Page 117 of Death of a Mortal

I’d have to get stronger and stage my own rescue mission. I’d do that for Nella.

On the eighth night—it was nice to actually know how much time was passing—I had a little more wine than usual and steeled the confidence to approach Drayce. I’d been thinking so much about the conversation I’d had with Aerie. If his reasons for rescuing me were personal to him, then it was time he told me himself, since no one else would.

At the end of the night, when everyone started heading off to bed, I stayed seated at the table.

“Drayce. Have a drink with me.”

I saw Aerie and Bramick exchange a not-so-subtle glance, but Ididn’t care. If I were going to be part of the rebellion and part of this group, it was time we ironed this shit out.

He stared at me, expression unreadable, before he picked up each of our empty glasses and refilled them without a word as everyone else’s cabin doors closed with murmured good nights.

Keeping his eyes locked on mine, he handed me my glass, then set his down and took a seat, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest.

Guarded.

I hadn’t thought through what I was going to say yet, which was making me feel foolish, but the wine bolstered my confidence.

After a minute of silence and a long sip of wine, I realized he would not be the first to speak.

“So,” I said.

Super smooth start… He just watched me intently.

After I cleared my throat, I continued. “I was sorry to hear about your soldiers, Brom and Neek. I feel like it’s my fault they didn’t make it, and I feel so guilty. And I…I just wanted to apologize.” I hoped that honesty and sympathy might make him less guarded.

He leaned forward and placed his forearms on the table, continuing to assess me. I was feeling hot under his stare, heartbeat quickening. Gods, I was nervous.

“Thank you,” he finally said. “They were good soldiers.”

“Kellan said the same.”

“They’re all good soldiers, everyone on this ship.”

“They really seem like it.”

His face softened, but he remained quiet.

“Look, I can’t figure out for the life of me why you wanted to rescue me, and I probably don’t even know half of the lies the king spread about me. Even though I was forced to say and do those things, if they were a detriment to the rebellion, then I’m sorry. I put my sister first in my choices, and if that’s why you choose to hate me, then I understand.” I swallowed. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. “Ijust…wanted you to know that. There was nothing I wouldn’t have done for her.”

He visibly relaxed, which made me breathe easier. Maybe this was actually getting us somewhere. I just wished he would say more.

He took a calculated sip of his wine, then said the words that finally made me relax. “I don’t blame you.”

I nearly sighed my relief. But I was Naci Corren, and I’d had too much wine. “Then why are you such an ass to me?” I just couldn’t hold my tongue.

He barked out a laugh, and the smile on his face was exquisite, giving me involuntary and unwanted flutters low in my stomach. He was beautiful with all the sharp angles of his jaw and cheeks and his warm eyes, the color of honey, but gods, he was devastating when he smiled.

The grin remained as he got up and prowled around the table toward me like a predator stalking its prey. Next to my seat, he stopped and leaned against the table crossing his ankles and looking down at me from above.

I audibly gulped, and I prayed he hadn’t heard.

“Are you nervous?”

I guess he had…

“No, why would I be?” I asked as nonchalantly as possible.

“You tell me.” He crossed his arms again, the epitome of laid-back, both intimidating and sexy.