Blake stepped out of his quarters, leaving behind both Halima and the witch. The door creaked shut behind him, sealing them inside as he strode up toward the deck. The salty wind hit his face the moment he emerged, cool and bracing, carrying the sharp tang of the sea. For a moment, he closed his eyes, letting the breeze push through his hair.
King , he could become one.
The rhythmic creak of the ship's timbers and the sound of boots moving on deck greeted him as he adjusted his cloak. His first instinct was to scan the horizon. Blake's eyes swept the expanse of water, the sun's glare bouncing off the waves in flashes of white light. His gaze lingered on every ripple, every shadow on the horizon. No ships loomed in the distance, no sails ghosted across the waves. The surrounding waters were empty save for his own fleet, their vessels circling with predatory precision.
