Dark Tides (Kingdom of Bones #2)

KANE

Silver Sea

Mid-Rainrise

The skies were clear for the first time since they had set sail on the Wavecutter. The stars above were a sea of their own and the moon shone bright, reflecting on the silver of Kane's compass. He traced the smooth surface with his thumb as he stared out at the calm dark waters, thinking of the one who gave it to him.

He wondered where she was at now and if she was okay. She had seemed different, scared almost. No matter how much he had tried to tell her that he wasn't afraid of her, that she wouldn't hurt him, she still wouldn't accept it. He tried and tried, but he couldn't think of why she would willingly go with the emberblood. Unless she felt like she didn't have choice. Perhaps she heard the Serpent's taunts during their card game and realized all the terrible things Kane had done. And even worse, she could want nothing more to do with him.

Damn it all.

Kane gripped the compass hard and reared back his arm, ready to throw the compass out into the sea. He stopped himself as he swung his arm forward, catching himself and holding the compass close to his heart. His heart sank further into its abyss. He wasn't sure what hurt more, his wound or watching her run away. Even now, as he stood alone at the railing of the Wavecutter, the pain was just as fresh as when he had stood on that rooftop. What would it take to get her back? He'd pay whatever price if it just meant that she was safe, whether it be in his arms or not.

He couldn't wait any longer.

Kane left the railing, tucking the compass away as he crossed the deck to where the Serpent lounged back on a stack of netting. Arius leaned against a mast as he told him the story about the comoras in Death's Cove. The Serpent slid his gaze to Kane the moment he stopped in front of him, gold eyes shimmering.

"Beautiful night," the Serpent said with a smile. He looked up at the stars above. "Don't you think, Blackwater?"

Kane grit his teeth, still unhappy with the way the Serpent laid Kane's crimes bare in front of his crew, his friends. But however he felt, he had to suppress it and ask for the witchblood's help. They were sailing in the direction Lorelei had sailed away in, but it was easy to get lost on the seas.

"Can you track her?" Kane asked, ignoring the Serpent's question.

The Serpent's smile spread even farther, eyes twinkling at Kane. "I thought you'd never ask."

The witchblood burst into action and moved to a crate nearby, sitting on his knees in front of it. He brushed off the top of the crate and pulled out a folded parchment from his pocket. Kane followed him, watching as he unfolded the parchment and laid it down on the crate's top, a map of the Kingdoms of Four now covering the surface.

"I can't wait to see this," Arius said excitedly as he sat across from the Serpent on the other side of the crate.

Kane remained silent as his gaze traveled over the worn map, wondering how the Serpent would use it to locate Lorelei.

"In order to find the lost, I will need something that they have touched." The Serpent's gaze fell on Kane to provide.

"Something she's touched?" Kane asked, slight panic rising in his tone. "She hasn't set foot on this ship. There is nothing here that she has touched."

"Can we use Blackwater?" Arius asked with a grin. "I'm sure he's let her touch him more than once."

"If you don't shut your—" Kane stopped, suddenly realizing that he did have something she'd touched. His pocket felt heavier as he remembered. "What about this?" Kane reached in his pocket and pulled out the compass. "This would work, right?"