Chapter 56: Aboard the Blackbane
My stomach twisted. Not in fear, but anticipation.
That was Vincent’s raft—I knew it the same way I knew when someone was lying: it didn’t matter how, I just did. The bastard had made it here before us. Somehow.
"Get ready," I said, snapping out of my trance. "We’re going up."
The rafts bumped against the side of the ship with gentle, awkward thuds, like drunk kisses on expensive doors. The ladder creaked, each rung sagging under our weight as we climbed. I led the charge, because of course I did—because I’m the one who runs toward impossible things with daggers in my belt and too much sass in my bloodstream.
Aria followed, then Leo, then Miko. Willow stayed behind just long enough to command the nobles into forming a loose circle and not dying in embarrassing ways.
My arms burned. The salt bit into my palms. The climb went on forever, like the ship had been built by someone allergic to logic and horny for altitude.
Then, finally—I crested the top.
And was ready for a fight.
What I found instead was madness.
Color, light, sound, and music.
A party.
A fucking party.