Chapter 19

19

Jai watched the crew closely. He no longer saw them as friends or comrades. He didn’t trust that they weren’t part of Priya’s plan. There was a chance they were enslaved as he was, but he couldn’t take that chance. Everything rested with him. Every plan, every action.

He spotted Priya making her way to him at the helm. Her strides were long and angry, and her demeanor let everyone know to keep their distance. There had been a change in how she acted with the crew once she came clean to Jai . He had to hand it to her, she had fooled him in every sense of the word.

“ I want to take her now,” Priya said as she walked up the steps to him.

Jai’s stomach clenched. He didn’t bother asking who she referred to. He knew. “ Why ?”

“ I want her off this ship. I can deliver her now.”

“ Nay .”

Priya’s yellow eyes narrowed. “ What ?”

“ I’m still captain of this ship, and I said nay. I’ll be the one to deliver her.”

“ You’ll still get credit.”

He glanced at her. “ I’ve been thinking about how easily we found her. You knew where she was, didn’t you?”

“ Does that make you angry?”

Very much so and for many, many reasons that he’d keep to himself. “ When I think about the years I hated her, aye, it does. Why did you keep it from me?”

“ You weren’t ready.”

Jai’s grip tightened on the wheel. What had happened to the Priya who used to make him laugh? What’d happened to his sweet friend? When had she changed? How had he missed it? “ Arya stays.”

“ This isn’t up for debate.”

“ I don’t trust that you’ll deliver her.”

Priya’s mouth opened in shock. “ You …what?”

“ You’ve struck her. You kept her sick. I know you hate her, but she’s my ticket to freedom. I’ll deliver her.”

“ Jai ,” she said gently. “ I would never betray you like that.”

But she already had. And they both knew it.

“ You believe me, don’t you?” she asked, stepping closer.

He briefly looked into her eyes. The Priya she had once been stared back at him, but he didn’t let that soften him. He had seen her true colors. There was no going back. “ She riles you, Pri . Let’s play it safe.” When he felt her staring, Jai turned to look at her.

Priya finally relented and held up her hands. “ All right. But I hope this isn’t a mistake.”

“ I won’t allow anything to jeopardize my freedom,” he stated.

She cupped his cheek and gazed up at him adoringly. “ You’ve been up here for hours. Why don’t you let me take over?”

Jai nodded and walked away, feeling eyes on his back. He wanted to turn around to see which of the crew watched him, but he didn’t. Once in his quarters, he barred the door. He waited a few moments before the shadows took him below. He didn’t immediately go to Arya’s chamber. Instead , he moved about the cargo hold, looking for anyone who might be spying. Only when he knew it was clear did he go to her.

She stood at the porthole with her back to him. As the shadows fell away, she turned. He put his finger to his lips and closed the distance between them.

“ What are you doing?” she whispered.

“ I’m sorry. I’ve learned of Priya’s treachery. She took your note.”

Arya nodded. “ I tricked her into revealing that.”

“ I left you two letters. Were any there when you placed yours in the book?”

“ None ,” she said with a shake of her head.

Jai dropped his voice even more. “ You need to get off this ship and go to Dain . Get as many as you can and meet us before we reach the falls. That will be our only chance to take over the ship and free those in the hold.”

“ I thought I was your ticket to freedom?”

“ I have a plan.”

“ Tell me.”

He smoothed hair away from her face and then reached behind her to the necklace. He pressed in the right spot and felt it loosen. “ There isn’t time. Go , while you still can.”

“ Come with me.”

“ I can’t. She’ll slaughter everyone. Go .”

Instead of leaving, she reached for him. Her palm slid along his cheek and then into his hair as she brought his head down. He stiffened for a heartbeat. Then their lips met. He groaned at the feel of her soft mouth. Desire raged inside him, consuming him. Devouring him. He slid his tongue past her lips to tangle with hers.

He deepened the kiss, his need and hunger overtaking him. He cupped her bottom, bringing her against the hard length of his arousal. Jai turned her to the wall when the ship moaned. It broke through the haze of passion. He ended the kiss and pressed his forehead to hers while tenderly cupping her face.

“ Go . Please ,” he whispered.

Her lips touched his again, right before the shadows took her. Jai stood there for a moment longer before taking a breath and hurrying to the upper deck. Priya remained at the helm, her attention on the river as they entered the fast-moving rapids.

He stood with his hands behind his back and his heart thundering. The timing had been perfect. Arya was free and would return long before Priya knew she was gone. Then , if the gods smiled on him, this nightmare might finally come to an end. One way or another. He wouldn’t get away, but he accepted that.

But Arya and the others had a chance.

The ship rode the rolling rapids. Jai swayed with the vessel, his feet firmly planted. But his attention was on the crew. After four years, he wanted to believe he had earned their trust, wanted to think they were all in the same position. And that maybe they would stand with him when Arya returned with help.

Jai had eaten, drank, teased, and worked alongside all of them. He thought he knew them. But he had believed he knew Priya . Now , he couldn’t trust his judgment. Priya steered The Viper around a large outcropping of rocks in the middle of the river that had been the cause of numerous wrecks.

She laughed at having skirted it without damaging the ship. He flashed her a smile because that’s what he would’ve done before. When he turned back around, he spotted one of the crew shaking his head at Priya before returning to work.

Jai’s heart dropped to his feet. They knew Arya was gone. He had thought to have more time, but he had given her enough to get away. He locked his attention on the crew, wondering which of them would come for him first. But he knew that Priya would demand that right. Jai turned to face her.

Which was why he never saw the strike coming.