprawling wasteland of sand. The only danger is mixing fact and fiction.”

  “It isn’t fiction,” she insisted. “At least, that’s not the section where I found it.”

  “Oh, you found this book at the library?” Seth asked innocently. “The one that you—”

  “—that we fell out of, yes.” Evie snapped at him with a glare.

  While most of their adventure thus far read a bit like a tragedy, the shifter couldn’t help but find humor in certain parts of their sordid tale. As if these delightful observations weren’t enough, he was always gracious enough to share with the rest of them.

  “...the Dunes.”

  “You know, I still don’t know why we brought him along.” Ellanden flashed the shifter a chilling look. “We haven’t needed help thus far. Even with the horses—”

  “The horses?” Seth interrupted cheerfully. “The horses that turned out to be kelpies?”

  The fae went quiet, glaring murderously at his drink.

  “So my question is this,” Freya sat up tipsily, swaying a bit from all the alcohol running through her system. “What does a bug the size of a horse do all day? Where does it sleep? For that matter—where do regular-sized bugs sleep?”

  Cosette shook her head slowly, staring up at the sky. “This is why I don’t let you drink whiskey.”

  “Are you kidding?” Evie grabbed the bottle, fighting back a wince as a stab of pain shot through her ribs. “The whiskey is the only thing keeping her alive.”

  “What was that?” Asher asked accusingly, sitting them both up higher so he could get a better look at her. “You flinched.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “You haven’t fixed it yet? The only reason we came out here—”

  “Oh leave her alone, Asher.” Cosette tossed a cork at him, feeling a bit tipsy herself. “The girl has more important things on her mind.”

  “That’s right,” Freya said crossly. “We were talking about bugs.”

  “You quarrel like family,” Seth murmured with a smile. “It reminds me of—

  “—of your uncle?” Ellanden interjected. “The one who sold you as a slave?”

  A sudden hush fell over the ship as five pairs of eyes turned his way.

  “Oh, come on!” He threw up his hands. “How is that not the same thing?”

  The friends settled gradually back into place, avoiding each other’s eyes and passing around the bottle. After a while, they opened another. A while after that, Freya mumbled under her breath.

  “This will be the least of our problems when we get to the Dunes...”

  THE HOURS DRAGGED BY as the ship drifted farther out towards the open sea.

  For the most part, nothing had changed. The fae were still grieving the demise of their beloved bow. The rest were doing their best not to laugh openly and say something they might regret. It was going just fine until Asher suggested the might hold a memorial service.

  That’s when the fae decided to forget the quest and throw him overboard.

  That’s when the rest of them decided to make themselves scarce.

  “Just remember your training—you’ll be fine.” Evie flashed a sweet smile at her boyfriend, waving farewell as he was shoved violently against the railing. “I’ll see you later...or not.”

  She spun around on her heel, heading back towards the captain’s cabin, but a hand shot out of nowhere and pulled her out of the doorway—back onto the main deck.

  “Seth!” she said in surprise, staring up at the tall shifter. “What’s wrong?”

  “With me? Nothing.” His eyes twinkled as he looked her up and down with a smile. “How about you...couple of cracked ribs?”

  She froze instinctively, then yanked her arm back with a defensive flush. “No.”

  He didn’t challenge it. He didn’t say a word. He simply stood there, leaning against the railing with a patient smile, until the princess’ composure finally cracked.

  “Fine—they’re completely shattered, all right?” She circled around the corner, out of sight from the others. “I can’t breathe. I can’t fix it. And I’m probably going to die.”

  He chuckled quietly, joining her by the sails. “You’re a theatrical bunch, I’ll give you that.”

  She started to deny it, but the vampire was being forced by knife-point off the plank. Instead, she folded her arms stiffly across her chest—biting her lip at the extra pain it caused.

  “You just need to shift,” he continued. “I don’t know why you haven’t done it already.”

  ...because it isn’t that simple.

  “Why haven’t you done it?” she fired back.

  He gestured down at himself. “I have. How do you think I’m walking around on this leg?”

  She glanced down, noticing for the first time.

  Growing up in the Belarian palace, she’d seen firsthand the miraculous power of shifting. A man in her father’s guard had once fallen from the top story of the castle, but survived because he’d landed as a wolf. She had no doubt that shifting was the answer to her problems now.

