Lumi was pressed up against a man.

  Sluggish with sleep, her brain registered his pleasant warmth before anything else. Her fingers twitched against the hard plane of his stomach, grazing the trail of dark hair that led to his navel.

  Then she heard it. His heartbeat. Steady, strong, as it pumped blood through his arteries. Every thud echoed through her skull as if it were her own.

  But it wasn’t the only one.

  Another heartbeat. Further away. Not his. Not hers.

  Lumi’s eyes snapped open. Her vision swam as her senses sharpened. Pale, morning light seeped through the salt-streaked window, pooling in lazy patches across the cabin. The air smelled of brine and stale tobacco.

  And there, in the far corner, was a figure.

  A man.

  Lounged comfortably at the rickety table, his elbows planted on its worn surface. His fingers worked a thin paper, rolling something with practiced ease. His movements were lazy and unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world.

  Lumi didn’t dare move, every nerve in her body on high alert.

  Who was this man? Did Rook know him? Were they friends or foes?

  It was only when he blinked in her direction that she realized she was nearly naked, save for her panties.

  She bolted upright, the air biting against her bare skin. Her first instinct was to shield herself from his perusal. Her hands shot to the blanket, but it refused to budge, trapped beneath Rook’s weight.

  The man’s lips quirked into a smirk as his tongue dragged along the edge of the spliff he was rolling. He finished it with a practiced twist, then placed it between his pouty lips.

  “Good morning, sweetheart,” his words were laced with smoke, even before he lit up.

  Beside her, Rook stirred. Propping himself up on his only elbow, his expression darkened as he looked upon their intruder.

  “Indigo.” Rook’s voice was a rough scrape. Thick with sleep, yet jagged as broken glass.

  “Morning, sunshine.” Indigo’s smirk widened as he struck a match. The sharp snap of the wick echoed in the space as he lit the end. Smoke curled upwards, mingling with the tension already thick in the air.

  Naked as the night before, Rook didn’t mind his own lack of clothing. Or Lumi’s for that matter. Sitting up against the headboard, he draped a lazy arm over Lumi’s shoulder and brought her back to his side.

  He did so without hesitation, like he didn’t need to think twice about pulling her close. Like it was second nature to him. Like he had done it many times before.

  Unease curled her gut.

  Rook twirled a strand of her golden hair between his fingertips, but his sights remained on the other man, “Breaking and entering, are we?”

  “Saw your ship in port,” Indigo exhaled a plume of smoke, as he studied the two of them. “Thought I’d say hello.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “And help yourself to my amenities.” Rook added.

  Indigo shrugged, leaning back in his chair, “Blood runs deep, brother.”

  The words lingered, the air shifted. Whatever history lay between the two surfaced in their solemn silence.

  Brother.

  They were brothers?

  She could see the similarities—same golden skin, same dark hair, same severe jawline. But that was where their resemblance ended. Indigo’s emerald stare was light and quirky, not nearly as dark and haunted as his brother’s inky glare.

  She was willing to bet Indigo was younger by a few years. Rook was older which would explain why he received the title of emperor after their father passed away.

  Holding a piece of parchment between two fingers, Indigo broke the tense silence, “Found this on your desk.”

  He spread it out, the weathered map unfurling. Lumi’s interest was piqued. It was unmistakably the same map she had stolen—the map of The Kingdom of Dracule.

  “I couldn’t quite believe my eyes,” Indigo’s tone dripped with mockery, “Don’t tell me you’re still chasing fairy tales, Rook.”

  “It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

  “Oh, but I do,” Indigo shot back, “I worry, Rook. You’ve got the map. You’re here. And you’re acting…” his eyes flicked to Lumi before snapping back to his brother, “Unlike yourself. What’s the play?”

  “There’ve been developments.”

  “Care to elaborate?”

  Rook continued playing with a strand of Lumi’s hair, “The specifics don’t matter.”

  Indigo leaned forward, his expression hardening, “You’re going after the treasure, aren’t you?”

  Lumi felt Rook stiffen beside her, but he only shrugged nonchalantly, “Maybe.”

  Treasure? So, the map of Dracule…it was a treasure map? And Rook was going after said treasure? Lumi’s mind raced.

  This was it. The piece of knowledge she had been scrambling for. She wouldn’t have to return to Lady Sol empty-handed after all.

  She had something now. A few somethings.

  Rook did not care for the title that had been forced upon him. He had a soft side—one he’d revealed the night before as she fell apart in his arms. He had a brother who seemed like a whole lot of trouble. And he was chasing treasure.

  Lumi’s chest tightened with a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, those details would be enough for Lady Sol. Maybe she would finally earn back her memories.

  Indigo tapped ash into a tray on the table and shifted his focus to her. His smirk deepened, his scrutiny putting her on edge. “And who is this lovely creature in your bed?”

  Before Rook could answer, Lumi cut in,“I’m the whore of the night. And it seems our time is up.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short, sweetheart.” Indigo quipped, “Whores don’t usually last this long in my brother’s bed.”

  “Indy,” Rook warned.

  Indigo raised his hands in mock surrender, but his grin never faltered. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk.”

  He stood and walked towards the door. It creaked shut behind him, leaving Lumi and Rook alone.

  Lumi rose, her movements stiff. She reached for the dress she’d worn the night before, fingers trembling as they brushed over cotton. She dressed quietly, avoiding Rook stare, though she could feel it burning through her. The corset lay crumpled on the floor, an afterthought. She left it there.

  Rook stepped closer, the weight of his presence pressing against her back. “Are you feeling better?”

  “I’m fine,” she bit out.

  “Don’t,” he said firmly, “Don’t pretend like nothing happened.”

  What was she to do? How was she meant to act now, when everything inside her felt raw and exposed.

  He had seen too much—a side of her she kept locked away, hidden even from herself most days. That fractured part of her wasn’t meant to exist outside the darkness of her solitude. She’d been too reckless last night. She’d let him in, and now the weight of it threatened to crush her.

  Her chest constricted, the ache spreading with every breath she took. She turned to face him, her features schooled into a cold, impassive mask.

  “Nothing did.” The lie burned her tongue.

  Something flickered through Rook’s expression. Hurt, maybe? It passed too quickly, smothered beneath a practiced indifference.

  Hurt? Because of her? No. He wasn’t wounded by a pleasuremaiden’s dismissal. He had bigger concerns. Treasure to hunt, people to kill. She was merely an afterthought. Something entertaining to pass the time.

  The thought should have steadied her, but it only deepened the ache in her chest.

  She pushed past him, her voice cold and final, “I hope to never see you again, Rook. Have a nice life.”

  She didn’t stop, didn’t glance back. The silence behind her was heavier than the words she’d left hanging in the air.

  a/n: hey, hi, hello. its me, the author. if you're liking the story so far, favorite it so you are notified every time I update! I would love to hear your thoughts and predictions if you have any, who your favorite character is so far, who your least favorite is and why. don't be shy, tell me all the things!

  chapter 42 just went up on patreon- rook opens up to lumi about his past and I swear his backstory physically hurt me. if you'd like to unlock early chapters, check me out there (: