Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy, #3)

by Lauren Roberts

“I’ll ensure the crew behaves,” Kitt challenges. “Threats won’t stop them from throwing her overboard and returning with a tale about how the future queen ran off in Izram,” I counter quietly.

i swear he is tryna get her killed

“Just…” I gesture lazily to the door. “Get back in there. Please.” “Hmm.” Her gaze travels over me. “It seems the Slummer taught you some manners. How ironic.” “Don’t, Blair,” I warn. “So will you share her with Kitt the rest of your life? Or find another Ordinary on the streets?”

WHO SHE TALKING TO?

The words have barely left her mouth before I snap. I throw her back against the wall with nothing but my mind and the use of her borrowed Tele power. She gasps in surprise, straining slightly beneath my hold on her body. No Elite appreciates their own power being used against them, but I have little concern for her feelings at the moment.

ohrd cause omm i was gonna jump in this book

“Talk about her like that again,” I murmur slowly, “and you will be begging to stay locked in that room, safe from me.”

PERIOD cause who tf

“Hello, sir, it’s great to see you. Um, Blair, sweetheart, you’re meant to be in the room. Not loitering outside of it, yes?” Her eyes roll before she’s spewing falsely sweet words, thoroughly mocking him. “Um, Lenny, my little gingersnap that I could quite literally snap in half with a single thought, Kai spotted me before I had the chance to enter the room and send my sharpened knives flying toward those who pass beneath the window.”

okay she kinda ate with that i fear

“Keep her out of sight, all right? It could have been Paedyn that walked down this hall, and we all know what she would have done.”

“Just… notes. It helps me think.” He clears his throat. Mumbles something under his breath. For a moment, I think he’s forgotten my presence. My eyes narrow at his strange behavior. “Are you—?” “Is there a reason you’re here at this hour?” He’s blinked the bleariness from his distant gaze.

excuse you?

I lift a bundled blanket between us, one I’d ripped off my bed after quickly dressing. “I thought we could have a… picnic?” I wince. “I’m not sure, really, but I have chocolate?”

a what?

“Do I need a reason to eat chocolate with you?” “No,” he says slowly, “but you likely have one.” “So you do know me, after all,” I tease. “I thought I did.” Another chocolate disappears into his mouth. “Once.”

oh he abt to get on my nerves

“Please come home, Kai. I can’t have you dying on me too.”

him saying that is crazy work like he does want her to die bro

“Well, she kept trying to jump onto my back, remember?” “And then blamed her failed attempts on the ‘constricting dress,’ ” Kai adds with a punch-worthy smile. “Trust me, I remember. The moment replays every time I close my eyes—” “All right, that’s enough,” I huff. “Remember this conversation when I suddenly push you overboard.” “Oh, you can try, Gray,” Kai mocks with a crooked grin. “But don’t blame your constrictive sleeves when you aren’t able

“I’m just… nervous.” He leans his forearms on the rail. “You usually are around me. Don’t hurt yourself over it, darling.” I turn to face him with a scoff. “I’m nervous about the journey, you prick.” “Not even twenty minutes on the sea and you’ve already come up with a new nickname for me.”

His eyes roam over me, and I’m reminded how much I enjoy the feel of it. “I missed you,” he finally murmurs, voice low. Something flutters in my chest, and it might just be those nerves he determined I feel around him. “I never left.” A shake of his head. “And yet, I felt the absence of you all the same.”

“Of course.” My tone has Kai’s lips twitching. “Now, what was that about not sailing for nearly a decade?” “Well,” Torri stutters, “the Shallows has been legally off-limits, so this will be my first crossing in some time. But I assure you,” he booms, “that the crew and I are up to the challenge.”

were gonna die..and CHALLENGE?? this is our lives not a video game

“What are the odds we survive this journey?” Kai runs a hand through his windblown hair. “You tell me, Little Psychic.” I roll my eyes. “I’m sensing that we may end up in the sea before even spotting land.” He smiles, and suddenly, the frigid water starts to seem like a good idea. “Then I’ll swim for the both of us.”

Since boarding this ship, I’ve been continuously reminded of just how dangerous it is to be alone with my own thoughts. So I have no choice but to be with her. That is what I tell myself as I stride out into the hall and rap my knuckles against her door. Paedyn’s voice is muffled behind the wood. “Yes?” “Would you like some company?” I call back. “Is it yours?” “I’m afraid so, darling.” “All right, come in,” she says, sounding amused. “By turning the handle, not kicking down the door.”

