Vengeance of the Pirate Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #3)

Chapter 19

THERE’S AT LEAST TEN undead for every single Islander. They surround the crew of the Wanderer , blocking them in a fence made of undead clutching one another’s arms. They move as one unit, seamlessly forcing the living to keep pace or be trampled underfoot.

I watch one of the larger men try to punch the closest undead. It does nothing, of course, just results in more shouting from his crew.

“Dammit, Nydus, stop hitting them!” one of the women says. “You’ve as much brains as they do.”

“I suppose you’d rather I wait until they force us off a cliff, then?”

“Quiet,” another man says.

“Have you a plan, Captain ?” The woman says his title like it’s an insult.

“No, Shura. I just don’t want to hear your bickering any longer.”

When I finally make my presence known, the undead halt their march, and the Islanders within the circle of arms stop, too.

No one says anything for a full minute. Then, “Who the hell are you?” This comes from Nydus, the man who’s supposedly all brawn and no brains.

“Quiet,” Shura snaps. “You know the natives can’t understand us!” She’s a tall woman, probably nearing six feet, and her figure has all the support to bear such an impressive height. Her cheeks have a rosy tint to them, which contrasts beautifully with her onyx-colored skin.

She is not the only woman among them. There are six in total, and I pray each of them is one of the women Alosa sent me to find. I’d hate for any of them to have been lost because I took too long to reach this cursed place. Since the Wanderer was a large ship, I can tell they’ve already lost two-thirds of their crew as it is.

“My name is Captain Sorinda Veshtas. I was sent by Queen Alosa Kalligan to find what became of the crew of the Wanderer and bring any survivors home.”

One man steps in front of the others, coming as close as he can to me before reaching the wall of undead bodies. He’s older than the others, perhaps in his forties. A stern chin sits beneath chapped lips. “I am Toras Warran, captain of the Wanderer . Neither I nor my crew have any need of being saved by pirate filth.” He spits on the ground before stepping back toward the rest of the survivors.

The rest of the crew exchange looks between themselves.

“Speak for yourself!” Nydus says. He’s about the same height and build as Shura, and he rubs his hands together before blowing warmth into them. “I would very much like to be saved, and I’ll kiss the pirate queen’s boots if that’s what it takes. I’ve had it with this stars-forsaken place.”

Another man asks, “Why should the pirate queen take an interest in the crew of one of the land king’s ships?”

I meet the eyes of Shura, and she winks at me.

“Do not trust any offer made by pirates,” Captain Warran says. “If they offer food with one hand, the other is sure to hold something sharp. Obviously the Kalligan girl means for us to serve her or die. That is always the way things go.”

I manage to withhold an eye roll. “I’m to drop you off at the Seventeen Isles. What you choose to do after that is up to you. The only thing I expect in return is more sea hands for the return trip.”

“Sounds pretty good to me,” Nydus says. “I’m an excellent sea hand.”

“Count me in,” Shura says. The rest of the girls nod or voice their assent.

In fact, the only person not in agreement appears to be the captain himself. The rest of the crew is perfectly happy to be saved, by pirates or not. He stands behind the others, arms crossed and face turned away.

“This is the best crew His Royal Majesty could bequeath me with? Defiant arselings is what you all are. You think you know best, gallivanting off with pirates?” He zeroes in on me with his hateful gaze. “Do you have an army behind you in those woods somewhere?”

“No, my crew lies to the south. We will rendezvous with them.”

Warran looks victorious. “Then how, pray tell, are you supposed to free us from these cursed individuals?”

Threydan said it was a present, but I can’t believe he wouldn’t want to be here to witness this. To see my gratitude—not that I would give him the satisfaction. But I note with horror that every single pair of blue eyes is pointed right at me.

He is watching my reaction.

I say, “Release them.”

At first, I think nothing will happen and I will look the fool. Then the undead drop their arms and cross into the woods without a sound, leaving only me and the crew of the Wanderer behind.

“Neat trick!” Nydus says.

“You fool,” Warran says. “She’s obviously controlling them! This is no pirate, but some scheming enchantress sent to put us under the same spell that lot is clearly under.”

“Warran, for just once will you shut the hell up?” Shura says.

The captain looks mortified by her words. “It’ll be prison for you when we return. I’ll have you—”

“Surely even you have heard of Sorinda Veshtas, the pirate queen’s assassin? She’s notorious, if not recognizable, given she wouldn’t be a very good assassin if everyone knew what she looked like.”

“I don’t know what you—”

Oh, but Shura loves cutting him off. “You need more convincing? Fine. I serve Alosa Kalligan, and I have for months before I ever stepped foot on your ship.”