  There was just one little problem...

/>   “I can’t do it,” she muttered.

  He tilted his head with a frown. “Sorry?”

  “I said that I can’t do it,” she answered through gritted teeth. “Every breath hurts like hell and I can’t concentrate enough to...” Her cheeks flamed and she turned away quickly. “I just can’t do it, okay? Let it go.”

  Most people would have left. Especially most strangers. But Seth was different than the people she was used to. And she was shocked to realize they’d left the title of ‘strangers’ behind.

  “Didn’t your father teach you this?”

  She lifted her head slowly, pale with rage. “Excuse me?”

  “I don’t mean to offend,” he said quickly, eyes dancing with curiosity. “It’s just...you’re the daughter of a shifter. The most famous shifter in all the realm. How is it possible you wouldn’t—”

  “Because I’ve only shifted a handful of times.”

  He took an actual step back in surprise.

  “...really?”

  Her cheeks flushed again, but she was unable to answer. It was one thing confessing it to Freya. It was another to speak of it around those she considered family. But it was something else entirely to discuss such things with another shifter—especially one as naturally gifted as Seth.

  “Go on, make your jokes.” She tried to smile, but found herself on the verge of tears. “It’s not like I don’t feel ridiculous enough already—”

  “You misunderstand me,” he interrupted. “I saw you fighting on the beach. You were able to do something like that...and you’ve only shifted a handful of times?”

  High praise. Especially considering who she was speaking to.

  She warmed with a secret smile, tucking her hair behind her ears. “It’s nothing compared to you. I’ve never seen anyone fight the way you did in the arena. It was unbelievable.”

  He shrugged, surprisingly modest. “It got the job done.”

  She laughed shortly, used to dealing with egos far greater than his own.

  “‘It got the job done’?” she quoted sarcastically. “I could never fight like that.”

  “Of course you could,” he said easily. “It just takes practice.” He paused a moment before adding, “So does shifting on command.”

  She let out a painful sigh, staring out towards the ocean. “At last, the point emerges...”

  He laughed quietly, stepping into her line of sight.

  “Sorry if I’m not willing to let it go, Princess. But in case you haven’t been listening to Freya all day, we’re heading to the Dunes. Call it self-preservation, but I don’t want the only other wolf in the party fighting for breath with a pair of broken ribs.”

  She threw up her hands, flinching once more. “It’s not like I haven’t been trying! I’ve been trying since the second we stepped onto the ship.”

  He nodded patiently, reminding her suddenly of her father. “What happens when you try?”

  Her eyes narrowed sarcastically. “I stay human.”

  “That’s terribly clever, Princess.” He stared deep into her eyes, never losing that unshakable calm. “Just remember that my bones aren’t broken. And I can shift just fine.”

  She glared up at him in silence, then lowered her gaze in defeat.

  “You know that feeling you get right before it happens?” she asked softly. “When everything kind of sharpens?” He nodded intently, still staring into her eyes. “Well, that’s where it stops for me. I’ll get to that point, but before anything can happen the pain comes back and I can’t even breathe.”

  He grimaced sympathetically, nodding again.

  “The pain makes it harder,” he admitted. “But the principle is the same. All that’s stopping you is a basic fear response. You think it will hurt more to shift, but it won’t.”

  “It will—”

  “I promise it won’t.” He raked his hair back, shivering a bit in the evening breeze. “And as far as that feeling goes, you just need a little motivation.”

  She laughed painfully, lifting a bracing hand to her ribs. “Motivation. I couldn’t have better motivation.”

  He stared down at her for a moment, then without a word of warning he ripped off her cloak—leaving her completely naked aboard the freezing cold ship. She reeled back with a gasp, wrapping her arms across her chest. But he was already walking away—taking the cloak with him.

  “Now you do.”

  Chapter 5

  After another dreamless night, the six friends reconvened on deck the next morning. They were anxious and sore, but well-rested and well-fed for the first time in what felt like ages.

  They hadn’t slept together, but had spread out in various quarters on the same deck. A few had tried exploring, but there wasn’t much on a Carpathian ship that would bring a smile to one’s face. The whiskey was by far the highlight. When they’d discovered a large holding room full of cages, manacles and chains, they decided collectively to leave and lock it behind them. Seth hadn’t said another word for the rest of the evening. Shortly after, they’d turned in for the night.