“Are you drinking away your boredom?” she muses, looking down at me. I shake the bottle still clutched in my hand. “I was. And then I remembered that you are a far more appealing distraction.” She rolls those bright eyes at me. “Did you come in here just to flirt, Azer?” “Darling, I haven’t even started.” Groaning dramatically, she snatches the bottle from my hand. “Then I’m going to need this.” “Don’t act like you don’t love it.”

“There are a lot of things I pretend not to love.” I still at her words. My gaze wanders over the face she tilts toward me, over every strand of silver hair falling around it. I reach up slowly, running my fingers through the shining, sun-drenched pieces. My voice is a murmur, a quiet confession. “You’re far better at pretending than I am.” Her smile is sad. “I’ve just had more practice at it.”

My hand is quickly halted by her quick snatching of my wrist. “Did you even hear anything I just said?” “I heard you.” My hands cup her face. “I did. I do. And if you want me to tell you the sheer extent of my jealousy, then I will. But I’d rather not waste what little time we have together talking about my brother. Especially while I sit on your bed and try to stop myself from doing something rash with my future queen.” My eyes flick between her wide ones. “But when we are back in that palace, I will let you see just how much I hate that you are not mine.” Paedyn’s mouth parts. “Okay. I… um…” It seems I’ve rendered her speechless.

im speechless too

“Mostly magic and worlds I wanted to escape to.” She sounds oddly bashful. “Worlds where I might have fit in.” I shift, laying my head back onto her lap. “So which one will you be reading to me?” Her whole face lights up, and it is a beautiful thing to behold. “Really?” “I’m all ears, Gray.”

My eyes fall shut when soft words begin spilling from her mouth. I’m quickly lost in the story, in the hypnotic voice that strings it together. The rocking ship lulls me into that fleeting sense of peace while her fingers comb through my hair, tickle my skin.

“My pretty Pae, would you like to dance?” Her smile seems to brighten the darkness. “I would never pass up the chance to stomp on your toes, Malakai.” I tug her close, hold her tight. She knows exactly what she’s doing. My name means nothing to me until she speaks it. Nothing until she claims it as her own.

I offer an arm to Paedyn. “Should I hold your shoes now, or wait for you to lose them?” “Maybe I’ll just throw them at you.” She smiles sweetly. “So you can find them easier.” My gaze lazily explores her face. “Vicious little thing.” When we step into the circle, Paedyn wastes no time before clapping to the beat. I watch her smile at the dancing before us, but more importantly, I watch those eying her closely. Some scowl at her presence while others barely notice the future queen among them. And before I’m dragged into a dance, I memorize the faces of those glaring men.

Paedyn hooks her arm through mine before we are stepping in a circle. She laughs, picking up our pace and flipping around to take my other arm. We do this until I’m out of breath, until my mouth hurts from smiling at her.

I do this for her. Every dance. Every smile. She seems so much more alive away from Ilya, away from the reminder of everything she is not. But out here, even surrounded by Elites, we are all at the mercy of the sea. I think she finds comfort in that. So I spin her in the moonlight. Smile when she laughs at my expense. And let her step on my toes.

“What you saw today did not happen. Your queen did not die giving birth to an Ordinary, because she passed two years ago when delivering me my son and heir. That is what the kingdom will know. That is what history will know.”

hold on whattt

We sit on the floor, holding each other while the boat tries to throw us apart. I cling to him, every finger fisted into his crumpled shirt. He strokes my hair, whispers words of comfort. My anchor in the storm.

And my books are on the floor. “No, no, no,” I murmur, rushing over to collect the delicate stories. The ship still rocks enough to have me struggling with my footing, so I drop to my knees before the waves send me sprawling. I quickly gather the books into my arm, noting their rippled pages from the seawater.

oh thats fucked

“Need some help, darling?” I spin on my heel, nearly tipping over when the ship bucks beneath us. But there he stands, hands shoved into pockets nearly as deep as the dimple peeking out at me. Damn him. Damn him.

if its your help then alwayssss

“What was it you were about to say?” I ask, curiosity momentarily grabbing hold of my tongue. He seems to ponder this as his gaze drifts out over the water. “Nothing I haven’t said before.” And that is the only answer he offers before extending a hand to me. “Now, put me to work. These books need to dry before you read one to me tonight.”

