“Why is he always so moody?” I grumble to myself after dinner. Daithi glared at me throughout most of it. I can’t even eat in peace anymore!

“He should be grateful he’s alive. I could have killed him when I snuck into his room,” I whisper.”

Well, we both already know I couldn’t do that. The mere idea of it gives me the shivers. All I’ve got left now is complaining though, so that’s what I’m gonna do!

Once again, Daithi gets the exquisite captain quarters on deck. I spotted some of the area through the windows by the door. It’s actually a room with a bed while the rest of us are sleeping in hanging cots below deck. Smells like salt and fish down here and it’s even more difficult to walk around. I barely manage to get into my cot without busting my head open. Luckily for me, I have Rehan!

“Careful,” he says when assisting me into my cot.

“What a gentleman,” I tease.

Rehan gets into his own cot next to mine. Henley is in the cot on the other side of me. Her face is a little pale. Think she has an upset stomach after we ate.

“Must be nice sleeping in the captain’s quarters,” I say, earning a glare from Henley and a smirk from Rehan. “Wonder if His Majesty could bear to sleep in cots like we lowly commoners.”

“Don’t speak rudely of the emperor,” Henley growls. Her voice is unusually harsh. “He has slept in far worse conditions, has commanded in far worse conditions. It’s as if you don’t know your own history.”

I definitely don’t know. If it wasn’t mentioned in the book then I’m certainly unaware. Suppose there is a lot of ground to cover prior to Luvon’s death. It’s not like Meredin is the only continent either so...perhaps there was another war, maybe an uprising?

“My apologies.” I hold my hands up in surrender. “I admit, I did not get a proper education growing up.”

At least, I’m assuming the original Kaeda didn’t. Henley and Rehan likely don’t know better either.

“What did our oh so great emperor do then?” I alternate my attention between Henley and Rehan, waiting to see who responds.

“You aren’t that stupid,” Henley dead-pans. “Vuirin is the largest empire for a reason.”

Oh, right. Daithi did overtake three of his siblings' kingdoms, killing them in the process.

“Those were dark times,” says Rehan. His eyes cloud over. It’s the first time I’ve seen him look so serious.

“What happened?” I ask, quickly explaining myself when Rehan tilts his head. “All I know is that Vuirin overtook the other kingdoms after His Majesty took the lives of his siblings.”

Henley scoffs. She turns on her side, shutting herself off from the conversation.

Rehan indulges me though; “I don’t know what you want me to say, there really isn’t much to explain about war. We all have our reasons for going, all have our reasons for killing, and all are left to face the consequences of our actions.” He shuts his eyes. “Best get some sleep. We’ve had a long day.”

But I’m not tired, especially now. Even if Henley is stubborn and sometimes rude, she’s loyal to Daithi and doesn’t seem the type to follow him into war purely over the greed for power. Rehan can probably talk sense into Daithi and I don’t see why he wouldn’t so, like up to this point, is there more to the story? Am I missing something? If so, what?

I feel like every time I get an answer, I’m only given another question.

So it’s no wonder that sleep never takes me and I sneak on deck. Well, I say sneak, but there are others awake to keep watch. None pay me any mind as I stretch, taking a deep breath of the fresh ocean breeze. Walking over to the railing, I lean over to admire the evening sky reflecting off the cool ocean waves that crash against the ship, sending a cool mist on deck. From here, it’s as if we’re sailing through the sky, passing stars and an eternity of darkness. For once, the idea of eternal darkness isn’t all that scary.

“Thinking of taking a swim?”

I scowl. “Now I am.”

Looking over my shoulder, I find Daithi in rather unusual attire. His white sleep shirt is nearly see through and dangling around his waist. His pants are loose fitted, comfortable to sleep in, but certainly not befitting of an emperor. I’m surprised he lets anyone, especially me, see him so laidback, even his hair is tousled from the sea air, like a boy sneaking out of bed for a glass of milk and cookies.

“Something wrong? Need me to tuck you in, Your Majesty?”

“Have you ever wondered what a pig feels like roasting over a fire?” He smirks. “Because you’re about to find out.”

“Don’t try to joke. You may hurt yourself,” I grunt, gesturing to the open ocean. “I’m not going anywhere so can’t I have a moment to enjoy the view?”

He joins me at the railing, leaning against it when he states, “No.”

I want to punch him in his stupid face!

“What happened at the training grounds last week?” He suddenly asks.

“Huh?”

“Last week. At the training grounds.”

I tilt my head, mulling over his reasonings for asking. As his eyes bore into my own, panic grows. He already knows something is off about “Kaeda” and now he’s, what? Trying to figure out what it is? I have no memories of hers though, only these weird instincts. Last week would have been around the same time that I came into this—

“You had enough rest for that head injury.” That’s what Hagen said, a head injury!

“I hurt my head,” I answer.

“How?” His question stumps me because I don’t have an answer. I don’t even know if the head injury is what he’s asking about. My head is hurting now trying to determine how to get out of this.

My best option? Be annoying.

“Why?” I smirk. “Do you suddenly care? I’m flattered, Your Majesty, to think that you’d care so much about your subjects to check on their well being.”

“You say that as if you honestly believe I don’t care.”

“Do you?” I challenge, expecting a growl or a snort or even a threat, but he’s quiet, Too quiet. I’m perplexed by the silent stare that fans growing warmth beneath my cheeks.

He suddenly leans in, searching for answers that I’ve yet to give. Then he sighs, “Believe what you want. Everyone always does.”

Before I can respond, Daithi guides me away from the railing. I stumble after him, eyes fixated on the link between us. His hand is around my wrist until he sends me towards the steps leading below deck.

“Go to sleep,” he orders, crossing his arms.

“I’m not a child. I’ll go to sleep when I want,” I argue, biting the insides of my cheeks when Daithi raises a brow.

Yeah, yeah, I know I sounded like a child by saying that...

“Fine, I’m going, I’m going!” I shuffle down the steps, waiting a moment before peeking my head back out. He taps his foot twice.

“No peace around here,” I grumble, finally returning to my cot. I struggle to get in again, grunting until I’m finally settled, physically at least. Mentally is a whole other story.

“Believe what you want. Everyone always does.” What the hell was that supposed to mean?

I try to sleep, but every time I close my eyes, there are burning embers staring back at me.