Part 31 (2/2)

”Maybe you're right.” I smiled softly and held Reynard up between us so he would lick Ashe's face.

”Of course I'm right.” Ashe squeaked while drawing away from the licking.

We laughed.

Laughing was good. At that time, laughing or crying were my only options.

And honestly?

I'd rather have more laughter in my life.

Thirty-Three.

The Blue Period My knuckles fired across Hue's face, before he stumbled away from me and tossed a glare back.

”You brought her back didn't you?” I accused.

He blinked, which only made me want to punch him again.

”Don't give me that look. You found a way to bring Gabbi back. A pirate who suggested a time spell, maybe?” I continued, turning to pace in Hue's chamber room.

Ashe was holding my cloak and his hat still, near the entrance. She looked like she realized why Ettie and Han had stayed in the common room to wait for me to come back out.

”You knew. How long?” Hue finally said when he was sure I wouldn't strike him for yet another time.

How long? I had weeks to think before I had enough energy to transport everyone with the falling star spell, even Bonny's broken s.h.i.+p. Of course Bonny was no longer the owner or captain of it. Neither was Roberts though. The pirates voted for some mousy little brown-haired girl with big gla.s.ses to lead them. Roberts decided to stay with them, knowing if he did it was more likely he would run across the Pirate King, wherever she had gone.

”Weeks.” I finally replied. ”What were the terms and what did she do?”

”Magic. Where you killed Gabbi. The terms are not discussable.” He explained and I reached forward to grip Hue by the collar before thrusting him to a dresser.

”And why not?”

”Because...” He started and I glared. ”It is sensitive information, Gnidori.”

”I'd wager it is as sensitive as the knowledge about Prince Hue making a deal with a mage to bring back his dead wife.” I ground my teeth and he gulped.

”I had a deal with her to spy on Charming.” He continued as his dark blue eyes drew to me.

”You got military information. She got?”

”Access to my port.” He nodded. So that was how she had gotten the port to obtain the Pirate King t.i.tle.

”Then one day she told you, what? Hey, I can use magic to bring your dead wife back, how about it?”

”Something like that.” He grinned then added, ”I just had to give Gertrude to you.”

”That doesn't add up. I came because Gabbi was already alive.”

He gave me a look like I was the idiot here. ”She did it before you showed up.”

”You idiot.” I mumbled and shook my head.

”You would have done it too.” He said with such a placid expression.

I slammed the blue prince against the dresser then ripped away from him, my head still shaking as my eyes drew to Ashe.

”No, I wouldn't have.” I lied, while crossing the room to slip the hat from my roommate's head. I attempted a smile to comfort her, a soft one. Her hazel doe eyes beamed back at me with such watery sparkles like I had just saved her from being eaten by a wild beast.

I wanted to say something, but I had no idea what.

I half-turned back to Hue and tossed his hat to him. ”Did you know your hat could be used to make a portal of some kind?”

”Yes.”

”What?”

”You don't remember?”

”No.” I ground my teeth as I thought about it.

”Oh.” He pulled his hat on his head. ”I guess not.”

I really hate when he does that. As if our conversations weren't long enough already. I turned back to Ashe and saw her eyes still s.h.i.+mmering with color, which made my frustrations evaporate quickly.

My hand slipped around her waist and I pulled her close. ”Sorry.” I whispered at her ear.

She smiled and lowered her head with a soft giggle from my breath over her ear. ”It's okay.”

”Oh...Gnidori.” Hue said as I glanced over Ashe's shoulder to look at him with my returned annoyance.

I had to separate from Ashe completely to catch whatever was flying toward me. I didn't even have to uncoil my fingers from around the object after I caught it to recognize the smell. A brimstone pendant sat in my palm. Pure magic crystallized with such a radiant golden color.

”What's this for?” My eyebrows rose as I looked up from it.

”An early wedding present.” He stated so calmly.

My face shot red and my entire body was burning up immediately. I couldn't even face Ashe. At least until Hue started chuckling. Then I just had the urge to punch him again for teasing me.

”It was in the crates. You have more use for it.” He shrugged it off and turned back to a collection of papers and a few maps on the desk in his chamber.

”The crates?” I asked before remembering the cargo we had left behind from Bonny's s.h.i.+pment. It had to be those ones, but what was this pendant doing in there?

And were there more?

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