Page 117 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

She walked away and I turned to Bramwell, feeling helpless. “She wasn’t here.”

Worry finally fell to him too. “We’ll find her,” he assured.

I knew we would, we had to. I wasn’t sure what I would do otherwise.

“I’ll go back to the ship, anyone who isn’t absolutely necessary will look. You go the other way and make sure she isn’t up the road more.”

“You sound more like the captain than I do right now,” I said. I should be the one making plans to find her.

“That’s why you have a crew,” he said. “To fill in the gaps when you need it.”

That was another Tungestenism, and it was nice to hear right now.

“I’ll meet you back on the dock if you don’t find her,” he said.

“Deal.”

I was quick, looking around every corner, down every alley.

I didn’t care if I had to tear this entire town apart.

I would find her.

Chapter 41

Sage

My head ached fiercely as I came to. I was on a ship, which was obvious from the rocking I felt.

Had Adrian brought me back drunk? This was a lot of swaying, was I on the deck? Whatever I was laying on felt hard enough to be so.

I blinked open my eyes and realized quickly this wasn’t the Violet Ghost. The ceiling was way too close, and I wasn’t on any of her decks.

What happened? I dug through my memory until it all poured back. Leaving Adrian for the tavern, meeting Octavio, the other tavern.

Though we never made it there. We went to an alley and… it was all pretty blank from there, but I think I was kidnapped.

Again.

I tried to stand, which is when I realized I was tied up. Some kind of fabric bound around my wrists. I did my best to get out of it, but it was no use.

The doorknob clicked and I stopped struggling, looking that way.

The sudden light in the dark room was jarring; I had to turn away. When I adjusted and looked back, I realized someone was there holding a lantern. They walked into the room and set the lantern on the ground before sitting in the chair next to me, looking down at me.

It was Octavio. “Hello, Princess,” he said.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

He rolled his neck. “What needs to be done.”

I blinked. “What does that even mean?”

“It means, I’m finally taking what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours,” I insisted.

“Not yet, but you will be.”