Fire (Pirate Cove Academy #3) - Rae Foxx Page 0,5

before settling, accidentally touching Garrison’s greyish grilled sausage of a big toe with the mustache-matching tuft of hair on top. He jumped back, probably faster than he’d ever moved in his life.

“Who...what in the name of Poseidon is that?!” The bloated man was practically quivering.

Caspian cocked his head sideways again, ever the playful, arrogant Siren. “It’s funny you should use those words. It is what it appears to be. The decapitated head of Lir, King of Atlantis, descendent of Poseidon, rightful heir to the Trident.”

“Why would you bring this to my door? What is the meaning of this?”

A creepy grin grew on Caspian’s face. I knew it was, even though I could only see the back of his head. “Raven thought I was a fake and an imposter, so I thought it was time that I proved myself. I’m neither of those. I’m right here, ready to help with whatever is needed for the cause. Whatever is needed.”

Garrison continued to stare at the head, his eyes bulging while he worked the hem of his pajama top between his fingers as though it would take the brunt of what was clearly an anxious topic for the waddling bastard. “I don’t...I mean, who would I tell?”

Oh, dear. He was going to play stupid. Wasn’t much of a stretch, but still. Certainly Raven had taught him to handle a little interrogation better, right?

“Oh, Garrison, you’re pretty pathetic at this, aren’t you?” Caspian called him out on it immediately.

“Look, I don’t know what all this is…” The man waved his beefy arms around. “But it’s time for you to leave, once and for all. Take that… thing with you.”

Lord Garrison again reached for the door and stepped back to shut it, but Caspian’s foot was still there. He was calculating and the sneer I knew was on his face told me that he would not be leaving with the head, even if he had to nail the ear to Garrison’s door.

The thought soured my stomach.

Caspian stepped forward and punted the head inside Garrison’s room. Even from my vantage point, I could hear the squishes of it as it hit something hard and came to a stop inside. I tried not to picture my father’s head as it rolled. Then the Siren did the same with the crown.

Garrison proceeded to squeal like a dolphin, then slam the door, cursing behind it again.

After laughing for a bit, Caspian turned and gave me two thumbs up. I smirked. That was my irreverent Siren for ya. He walked over to where I was hiding and waggled his eyebrows like I was going to produce a trophy for what he had just done.

“You know, with everything going on with the battles, saving Kai, and knocking Raven down from her throne of lies, I forgot that she beat you up.” I pushed the door open fully, leaning in the doorway.

His expression grew grim, his mouth turning down and his eyes phasing to dark. “Bullshit. You didn’t forget.”

“I did. I mean, You’re okay to get things done? Do you need some rest?”

He reached back and slapped my ass. “I was well enough to make you scream earlier, isn’t that right, Princess?” His words were joking, but his eyes gave him away.

The poor guy was exhausted.

As am I.

The thought of a rest was incredibly tempting, and I beckoned to Caspian. “Let’s go lie down, eh?” He again wiggled his eyebrows, ever the cocky bastard.

“Sure, but I doubt we’ll be doing much resting.”

I rolled my eyes, but tugged him back to our shared room. Maybe we could squeeze a few hours in before we had to go to class.

When we walked into the dorm room, we found Kai staring out the window. My heart ached to see him like that. He was probably feeling like a failure. Even though it wasn’t his fault, he was sworn to protect me and my family. The loss of my father was probably hurting him more than he let on.

I glanced over at Caspian, and something in my face must have given me away because he said, “Ugh. Whatever. I’m going to go sleep, so just wake me whenever you’re done with… that.” He jutted his chin toward the slumped Kai, then stalked into the bedroom.

I approached Kai, who still hadn’t turned to look at me.

“Hey.” Was all I said. I reached out and placed my hand on his muscled arm, gently pulling his focus.

“Zan… I don’t know what to do. After everything we’ve been through together,