Chapter 26 Kaspar #2
From what I heard, Sprocket—and Murray—had saved Max’s life with that little trick.
For that alone, I would forgive just about anything, including hooking me up to that machine. But really, I felt like I owed the two of them.
I glanced up at the crow’s nest as I walked toward the quarterdeck with a frown. Greybeard was up there with a telescopic held to his eye, keeping an eye out for other ships. It was strange seeing anyone other than Hawk-Eyes up there during the day.
I still couldn’t believe she was gone. She’d never again look down at me through her telescopic, making jokes about watching me at work.
I missed her dearly.
We’d had a funeral for her two days ago, and I didn’t think I’d ever forget the sound of her mother’s sobs. It had been… difficult to watch.
Stitches was inconsolable. Her daughter had been killed, and she didn’t seem to want anyone to pull her out of her misery just yet.
I prayed to every goddess that she’d come back to us soon.
Even through her grief, she’d told me she didn’t regret helping us, that she was glad I was safe and Max was the captain now, and that we needed to make her daughter’s sacrifice mean something.
I planned on making her wish come true.
“You doing okay, Ghost?” Willy asked me when he walked out of the captain’s quarters, carrying one of the dragon foot chairs.
I sent him a smile. “I’m good. Thanks for helping me with this.”
He waved me off and added the disgusting chair to our growing pile.
“I’m happy to help you and your man.” He said your man with a strange inflection while waggling his eyebrows in a ridiculous way.
I held in a snicker and a sigh, already knowing what was coming.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me. ”
“And I’m still sorry about it. I swear I wanted to talk to you about it, but I didn’t want to put you or Max at risk. If Viper found out, I thought—”
He snorted, cutting me off, and muttered, “Max,” under his breath while shaking his head. “Stop. I know why you didn’t, and I don’t blame you. I just can’t believe I didn’t put two and two together.”
“You know that’s why Ariella said you and I were together, right?”
“Huh? She knew about you two?”
“She guessed.”
He rolled his eyes. “Of course she did.”
“She was trying to throw Viper off the scent. She didn’t do it to hurt you, you know.”
He let out a long sigh. “Yeah… I know. But that doesn’t mean she likes me the way I like her.”
“You’ll never know till you ask.”
He grimaced. “Not sure I’m ready for that.”
I gave him a pat on the shoulder as he walked back into the captain’s quarters to grab more of Viper’s belongings.
Max hadn’t wanted to switch rooms, but after he’d had to go into Viper’s room to use his desk, look at navigational maps, read the ship’s logbook, and a million other things, he’d finally agreed that he needed more space. So I’d volunteered to oversee moving Viper’s junk out and Max’s stuff in.
I couldn’t carry anything heavy yet, but I was able to do the small stuff and direct people to place things in either room, throw them away, or add them to the sell pile.
We were going to have a ton of random things and lots of taxidermy to see off once we finally landed. Hopefully, we could find some buyers; otherwise, Viper’s trophies would be trashed. Max didn’t seem to care which as long as he never had to look at them again.
We’d reach Gearhart in Asteris in two days, so I was helping organize, not only with Viper’s things, but anything else we’d picked up along the way that we wanted to sell.
Max wanted to hire some new aeronauts once we stopped since we’d lost so many between the sand kraken and the mutiny.
I was hopeful that we’d get some good people to join us.
Maybe then I wouldn’t be the newbie onboard.
“Ghost?” Max’s voice called from the aft quarterdeck.
I looked up at him and couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, Reap?”
His lips twitched. “Are you up for climbing to the crow’s nest?”
I was sure the surprise showed on my face, but no one was paying attention to us—well, no one but Ariella—so I didn’t care. “Uh, yeah. That should be fine.” As long as I wasn’t bending over too much, I could do it. “What about all of this?”
“Willy can take over.” He gestured to the crow’s nest. “Can you take watch so Greybeard can help with some of the heavy lifting?”
I nodded. “Sure thing, Captain.” I shot him a grin that he returned. I kinda loved calling him that, and although he’d seemed hesitant at first, he was clearly pleased. He was our new captain, and a damn fine one at that.
Greybeard climbed down, and I slowly made my way up the rigging. My wound twinged when I climbed into the crow’s nest, but it wasn’t too bad at all. Hopefully, that meant it’d be fully healed in no time.