At that, Nydus’s gaze cuts to her so quickly his neck cracks.

“Pirate filth!” Warran says, pointing to her.

“You’re unbelievable,” Shura says, stepping up to my side. “Thank you for the rescue, Captain. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She extends her hand, and I take it.

When done, Shura turns back around. “Have my eyes changed color? No? Can we please get the hell out of here, then?”

The rest of the girls step to my side of the clearing.

“Not you lot, too?” the captain asks.

“We were sent to keep eyes on the land king’s endeavors,” Shura says, “and you should be grateful for it. I don’t see King Ladell sending forces to rescue you lot, do you? You ought to praise Alosa’s name for extending an invitation of rescue to you as well, even though you don’t serve her. And don’t deserve it, in my opinion. Where to, Captain?” The last sentence is directed to me.

“This way.” The girls fall into step with me.

Nydus is the first to join us, stepping up to Shura’s side and taking side glances at her when he thinks she’s not looking. More men quickly follow, until it is only Captain Warran and another man left behind, likely his first mate.

But soon, even they follow. Just at a distance.

“So …,” Nydus says after a minute, “am I really the only person who wants answers about the folks with the creepy blue eyes? What do you know about it, Captain Veshtas?”

“That is a question without a simple answer.”

“Well, Nydus isn’t about to understand it, then,” Shura says.

Nydus glares at her.

“I will say this,” I say. “There is a being on this island with the power to control the dead. He is not on our side, and we should be wary of him and his army.”

“If he isn’t friendly to us, then why did the Blue-Eyes listen to you?” Nydus asks.

Shura smacks him. “If the captain wants you to know something, she’ll let you know. Stop asking questions about the natives.”

I silently thank her for that.

“Apologies, Captain,” Nydus says. “You have our deepest thanks for the rescue. Tell us about your ship. Is she large? Enough room for us all?”

“If not, we can always put Nydus in the brig,” Shura offers.

I say, “There will be room for everyone when we leave. No one is getting left behind, though surely the most annoying among you will be the first on my list for staying should that change.”

That finally shuts up the lad.

I AM CONFLICTED WHEN I find that my crew has remained in the same location since Threydan carried me off. On the one hand, I should be furious they did not seek a new hiding spot when this one had clearly been compromised. On the other, I am touched that they would remain so I could easily find them again. As though they didn’t doubt for a second that I would find a way back to them. I don’t know that I deserve such faith after the turns this journey has taken.

Once we’re spotted, a shout goes up from the treetops. I hate that this is becoming far too familiar. Me being gone and then showing up unexpectedly when some of the crew must surely expect I’m already dead.

Dimella is there first. She sees me, shakes her head in astonishment, then grabs me gently by the bicep. She looks me up and down, as though barely daring to assume I’m alive.

“How?” she asks.

“Believe it or not, I talked my way out of this one.”

“Impressive. And am I correct in assuming this is the missing crew of the Wanderer ?”

“Aye.”

“Damn, Captain. Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Don’t be too impressed. That dead arsehole is the one who told me where to find them.”

“Why would he help us?”

I clench my teeth. “Because he wants me to like him. Turns out he can’t complete the ritual unless I’m willing.”

“That’s messed up.”

“You don’t need to tell me. How’s the little one?”

“Sorinda!”

As though I summoned her, Roslyn barrels toward me. She jumps at the last second so I have no choice but to catch her. She presses her cheek against mine and squeezes her little arms around my neck.

“You need to stop leaving,” she says between tears.

“I’m hopeful that was the last time.”

I let my hand slide down the back of her hair, comforting her in the way I’ve seen Wallov do before. It seems to do the trick.

“Dimella, can you see to our new crew members?”

“Aye.”

Still holding Roslyn, I step closer to my first mate and say, “Keep a sharp eye on the two in the rear.”

“You’ve got it.”

“Sorinda?”

At the deep voice, I turn my head toward the direction we just came from. Kearan stands wrapped in furs. He’s got an ax hanging off his belt and a load of wood held in his arms. His hair sticks to his forehead in an unruly mess from the exertion.

We stare at each other.

That single ball of warmth within my chest flares so violently, it’s a wonder that I do not catch flame and go up in smoke.

Kearan drops his load of wood on the ground and takes the remaining steps to reach me. I think I lost my breath sometime right after he dropped the wood.

“Right, now if you’ll all just follow me,” Dimella says with an awkward lilt to her voice, “I’ll introduce you to the rest of the crew and get you all settled.”

They pass us by, and I barely even notice. And wasn’t I holding Roslyn a second ago? How did she manage to shimmy out of my arms without me realizing?