  “Good morning,” Asher called brightly, joining the rest of them on deck.

  The others waved distractedly, mid-breakfast, while the princess looked down with a smile.

  “Morning.”

  Unlike the others, she and Asher had slept together. Granted, sleep was all they managed to do. After being tricked naked and left with few options other than canine transformation, the princess had grown rather attached to the idea of clothes.

  “You’re not hungry?” he asked quietly, sitting down beside her.

  She shook her head, shooting the shifter a vengeful look. “Still suffering the after-effects of hypothermia. I imagine it will be quite some time before I manage to take a bite.”

  Seth grinned, taking a swig of cider. “Yeah, but I bet you can breathe now, right?”

  Deciding not to answer, she pushed to her feet—stepping gingerly through the makeshift picnic and resting her hands on the giant wooden wheel behind them. Growing up, she’d taken many voyages to the coast with her parents, mostly to inspect her mother’s navy or christen a new ship. Quickly bored by the logistical drivel, she would flee the adults with her trusty guards, Mace and Hastings, and go off in search of just such a wheel. When she was younger, the guards would take turns lifting her so she could see to the horizon—spinning it violently and shouting warnings to imaginary pirates and sea creatures alike. When she was older, she stood on her own—gazing silently towards the horizon and secretly longing for all the adventures yet to come.

  Much the same way she was doing now.

  Only this time, she knew what was waiting on the other side.

  ...the Dunes.

  Freya could soften it all she wanted through jokes and repetition, but there was something inherently chilling about the words. It was like the place itself could feel them coming, whispering dark greetings and sending them across the sea.

  The princess shivered in the morning breeze, drawing her emerald cloak around her. In three days’ time they would reach the sandy shores. Two days if the wind held. Then at last they would see it. Then at last they would get the answers to all those questions that plagued them in the night.

  Where is the stone? Who else is after it? Have they reached it already?

  ...which one of us is going to die?

  A dull ache settled into her shoulders, one that had nothing to do with what happened on the beach. Try as she might, it was impossible to forget the opening words of their mantra. They’d burned into the princess’ mind from the moment the witch said them in the carnival tent.

  Three shall set out, though three shall not return...

  Her eyes tightened as they drifted between Asher and Ellanden—laughing obliviously at some forgettable joke. If the fates were right, then one of them wouldn’t be going home with the others. Their first adventure was destined to be their last.

  Or maybe it’s me.

  The princess turned away, staring back acr
oss the water. Wouldn’t she prefer it? That she should be the one sacrificed, so neither of the men she’d loved since childhood would have to die? Her every instinct screamed yes, and yet it was impossible to truly wish for one’s own demise.

  I could make it happen, she thought suddenly, her body going suddenly cold. In the moment of reckoning, I could take fate into my own hands and make it happen. To satisfy the prophecy. To save their lives—

  “Evie?”

  She whipped around with a gasp, smiling quickly when she saw Asher standing there. He looked unspeakably beautiful—bathed in the golden sunrise with the ocean breeze in his hair.

  “What were you thinking about?” he asked softly. “Your gaze was a million miles away.”

  She hesitated a moment, then smiled as best she could.

  “You,” she answered truthfully.

  It might be impossible to lie to a fae, but it was nearly impossible to lie to a vampire as well. At least this vampire. He had always been too good at reading people. Ever since they were kids.

  “Me,” he repeated with a little smile, stepping forward so his arms circled her waist. In the beginning, they’d been too nervous to actually touch each other. Now, they could hardly keep their hands to themselves. “What about me?”

  She kissed him before he was ready, pulling away before he had time to react.

  “That,” she said quickly, averting her gaze. “I wanted to do that.”

  He froze where he stood, staring back with the hint of a frown. But before he could say anything, the others abandoned what was left of their breakfast and joined them. That horizon was beckoning everyone. They were suddenly anxious for the sails to open and the adventure to begin.

  It took them a second to realize everyone else was doing the exact same thing.

  “Asher,” Ellanden prompted, lowering his voice like the vampire had done something embarrassing, “let’s go.”

  The vampire stared blankly, still holding the princess in his arms. “What do you mean?”