His fingers speed up, and I moan, loud and desperate. Close, close, so close. Not close enough.

I need—

What if—

Does he still—

“Stop thinking, baby,” he murmurs, nipping at my earlobe. “And come for me like a good girl.”

I shatter.

My body convulses against him, and he holds me tighter until the tide of pleasure recedes, setting hot kisses to my fluttering pulse.

I’m left limp in his arms. A soft, contented sigh escapes me.

His body tenses, and then slowly, ever so slowly, he removes his hand. I roll over and face him, breath shaky, fingers fumbling with his belt—

His hand snaps around my wrist like a vise.

“The storm’s died down. Go to sleep.” My brows knit, and when I find his eyes in the darkness, they’re cold and distant. Angry.

No.

No, he can’t do this.

He can’t touch me, give me pleasure, give me hope, and then push me away again. Like I’m nothing to him. Indignation burns hot in my veins, stoking the flames of a fast-burning rage. I shove him until he’s flat on his back. He lets me. Before he can move, I straddle his waist and bracket his jaw between my palms.

“Listen to me,” I grit out, glaring down at him. “I know I’ve hurt you. I—I never planned for any of this to happen. I wanted revenge on your father, on Arbinj, for killing my mother. But my purpose was driven by a lie.” My voice cracks. “Zev, everything between us—it was true. I swear by the Tides, it was real. The wormbark oil was for you. At the camp, I healed you every night because I couldn’t bear to see you hurt. Not because I needed you for some agenda. Please, Zev. I care about you.”

A muscle works in his jaw as he scans my face. “And your captain? Did you care about him, too?”

“I—yes. I loved him. But never in the same way I feel about you. I know you’re hurt about what you saw … I don’t blame you. I don’t know how to make this right, Zev. I shouldn’t have let him touch me … I was trying to—” I break off. Tides, none of this is coming out right. “Zev, please. Give me another chance.”

His hands flex around my hips. He slowly sits up. My chest brushes against his with every inhale. Zev leans forward, achingly slow, until his breath fans my lips, barely a sliver left between us.

My eyes flutter closed, mouth parting.

“I don’t believe you,” he whispers against my lips.

My eyes snap open.

A single breath lingers between us. And then he pushes me off, shifting to face away.

I stare at his back, a sharp, gutting pain lancing my chest.

“Why did you touch me, then?” Quiet hurt creeps into my voice.

A beat.

“I couldn’t sleep through your whimpering.”

He may as well have thrust his dagger through my heart.

“You … you called me baby.” My voice is thick with tears.

“My wrist was cramping. I needed you to finish quickly.”

I flinch. Somehow, I manage to contain my sob. He doesn’t move a muscle, doesn’t say another word. He’s ended the conversation like he ended everything else between us.

Tears of humiliation drip down my cheeks.

I lie down as far away from him as I can manage.

It takes a long time before I fall asleep.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT I wake alone. My rage must have steeped inside my chest all night, because its bitter taste is hot on my tongue. I storm out of the tent and find Zev packing up camp.

My feet pound into the dirt as I storm over, jabbing a finger into his chest. He regards me coolly, utterly unfazed by my anger.

“You will not touch me again,” I seethe. “If there’s another storm, I’ll stay outside so my pathetic ‘whimpering’ doesn’t disturb your beauty sleep.”

Zev dislodges my finger from his chest. I shove it back harder.

“And the first chance I get to go my own way, I’ll take it.”

I watch as my words hit him.

His expression betrays nothing.

“Tides damn you to the ends of the eternal sea.” I grit my teeth, rage burning hotter in my belly at his lack of reaction. “If we come across ten rebels who decide they’re going to channel their power into me, all ten of them, you will not interfere.”

His gaze grows hot, angry. “Fine by me,” he growls. “Anything else?”

“And if I decide I want to marry one of those ten men, or all of them, ride off into the sunset and bear their children, you will annul our marriage. Actually, let’s annul it immediately.”

“Sure.” His voice is flint, but the tightness around his mouth hints at something else. “And if I forget any of that, wife, you’re always welcome to tell me to stop.”

“I mean it,” I hiss, my face heating. “I’m not your responsibility anymore. You made that clear last night. Whatever this was, whatever we were—I’m done being your burden.”

“Finally,” Zev snarls. “I’ll personally hand you over to the first rebels we see.”

I step closer, narrowed eyes locked on his.

“You’re lying.”

His lip curls into something feral. “Don’t you fucking talk to me about lying—”

Zev slams his jaw shut. A moment later his hand clamps over my mouth.

A finger to his lips is the only warning he gives before shoving me behind him. He scans the trees, body coiled and ready.

“What—”

He shushes me. The asshole shushes me.

Then I hear it.

The quiet rustling of branches, the soft crunch of leaves underfoot.

Zev tenses, one arm reaching back to wrap around my waist, his body a shield covering mine.

He raises a hand, and the sky darkens, a storm ready to do his bidding.

Then in a sudden, fierce wave, they emerge through the trees—over a dozen hooded men, dressed in dark leather and swishing cloaks.

Rebels.

“Leave now,” Zev declares. “And I’ll spare you.” Thunder rumbles ominously, as if agreeing with him.

I study the men closely—their hands grip their pommels, but none seem overly inclined to unsheathe them.

“Wait.” I shove past Zev, elbowing his side when he tries to haul me back.

“What are you doing?” he hisses, eyes lethal. “Stay behind me.”

But I’m done cowering. I’m done hiding.

Especially behind him.

“For someone who claims he doesn’t want me, you sure act like I’m yours.” I direct my attention to the rebels before he can respond. “What do you want? Why are you after us?” I call out to the hooded men.

“Mayah.” I think Zev’s teeth might crack. “You’ve made your point. I’m not actually letting you go with them. Get. Behind. Me.”

His hand closes around my upper arm like an iron cuff and yanks me back. I crash into his side, the air whooshing out of me as if I’ve slammed against a stone wall. My knees buckle from the impact, and I would’ve tumbled to the ground if not for Zev’s painful grip on my arm.

“That’s no way to treat your wife, Vayru.”

Zev goes stock still, his fingers digging into my skin.

Slowly, he turns his head.

The wall of leather-clad rebels parts, and a slim, hooded figure emerges from between them.

A woman.

He blinks once. Then again. His grip loosens on my arm, but he doesn’t completely let go.

She shakes off her hood, revealing dark, thickly braided hair, streaked with flashes of white. Her face is lined with age, full lips curled into a warm smile.

But it’s her eyes that steal my breath.

Bright. Warm. Maternal.

CHAPTER SEVENTY

“IMPOSSIBLE. HE—HE HAD YOU killed.” Zev’s spine is rigid.

The woman’s dark eyes alight with remorse. Or perhaps guilt.