My free hand reaches out to steady it at the same moment Paedyn quiets. “What?” I ask, clutching her closely when lightning flashes into the room. “That was the end of the chapter.” I rest my chin against her shoulder, pointing to the page. “Well, there is another one beside it. So, go on.” “Kai,” she laughs out my name, and I wonder if she knows what it does to me. “It’s getting late.” I tilt my head to study her profile. “Are you implying that you’re tired?” “Of you?” She smiles. “Very.” My mouth twists. “If you’re going to continually lie about wanting me, at least try to make it believable.” “You know,” she says calmly, “there is still plenty of time for me to throw you overboard.” “See, I knew you couldn’t go more than a couple days without threatening me.” She turns to face me then, folding her legs so they rest against mine. “Because I know how much you like it.” “How very thoughtful of you.”

“I should get back to my room.” I tilt my head. “And why is that?” “Because,” she sighs, “the crew has already seen enough to gossip about when we get back to Ilya.” She flinches at a sudden flash of lightning. “If we make it back.” “All the more reason to stay with me tonight.” “Hmm.” She untangles her legs from mine to slide from the cot. “Still not convinced.” “And if I said please?”

i like how he thinks and id do whatever he says if he says pls

Pae’s eyes meet mine and suddenly I’m back in the palace, back to that night when I begged her to stay with me after watching her die in my nightmare. I’m reliving that moment, only this time, it’s my own selfish desires that have me needing her beside me. Swallowing, she crosses her arms. “Well, go on then.” I chuckle at her insistence before standing up right as the ship bucks violently. Caught off guard, Paedyn comes careening toward me with a gasp. I catch her against my chest, feel her body melt against mine. My head dips until our noses brush. “Stay with me. Please.” Her head shakes, but she’s wearing a smile. I nudge her nose again as I murmur, “My pretty, pretty Pae.” She laughs breathlessly. “Stay with me.” I press my forehead to her own. “Stay with me. Stay with me.”

say less

I smile for her, only her, always her. “I was prepared to plead.” She gives me a look. “You would not.” “Oh, darling, I would do so much worse if only you asked.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear with a smile. “Or, even more difficult, so much better.” “You know,” she says slowly, “you’re not nearly as terrifying as you seem.” “Not to you. Never to you.”

She looks at me, eyes as bright as the sea itself. I stare into them, memorizing the multitude of hues they hold in the flickering lantern light. My favorite color is a shade of her, a sliver of the vibrance she exudes. And I will gladly drown, gladly burn, gladly fall into those blue eyes until the day she looks at me for the last time.

My head aches as I sit up to grab the forgotten quilt. I’m about to throw it over her when I lean in close, my mouth mere inches from meeting her forehead. I stop suddenly, my eyes scanning her face, the bridge of her nose— There can’t be more than ten. I jerk back, staring at the body beside me. This is not my Pae. I still my mind and focus on the distant thrum of powers beneath my skin. Flash, Tele, Hydro— And that is when I feel it. Close and strong and to blame for this. Staring at those ten freckles, I throw the blanket over her. It meets nothing but air as Paedyn’s body vanishes. Illusion.

what in the hell...

There are four figures beside that railing. One of them is gagged and bound, her arms tucked tightly behind her back. She still wears that green vest, having fallen asleep with the comfort wrapped around her. The men have her raised in the air, two of them clutching her roped ankles while the other sinks his fingers into her shoulders. I’ve found her.

oh they was real life gonna throw her overboard????

Lifting Paedyn toward the rail, they grin as she thrashes in their hold, desperately trying to free herself. And something snaps in me at the sight. I unleash that piece of myself that Father carved into me. That lethal sliver of darkness he once commanded at will, having known it by name. Created it in the depths of his dungeons, in every one of my fears, in a shadowed home with my sword through an innocent man’s chest. It’s a piece of Death himself that lives within me. And now, I command it.

