18. Dacre

CHAPTER 18

DACRE

A s soon as our feet hit the cobblestone street, my senses went on high alert. Every sound was amplified, every scent overwhelming.

I mentally scolded myself for not refusing Verena's request to leave. I should have kept her safe within the confines of the inn, should have tied her ass to the chair until she had no choice but to stay.

But the way she had looked at me cut through my chest like a razor. Her words comparing me to her father's suffocating control, twisted around my mind.

It was suffocating, drowning me in overwhelming guilt for letting her come as we strode side by side toward the docks.

As we stepped onto the main street, a cacophony of people and energy surrounded us. I instinctively pulled Verena closer to me, feeling her body tense against mine. The tension in her body was palpable, a result that we were both at fault for.

Even though I knew she probably only blamed me.

But I wasn't lying when I told her that I wasn't going to give in to her until she begged me. I refused to be a mere escape for her, a fleeting moment of pleasure that she could find with anyone else.

I wanted her to crave me because it was my touch, my presence, that she yearned for with every fiber of her being. Just as I ached for her in return.

I wanted there to be no fear in her eyes when she looked at me, no distrust.

I had seen no signs of my father or his men since arriving at the southern coast, but my eyes scanned the horizon for any sign of them. Despite the lack of physical evidence that they were here, the constant anticipation and deep-rooted distrust for my own flesh and blood weighed heavily on me.

I didn't know the extent of the injuries I had inflicted upon them as we escaped, the damage I had caused and how far behind I had left them. The internal conflict raged within me, hoping that my actions were enough to prevent them from catching up. But no matter what happened between us, he was still my father.

He had great plans for our kingdom once upon a time, but now those plans came at the cost of Verena. He had spoken of her as if she were nothing more than a piece of meat to be used as bait to lure her father into submission.

She was a price that he was more than willing to pay, a sacrifice that cost him nothing.

And I would never forgive him for it.

The very thought of leaving our kingdom made my stomach turn, but I would do whatever it took to protect her.

Yet, despite my resolve, thoughts of Wren and Kai still lingered in the back of my mind. I forced myself to push them away, to banish them so far that they could no longer cloud my judgment. Their presence only served to sow seeds of doubt and hesitation within me.

And I couldn't afford either. Neither of us could.

As we neared the chaotic harbor, Verena turned to me and asked, her voice uneasy, "Which way are we going?"

I raised my hand to point toward the right, where a large wooden ship was docked. Its towering mast reached up toward the cloudless sky, and the bustle of men loading cargo onto its massive deck filled the air with shouts and clanging metal.

The scent of salt water and fish wafted through the salty breeze, tinged with the underlying smell of sweat.

Verena seemed to take it all in as the unforgiving wind whipped at her makeshift scarf. It tugged at the edges, trying to pull free and expose her to the prying eyes around us.

"You stay at my side," I urged her, trying to keep my tone low and calm. "And don't speak unless you absolutely have to. We don't need to draw any attention to us."

Verena nodded silently, though her clenched jaw and narrowed eyes betrayed her frustration at being relegated to a mere bystander in this dangerous game.

But I couldn't afford for her to be reckless or for someone to question who she was right now; her safety was my main concern. It didn't matter if her ego was bruised in the process. All that mattered was getting her out of here in one piece.

The pungent scent of fish overwhelmed us as we stepped onto the docks. Sailors gutted and cleaned various sea creatures, their tools and discarded remnants scattered haphazardly around them.

Amid the flurry of bodies, we pushed our way through the crowd toward the ship I had secured passage on for Verena and myself. My heart raced as we climbed aboard, my grip on her hand tightening with each step.

I searched for the familiar face of the captain I had spoken with just yesterday, my eyes darting across the busy deck, and the sound of waves crashing against the hull filled my ears as we made our way deeper onto the ship.

Minutes passed before the captain finally emerged from below deck, his gruff voice barking orders at the crew. He stopped in front of us, eyeing me warily before turning his attention to Verena.

"Ah, this must be her, the one you are trying to escape with." Despite the chaos around us, his voice cut through the noise like a sharp knife, carrying its gruff and authoritative tone with ease.

Escape. The word hung heavily in the air, echoing in my mind as he looked her over with a steely gaze.

I never used that word with him, but I guessed that a man desperate enough to pay all of his coins and his mother's dagger was easy enough to spot.

We were escaping.

The captain's scrutinizing gaze made me shift uncomfortably, my hand tightening around Verena's as I tried to remain calm and composed.

"We're just checking in," I confirmed, keeping my tone steady despite the nerves hammering in my stomach. "We wanted to make sure everything is settled for tomorrow for the both of us."

The captain raised an eyebrow before grunting in acknowledgment. "Everything is as planned." His rough hand patted my dagger at his side, and I watched as Verena's eyes followed the movement. She stared intently at the weapon, and my unease grew with each passing moment.

"We shall leave with the dawn," he said, casting a stern glance between us. "We will leave without you if you aren't here."

"We'll be here," I reassured him, clasping Verena's slender hand tighter in mine. I could feel her pulse quicken under my touch, and I knew she shared my discomfort with the captain's scrutiny.

I hated the way he was staring her down, as if trying to decode all of her secrets. His gaze held a sharpness that made me want to step in front of Verena and protect her from whatever he was thinking.

But I knew we needed him for our plan to succeed. So I swallowed my discomfort, even as dread settled in my stomach like a heavy stone.

I took a step back, pulling her with me, and nodded my head to the captain. We stepped off the ship, the vessel that would take us away from it all, and the salty sea air filled my lungs as I guided us back toward the familiar inn.