“You’re alive,” Kearan says, his voice lower than I’ve ever heard it before.

“For now.”

“What does that mean?”

“He gave me three days. After that, he’s coming for me.”

Kearan looks over my shoulder. “You found Alosa’s missing girls. We’ll figure out a way off this island before he comes.”

I wince.

“What is it?” he asks.

“I need to talk to you.” I look around at the crew, practically bouncing on their feet, wanting to have their turn to welcome me back. Again. “Alone.”

I grab his arm and haul him off a ways from camp. Only when we are out of sight of everyone do I realize I’m touching him and quickly release his arm.

My eyes do a sweep of the area, slower than usual. “We don’t know who might be listening. I’ve long suspected that he can see as well as hear through the dead.”

Kearan tilts his head down toward me so his lips nearly brush my ear. “Then perhaps we should whisper?”

A shiver goes through my whole body, and there’s no masking it as a reaction to the cold when we both know I no longer feel it.

I take a step back. “Not for this part.”

He cocks his head to the side. “What part is that?”

I swallow. Discomfort swirls within my gut. I swear it’s more pronounced than anything else since there’s literally nothing else to feel down there.

There’s nothing for it except to get the stupid words out.

“The King of the Undersea let me go on one condition,” I say in a slightly louder than usual tone so any undead who might be listening can hear clearly.

Kearan looks worried. “And what was that?”

“I’m to inform you that there is no hope for a future relationship between the two of us. Threydan will not suffer any competition for my affections. He made it very clear that you would not be long for this world should I refuse this stipulation or should you not agree to it.”

I pause there, waiting for Kearan’s reaction. His face doesn’t change at all. In fact, he’s gone rather still.

“I tried to assure him that you have no interest in me,” I continue. “You’ve made it clear many times, and I find it ridiculous that Threydan can’t see that for himself since he’s been privy to some of my memories.”

At that, Kearan blinks. “What?”

“I know, I thought it ridiculous, too, but—”

“No, I mean what is this nonsense about him seeing your memories?”

I look down to the ground, unable to bear his scrutiny while I share this part. “When I stabbed him, I … formed a connection between us. It flares up randomly, or rather when something jogs a certain memory. He’s seen parts of my past, and clearly some of the parts with you in it.”

“I see,” Kearan says quietly, his voice growing dark.

“I don’t. As I said, if he were smart, he would know that you have no interest in me. He would know that we are nothing more to each other than captain and crewman. He would leave you entirely out of this horrid obsession he has with me.” I laugh once without humor. “He wanted me to break your spirit. Your heart . But I’m telling you plainly, because there is no need for such deterrents. First of all, because no man controls who or what I pursue. Secondly, because—”

“I have no interest in you,” Kearan deadpans.

“Precisely.”

A silence falls between us, one that seems to hold millions of words unsaid. Kearan’s eyes never leave my face, and his face never changes. I can’t tell if he’s angry beyond words or shocked? Indifferent? He’s giving me nothing. He’s always been such a mystery.

“Will you please agree to it?” I ask.

“Agree to what?”

“I have told you his terms. Now you must agree to them. For the undead listening in the trees. Do you agree that you will not pursue anything with me and that I am nothing more to you than your captain?”

At that, his eyes draw into slivers. He leans down so that there is only a breath of space between us.

“There is no way in hell I am agreeing to that.”

My eyes widen, and I find my hand going to my sword hilt for comfort. For comfort, or because I worry any nearby undead may start attacking him if they managed to catch his words?

“Why not?” I ask, anger seeping into my voice, but I keep my tone at a whisper to match his.

“Because no man, immortal or not, tells me what to do. I only take orders from one person, and she’s standing right in front of me.”

“And should I order you to agree to his terms?”

“Can’t, Captain. I made you a promise that I would never lie to you.”

I try to swallow, but my mouth has gone dry. Does he mean—

What does he mean?

“Then don’t lie to me,” I find myself whispering. “Lie to him. Right now for all the undead to hear.”

Kearan’s head tilts slightly, and I lose my breath when his eyes dip down to my lips.

He blinks once, slowly. Before stepping back and laughing.

“Aye, Captain,” he says loudly. “I’ll be keeping these hands to myself. Just as I’ve always intended. You just do the same so this fool doesn’t come after me, aye?”

I glare at him to make the ruse more believable. “That won’t be a problem.”

“Thought not.” He scoffs dramatically before walking back toward camp.

I stare after him, taking in the shape of his strong shoulders, which are bunched tighter than I’ve ever seen them. He walks with a slight hunch, as though he feels defeated, but his steps never waver.

What. Just. Happened?

And what does it mean?