A Soul For Chaos (The Soulbearer Trilogy) by Crista McHugh Read Free Book Online

vessel seemed to magnify the movements of the waves. Vertigo played havoc with her balance, and she found herself leaning on Dev as they crossed the ship.
    “Were you always this clumsy?” he asked.
    “No.” She dared not say anything else for fear she’d either punch him or vomit on him. Either way, he deserved it for asking such an asinine question.
    “I hope you get your sea legs soon. It’s bad enough I’ll have to keep you from falling overboard for the next few weeks.”
    She eyed the water warily. “I’m not going to fall overboard.”
    “I certainly hope not. As it is, I’ll have to add swimming lessons to your ever-growing list of things I have to teach you when we get to Gravaria.”
    She rolled her eyes. Everything had to wait until they got to Gravaria. Meanwhile, she was crossing a broad sea and had no idea how to begin to keep her head above water if  she fell off the ship.
    The captain seemed to ignore her distress and marched to the stern, holding the door open for them. “This way to your cabin.”
    Inside was a spacious room with large windows looking back at Boznac. Arden looked at it longingly, wishing she was back on the putrid streets. At least, she was in her homeland and not facing the prospect of drowning if the ship went down in a storm.
    “The lady can sleep in here,” the captain continued, showing her a small room off to the side with nothing in it but a bed mounted to the walls.
    Dev inspected it and nodded. “I assume I’ll be sleeping in the room next to it.”
    The captain, so loquacious up to this point, cleared his throat. “Um, no, that room is already taken.”
    Dev closed the space between him and the captain, making his five extra inches of height that much more apparent. “By whom?”
    “By me,” a familiar voice said behind them.
    Arden whirled around, her vertigo forgotten. “Kell!”
    She only managed a couple of steps before he had her in his arms, his lips claiming hers. Her heart beat faster, but from something other than fear now. When the kiss ended, she stared at him, still unable to believe her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
    “I wasn’t going to let you go that easily,” he replied with his charming grin.
    A warm glow filled her chest, chasing away the gloom that had surrounded her since she left Trivinus.
    “And does your father know you’re here?” Dev’s question was cold and mocking, as though he was disciplining a child rather than speaking to a prince. Cinder threw in a low growl for good measure, mirroring his master’s displeasure.
    Kell continued to grin in his carefree way, but Arden noticed the joy faded from this eyes. “Naturally. After all, he was the one who chartered the ship for you.”
    Dev scratched Cinder’s head, his hand grazing toward the ruff in case he needed to hold the wolf back. “Yes, but that still doesn’t explain your presence here.”
    “I’m here as part of a diplomatic envoy to Gravaria. It’s time we healed the wounds between our nations.”
    “I don’t believe you.” Dev’s eyes narrowed, and his petting became more aggravated, ending when Cinder nipped at him.
    As much as she hated to admit it, she had to agree with Dev. Kell was devoted to his homeland. If he was leaving it, it had to be for something stronger than mere diplomacy.
    “Hoping if he’s coming along because of his love for you, my little Soulbearer?”
    Like always, the chaos god said what she was scared to admit.
    Kell, however, didn’t falter under Dev’s unrelenting glare. “Believe what you will, but the fact remains that I’ll be accompanying you to Gravaria. As for the room, I suppose I could give it up if Arden agrees to share her room with me.”
    Dev’s nostrils flared, but he said nothing. He didn’t need to. The power of his carefully contained anger sent a shiver down her spine.
    “I like the accommodations the way they are,” she replied, pressing her hand against Kell’s chest and pushing him back. She