Pulling out my telescopic, I scanned the skies for any sign of other people, but I didn’t see a single soul for the three hours I stayed up there alone. I wasn’t entirely surprised when Max’s head popped up over the ledge, but I couldn’t help the big grin on my face as soon as I saw him.
“I was hoping you’d join me up here.” I sat on the edge of the nest and patted the spot beside me.
He smiled as he finished the climb and sat down, our legs dangling between the railing spindles.
As soon as he was settled, he leaned over and planted a quick kiss on my lips.
“I love that I can kiss you anytime I want now.” And he’d been taking full advantage of that fact every time he was close to me.
Many crewmates were surprised by our relationship, but after seeing Max—the Reaper—take down someone as vicious as Viper, no one had questioned him.
When he wasn’t around, I got some looks and a few questions—along with a few are you crazys—but no one was being cruel about it.
In fact, there were more people who seemed…
almost pleased that their captain had someone than not.
I’d caught quite a few secret smiles aimed my way.
We weren’t being overly affectionate in public spaces, but no one said a word about me staying in his cabin every night, and no one questioned it when I smiled at him from across the deck.
His comment made a little happy laugh bubble out of me. “Me too.”
“Are you doing okay? Did climbing up here strain your back?”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. What about you? How’s everything going down there?”
“All good. My stuff has officially been moved into the captain’s quarters.” He shoulder-bumped me. “Your stuff has too.”
My gaze snapped over to him. “It has?”
His cheeks flushed, and he refused to meet my eyes. “I hope that’s okay? I should’ve asked first, but I was hoping you’d want to stay with me in my new—oomph.”
He caught me when I flung myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and squeezing tight. “Yes! Of course I’ll stay with you. That sounds… amazing. Wonderful.”
He kissed my hair. “I think so too.”
When I sat back, I kissed his cheek before picking up my telescopic and scanning the horizon again.
We were quiet for a few minutes, both of us enjoying each other’s company in a way we hadn’t been able to when Viper was still captain.
This was calm and peaceful and not filled with worry.
We didn’t have to keep looking over our shoulders, waiting to be caught, waiting for an evil man to separate or hurt us for having the gall to form a relationship.
“So… I’ve been thinking…” Max trailed off for a few seconds.
“What, um, what do you think about The Black Wraith picking up your sister and nephew in Sunada and flying them to Asteris? We’re heading back to Embergate after Gearhart, and then coming back again.
Although we might have to stop at one of the islands along the way.
And if they’re with us, we’ll lay low and avoid any battles.
But I was just thinking it might be nice to have your family onboard.
Of course, I understand if you don’t want them here because, well, pirates, but—”
“Max.” I cut off his rambling, staring at him in awe. “Are you serious?”
His cheeks flushed again. “You don’t have to bring them on. It was just a thought, and—”
“Max.” I cut him off again.
He took a breath. “Yeah?”
“That would be the most amazing thing ever. Are you sure it’d be okay to bring them here? We could take money out of my cut to pay for their food and everything, and I’m sure Kayla could help mend the sails and clothes and whatever else. She’s a great seamstress. And we can make Cody clean and—”
This time, Max cut me off with a smiling kiss. “Kas?”
“Yeah?”
His grin against my lips grew. “I would love the chance to get to know your family. We’ll make sure the crew treats them right. I’ll announce the plan before we disembark so anyone who doesn’t like it can leave and find another ship.”
“You’d really do that?”
Instead of answering with words, he pulled me into another long kiss, then rested his forehead against mine.
“When we get to Gearhart, you can send Kayla a letter to let her know the plan. You won’t get a reply, obviously, but at least she’ll be prepared, and I’m sure she’ll be happy to know you’re doing well. ”
I smiled at him. “I’ll write Cody one too. He’ll love getting his own letter.” Taking advantage of the kingdoms’ mail carriers was a great idea. Of course, being between the kingdoms on an airship meant they couldn’t write back, but Max was right that they’d want to know I was alive and well.
Max grinned at me, pecked my cheek, then pulled out his telescopic to scan the skies. Leaning my shoulder against his, I mirrored him, content to sit with my Max—my captain, my partner—for a while longer before going back to our room for the night.