“Put her down, and I won’t make you suffer.” He holds my gaze, body rigid beneath my blade. “I’ll die before seein’ an Ordinary sit on Ilya’s throne.” My sword plunges into his heart at the same moment he throws Paedyn over the railing. A scream rips from my throat, lost in the raging storm. I don’t think. I don’t breathe. I don’t hesitate to leave my sword buried in the sailor

JAW DROPPED

Then an arm wraps around my waist. Kai grits his teeth, pulling me up and over the railing. I’m pressed to his chest, my legs dragging over the wood railing. Blood rushes to my head. Knees buckle. Kai guides me to the soaking deck with arms that dragged my soul from Death’s clutches. “I’ve got you,” he pants against my ear. “I’ve got you, Pae.”

Kai is suddenly crouching before me, turning my face from the dead bodies with a gentle press of his fingers against my jaw. “Are you all right?” As if unable to restrain himself, he cups my face in his hands before running swift fingers down my body to check for wounds. “I’m okay.” My whisper is nearly lost in the howling wind, but I know he hears it when his eyes snap to mine. “I’m okay. I’m alive.” Tears are pricking my eyes again. “Because of you.” Water drips from his lashes, but it’s the slight indent of his right dimple that my eyes fall to. “I promised to save your life again and again. And I will, whether you allow me to stay in it or not.”

“You’re not safe here. I told Kitt that. And where was the rest of the crew?”

your brother wants her dead bruh

“So, you knew nothing of your crew’s plan to murder their future queen?” he asks smoothly. “Crew?” Torri bellows. “No, sir, as we discussed last night in private, these three men acted alone. There were only a handful of sailors on that deck last night and most of them were at the helm. We could hardly see a damn thing through that rain.” He says this all rather quickly, as if forced to spit out the words before they are forgotten. I incline my head toward the captain. “Why were so few of your men on the deck during such a storm?” Torri’s large hands wave with each of his words. “My crew had been battling that storm for two days straight. They needed sleep, miss.”

i dont even wana hear nothing he saying.. off with his head

Kai shakes his head. “He knew you needed help last night and did nothing.” “But the storm. He said—” “No one at the helm could see or hear anything on the other side of the ship with that rain,” he finishes for me. “But that bastard was the only one who could.” The pieces suddenly click into place, leaving me murmuring under my breath. “The captain’s a Hyper.” Kai rakes a hand through his disheveled hair. “He could see and hear you just fine. He just chose not to.”

man get us off this boat

“That seems foolish,” I breathe. “Then it’s fitting.” He runs a thumb over my bottom lip. “Seeing that I am a fool.” I raise my eyebrows at him. “You told me you weren’t anymore.” His lips brush my cheek. I smile when they meet my nose. Gasp when they graze my neck. “That was pretend, darling.”

His clothes ripple in the wind, pressing to the strong body beneath. Black hair splashes over his brow like the unruly waves beneath us. And those gray eyes— They are suddenly on me. He smiles in a way that suggests he knows exactly how much I was admiring him. Even after striding toward me, the smug look never leaves his face. “Enjoying the view, Gray?” “Of Izram?” I shoot back with a smile of my own. “Why, yes, I am, Azer.”

lmao

But when Kai’s rough knuckles brush against mine, the observation and my accompanying curiosity swiftly float away on a salty breeze. My eyes flick up to find a crease of concern nestling between his brows. “Are you all right?” The question is worrying enough to startle one in response. “Why, do I not look all right?” “Gray, you always look far more than all right.” He says this with a low chuckle, his voice soft enough to slip past the guards unnoticed. “But I know this is a lot. I want to make sure you’re doing okay.” “Quite the gentleman you’ve become,” I croon. “Only for you.”

“I’ll allow you three days to piece back together what is left of your ship. Rooms will be arranged within the castle for Paedyn alone.” She waves a dismissive hand. “The rest of you may sleep on your leaking boat. That is the extent of my generosity.”

yeah idk what she talking abt but uhm kai WILL be with us

“Escort Paedyn to her rooms,” the queen orders. “And ensure the others make it back to their ship.” Adyn nods, his eyes flicking up momentarily. “Happily, Your Majesty.”

oh this is crazy

Izram’s rocky soil grows few plants and even less grass, but I discovered a small patchy field behind the castle on my search for a discreet way into Paedyn’s room. The few trees that sway back here are clustered close to the white stone, one of which even brushes against Pae’s window. And now I’ve climbed it for her. I hear the latch click before she’s finally pushing open the swinging glass pane. “You’ve already broken one arm climbing a tree. Do you really wish to tempt fate again?”