Despite the constant knot of uncertainty that weighed heavy in my stomach, I had just enough coins left to pay the innkeeper for another hot meal. The thought of returning to the warm comfort and familiar safety of our room brought a wave of relief and hope amid the chaos that surrounded us.

Tonight we would be safe, and tomorrow, I looked behind me at the ship once more, we would sail away from this kingdom without looking back.

As we walked, Verena suddenly grabbed my hand with a force that made me stop in my tracks. I turned to face her, my brow furrowing in concern.

"What's wrong?" I asked, observing the tension in her body and the way she anxiously bit on her bottom lip.

"Nothing." She shook her head before stealing a glance behind her at the vast expanse of the sea. "Can we…" She hesitated before taking a deep breath and asking, "Can we go to the ocean?"

"We'll be on the ocean tomorrow." There was no telling how many days we would spend on the sea before we reached the next kingdom.

"That's not what I mean." She looked back at me. "I want to feel the salt on my skin and the waves crashing against my legs," she continued, her eyes pleading with me.

The vast expanse of the ocean stretched out before us, its waves crashing against the rocky shore below.

"It's not safe for us to stay out here," I murmured, glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching us.

Verena's eyes were fixed on the endless horizon, her voice filled with longing and desperation. "I've been able to see the ocean outside my window my whole life, but I've never been in it."

"You felt the salt water on your skin in the hidden city," I replied, trying to reason with her.

"That's different and you know it."

"Verena," I sighed and shook my head, before scanning our surroundings once more. We weren't safe.

"Please," she pleaded, wrapping her hand around my forearm with a tight grip.

My heart ached as I thought about all that she had missed out on in her life, how caged she had been.

"We can't stay long."

Her face lit up, and I could see the relief wash over her.

We made our way down the rocky shore, and I helped her over a few of the large rocks.

I led us far enough down where no one would notice us, far enough away that no one would notice her.

I sat on one of the rocks and watched as she removed her boots and rolled up her pants before standing at the edge of the water. She hesitated for a moment, looking at the cold, blue water before taking a deep breath and stepping into the waves.

She stepped in farther, letting the waves wash over her calves, and she laughed as the water lapped at her legs.

She turned to me, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you."

I smiled back at her and nodded, mesmerized by how the entire coast was before me but all I could see was her. "You're welcome."

She moved in a bit farther until the waves hit her knees, soaking her pants.

As she tilted her face toward the sun, I couldn't help but notice the way the light danced across her skin, creating a soft glow around her features. A gentle breeze playfully danced against the delicate fabric of her scarf, causing it to flutter and sway behind her like a graceful ribbon caught in the wind.

I leaned back on my hands as I watched her. "Is it cold?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Come and find out," she replied with a mischievous grin on her lips. She turned to face me fully, and I was struck once again by how stunning she was.

"I'm fine," I said, shaking my head, more than content just to watch her, captivated by her every move.

She playfully splashed the water in my direction, her laughter carrying on the wind.

"Verena!" I couldn't help but laugh along with her as the water caught me by surprise.

"Get in," she urged, kicking the water with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I watched her, a warm feeling spreading through my chest at the sight of her.

I couldn't resist her any longer, and I kicked off my boots with a grin as I stood up and made my way toward her.

The water was cold against my skin, sending shivers through my body as I waded closer to her. Each wave crashed against my legs, the salty spray mingling with the coolness of the water. I could feel the sand shifting beneath my feet, creating a soothing rhythm with each step I took.

She squealed as I scooped her up in my arms and carried her toward the deeper waters.

"Hey!" she protested, splashing me as we went.

We reached a spot where the water was just above our waists, and I sank down into the water, taking her with me.

Verena laughed as the waves crashed against us, the salt water stinging my eyes as it sprayed me in the face.

I laughed alongside her, but I didn't let her go. She had her arms wrapped around my shoulders as she kicked her feet in the water, and I was overwhelmed by how free she looked in that moment.

"I used to wish I was a mermaid." She kicked again before closing her eyes and leaning her head back until the sun's rays kissed her face.

"Why a mermaid?" I chuckled softly, my eyes roaming over every curve and angle of her delicate features. Her skin glowed in the soft light, highlighting the subtle freckles dusted across her cheeks. Her lips curved in a playful smile, revealing a dimple on one side.

"Can you imagine how free they must be?" She let her arms fall from my neck, holding them out at her sides in the water, and I held her weight in my arms.

"You'll be free soon." I stared down at her, watching her expression as the smile slipped from her lips.

"I'll never be free." With a slow, deliberate movement, she opened her eyes and looked up at me. Her gaze held a depth of emotion that made my chest ache.

"Yes, you will." I nodded. "I won't stop until you are."

She slipped gracefully out of my hold and brushed the water from her face. She turned toward the horizon, the wind gently whipping around us as she took in the vast view before us.

"Was that your dagger the captain had at his side?" Her question sliced through the air like a blade, catching me off guard.

"Technically, it was my mother's."

She turned, her gaze slamming into mine. "You gave him your mother's dagger?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I didn't have much of a choice."

Verena took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her eyes locked on mine. "You shouldn't have."

"I would have given him anything he asked for."

We stood there, the weight of our pasts and the uncertainty of our futures crashing into us with each wave.

"You're going to regret leaving," Verena said suddenly, breaking the quiet moment between us.

Her words hung in the air, heavy with a warning that I wouldn't heed.

"I regret so many things, Verena, but leaving this world for you won't be one of them."

She turned away from me, emotion clouding her face that she didn't want me to see. "We should head back."

"We should." I reached for her, catching her hand in mine under the water.

She looked back at me, her eyes clashing with mine, and in that moment, I knew that every word I had spoken was true. Nothing would make me regret her.