Chapter 62

Evie recalls a childhood visit to the Lilac Sea before arriving at the docks with Trystan, Tatianna, and Clare. They search for Tatianna’s father’s vessel and find a bright pink ship. Captain Jones greets Tatianna exuberantly, welcomes Clare warmly, embraces Evie as family, and awkwardly lauds Trystan’s “business,” revealing his affectionate, open nature.

The ship gets underway. Kingsley perches with Jones, exchanging fond signs. Trystan, under the pretense of needing the restroom, pulls Evie below decks, recognizing she needs privacy after witnessing Jones’s paternal love. In a quiet bunkroom, Evie admits grief over the love she lacked growing up.

Trystan encourages Evie to cry and vows to defend her, confessing he remembers everything she says. Their intimacy deepens until Evie calls the moment the best birthday gift, triggering Trystan’s abrupt outrage that it is not her birthday. Their confusion mounts as Evie jokes about balloon and jester fears.

Kingsley intrudes with a sign calling Trystan a liar. Trystan explodes, chases Kingsley out, and orders Evie to stay put. Anticipating her defiance, he locks the door from the outside. Evie discovers she has been deliberately confined, pounding the door and cursing him as the ship continues toward open water.