28. Elianna

Chapter twenty-eight

Elianna

As we sailed farther away from the main continent of Velyra, the days at sea became a blur. Zaela's tormenting of Avery and Gage had ceased, and it appeared the two of them were getting to know each other… quite well . Veli and Zae could also be seen whispering to each other in the shadowy corners of the ship from time to time. The rest of us stayed busy by lending a hand to the crew as we sailed across the Vayr Sea.

I stood at the ship’s bow, my eyes narrowing in on The Elora Isles set off in the far distance as the crew lowered the anchor nearly two miles from shore.

“Are you sure we need to remain this far from the land?” I asked Veli with a sigh as I blocked the sun’s glare with my hand.

“We are already too close. They must not notice the ship or the wyv—”

“Wyvern, yes. Nox will stay out of sight,” I cut her off.

Footsteps echoed from behind us. “We will paddle a pinnace to shore,” Jace announced as he joined us and pointed to the small boat.

“Men are not welcome.” Veli’s voice darkened.

Jace lifted his hands in a defensive gesture, but his eyes looked unamused. “Gage and I will remain on said pinnace…” He paused. “However, if you believe I will willingly sit back here and remain useless while Lia steps foot on those shores…you are out of your mind.”

Veli scoffed. “Witches are not the only creatures who roam those isles, boy .”

I took a step between them as a growl left Jace. Looking at Veli through deeply furrowed brows, I said, “They will not set foot on the land, but they will be accompanying us as far as your shores will allow. Do you understand?”

“Aye,” she answered after a few moments as her eyes drifted to the awaiting land. My stare wandered to her hip, where her hand tightly gripped her small woven bag that held her forbidden book. “If you will excuse me, the contents of this must never return from where it came.”

I watched her as she stalked to the stairs, shoving past Avery as she made her way to meet us, and then down the stairs that led below deck.

“What was that about?” Avery asked as she made a face at the witch’s back right before she disappeared from sight.

“She won’t bring the book ashore,” I told her. “We will board the pinnace once she returns. Are you ready?”

As the question left me, I realized that while she may be ready to experience her first dangerous task under my command, I certainly was not. My eyes brushed over my sister and I took in the sight of her. Her long auburn hair, normally curled down her back and intricately pinned, was braided over her shoulder. The beautiful, flowing gowns and slippers that made up her attire had been replaced by fighting leathers and boots. My stare lifted back to her face, and when our eyes met, I couldn’t help my smile.

“Of course I’m ready…” She returned my gesture, but it beamed brighter than the sun as the sea breeze whipped the small hairs around her face that fell from her braid. “I’ll go find Gage and let him know we are ready to leave.”

She turned on her feet and followed Veli’s footsteps below deck.

A pulsing wave of comfort shot down our bond, and I turned to my mate as he stared ahead at what awaited us. Moving to his side, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my forehead to his back.

“She will be fine, my Lia,” he said gently. “You worry too much.”

“Avery had never experienced a normal day at the market…and within a matter of weeks, she has led a rebellion across the continent, was under attack several times, and is now about to set foot on one of the most dangerous terrains known to fae-kind. How would you expect me not to worry?”

Amusement flooded me, but I knew the feelings weren’t my own. “Do you have something you’d like to say?” I mumbled as my grip on him loosened, and I stepped around his side.

He looked down at me with a single raised brow. “Interesting that you wish for me to not worry about you stepping on such dangerous soil, yet you worry for your sister who will be with you.”

A tiny smirk crept up my face. “Well, that isn’t fair. ”

“How is it not?” he asked, amusement slipping away from him.

“Because I have training, obviously ,” I answered with a grin.

He rolled his eyes in the grumpy manner that won my heart and moved toward the pinnace that rested at the side of the ship.

Veli reappeared at the top of the stairs, and Gage came around the corner from the stern of the ship. My brows furrowed as I tilted my head to the side in confusion. Suddenly, a glimpse of fiery hair snagged my attention back to the stairs.

“Avery, Gage is over here! Let’s get going,” I called over.

Her eyes widened for a second before giving a nod in response.

I shook my head as my stare moved back to Jace. Lifting my fingers to my lips, I let out a whistle to summon Nox.

His wings sounded thunderously through the air as he emerged from the clouds, descending toward the ship’s deck, causing it to sway violently as his feet touched down.

“Everyone is to stay aboard this ship. No one leaves. It’s not safe for you to step on those lands. Nox will remain here, and to be honest, it may be best to stay out of his way. He gets cranky when I’m out of his sight,” I bellowed to them, and each member of the crew’s faces paled. “Nox, stay here.”

He huffed out a steaming breath through his nostrils at my demand.

“I mean it!” I snapped as I held up my finger.

I turned to face my friends. “Let’s go recruit ourselves a coven.”