The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,142
you feel like a bloody fucking fool, standing in a library amongst a slew of dead bodies, accompanied by an ignoramus, shouting at each other?”
“Yes,” True answered.
Silence giggled.
Mars did not find anything amusing.
He felt this less so when he sensed movement above, looked up, saw Elena was nearly hanging over the railing, her honeyed hair swaying about her face, and her voice was urgent when she called, “Aramus? Do you know what the ‘Mouth of Triton’ is?”
Aramus looked to True. To Mars.
Then he raced up the stairs.
They all raced up after him.
152
The Pursuit
Teddy
Aboard the Passenger Galleon, the Pentacle
STRAIT OF MEDUSA
“I never in my life thought I’d go to Mar-el,” Moira, standing in the curve of Saturn’s arm at the railing of the ship, breathed as they saw land come into view. “This is so exciting.”
Saturn looked over her head to Faunus.
He did not share in his woman’s excitement.
“I love seafood,” she declared. “We never had it, except once, when I was a little girl, and we went for a holiday in Seil Haven. So that’s why I know I love it.”
Saturn grunted.
She twisted her head to look up at him. “You don’t like seafood?”
“I have no idea, gioia,” Saturn murmured. “I have never tasted it.”
Her eyes got large. “Truly?”
His face softened a tad. “Truly.”
“We must go to an eatery the minute we disembark,” she decreed. “Get you some white fish fried in batter. It’s delicious.”
“You do know,” Saturn began carefully, “we are not here to holiday.”
“Yes,” she mumbled, now not looking at any of them, “of course.”
She turned back to face the sea.
Her excitement had deflated, and Teddy knew precisely what she was feeling, but he loved her all the more for trying to make this into a delightful adventure.
Saturn again looked to Faunus, to Teddy, then he visibly pulled her deeper into his body with his arms about her chest and bent to her ear.
“But we will take time before we leave to have this fish in batter,” he promised.
“All right,” she whispered.
Faunus brushed his arm and Teddy looked up to him.
He then followed him down the deck.
When they were out of earshot of their friends, Faunus stopped and turned back to Teddy.
“I wish to review the plan,” Faunus said.
“I know the plan,” Teddy sighed.
“You do not deviate from it,” Faunus decreed.
Teddy pressed his lips tightly together.
“You wanted to come, your job is to keep her safe,” Faunus reminded him, jerking his head back to Moira.
And your and Saturn’s job is to keep Mars and his queen and their fellow rulers safe. So, who’s going to keep you safe? he thought but he did not ask.
“We were in agreement with this, Teddy,” Faunus said.
That wasn’t entirely true. Faunus decreed it and Teddy had tired of arguing about it.
“I am a trained warrior, bello,” Faunus said quietly. “And you are not.”
“Neither is Queen Silence, and she will fight these things,” Teddy pointed out.
“Yes, but she is a witch.”
Stymied.
“Do not make me worry about you,” Faunus warned.
“I won’t,” he decreed, relatively certain he told the truth. “Though we reach Nautilus with you knowing that there are five beings on this planet who have ever, ever, Faunus, held a place in my heart. Nyx, Lorenz, Saturn, Moira, and most especially, you. So, you stand right there and promise me you will keep you safe.”
“I will come back to you, Teddy,” Faunus whispered, moving closer to him and taking him by the side of the neck, bending to look into his eyes. “I promise.”
“You have my love,” Teddy mumbled.
Faunus grinned. “And you have mine.”
“You have my devotion,” Teddy went on.
“And you have mine,” Faunus repeated.
“And adoration.”
“You can be quiet now,” Faunus said, his words trembling with amusement.
Teddy thought that was a good idea, and thus, he did as told.
Faunus gave his neck a squeeze, let him go and they moved to the railing, standing there and doing this close.
“Have you had fish in batter?” Faunus asked.
“Never,” Teddy answered.
“Something to look forward to,” Faunus murmured.
He hoped so.
By the gods, he hoped so.
Chu of the Trusted
Aboard the Passenger Galleon, the Constant
STRAIT OF MEDUSA
“You will not perform this ritual,” Chu growled.
“Chu, they’re aboard this very vessel,” Serena returned. “I can sense them.”
“You will leave them be.”
“I will draw one to me and ask why they follow you.”
“You will do no such thing.”
“I will know why they follow you!”
“I do not care why they follow me, Rena.”
“Well, I do!”
They glared at each other across their cabin.
He watched her get a hold on herself, something she did much