Chapter Twenty-Five
Something pulled atCeleste’s heart as she stared over the sea.
Four months had passed since she’d watched the Raven set sail from Port Royale. Since she’d watched the man she loved disappear over the horizon, leaving her twisting with the realization she might never see him again.
The council had cleared her name, publicly announcing the treason committed by her uncle. They placed the blame of Caroline’s death upon Uncle Peter, burying the truth of her birth with them both. No one needed to know the complicated treachery unearthed during the tumultuous transition of power.
Celeste wore the crown and her father’s title as unquestioned ruler of Nevarro, then worked tirelessly to set the kingdom back upon the path her father had blazed. Those loyal to her uncle were imprisoned and tried. The guilty were banished to Amarosa, a kingdom far from Nevarro whose influence lay far to the west. May God grant them mercy on their journey.
On days such as this, with blue skies full of white clouds and a gentle breeze rolling over the hills from the sea, Celeste found herself standing on the balcony, searching for his familiar sails. She missed him, more than she dared admit to anyone. She longed for his company, for his wit. His touch. James challenged her in ways no one else ever would. She ached for him.
“Your Majesty.” A loyal servant stood in the doorway behind her.
She looked at him over her shoulder. “Yes, Matthew?”
“There is a pirate in the throne room.” He nervously cleared his throat and fidgeted with his doublet. “He has requested an audience with the queen.”
Hope flared in her chest. James.
“I shall be there momentarily.”
After Matthew left, Celeste turned away from the window, her body humming with excitement. He had returned early. She paused before the full-length mirror to take measure of herself.
A deep sapphire gown hugged her curves while its gold trim accentuated the color of her hair bound in a coiled braid at the base of her neck. She straightened the matching crown upon her head and smoothed her hand over her bodice. A crown James had left upon her pillow before he set sail.
Celeste was no longer a princess, nor was she a pirate. She was a queen.
Mustering every ounce of regal bearing, she inhaled deeply before treading through the corridors. When she arrived outside the throne room, she paused, her heart fluttering like a caged bird inside her chest.
She nodded at her servants, then waited as they opened the doors.
The man before her wore a dark red coat, his tricorn hat bearing a tall, black feather. She knew the moment she saw his broad shoulders this was not James. Disappointment flared into frustration. She swallowed the shame of her excitement and cleared her throat.
“Who do I have the honor of welcoming to my kingdom?” She strode toward her uninvited guest.
He turned, and Celeste’s heart ceased beating as she came to an abrupt stop.
The handsome pirate smiled. His mannerisms and features so similar to James, aged with experience and time. Silver threads wove through his hair, catching the light as he removed his hat and swept a handsome bow.
“You are as beautiful as they claim, Your Majesty.” He lifted his head and his eyes sparkled with intelligence and cunning. Their resemblance was unmistakable.
“And you are?” She maintained distance, unable to process this man before her without thinking of James.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty.” He smiled, revealing a golden tooth and a dangerous charm. “Admiral Tiberius Hook.” He rose to his full height, maintaining an elegant composure. “I believe you are...intimately acquainted with my son, James.”
Celeste bristled at the subtle inflection he’d placed upon the word. He knew of their adventure, she had no doubt, but why would he come to her and flaunt it in such a casual manner?
“I can see where your son obtained his looks...and his charm,” Celeste responded sweetly. “Let us cut to the chase, Admiral. I do not believe for a moment this is a social call to wish me well upon my coronation.” Her eyes narrowed. “What business have you in my kingdom?”
“They said you are as clever as you are beautiful.” The admiral winked. “I can see why my son was taken with you, why he lied to keep you all to himself.”
“You came all this way to tell me this?” Celeste scoffed, even as her heart raced at the morsel of confession.
“James is my son.” His expression tightened. “He is my heir.”
Celeste stood her ground, refusing to react to the gathering storm. She arched a brow, urging him to continue.
“I heard stories. How he saved your life, how you saved his.” He closed the gap between them, the scent of leather, hemp, and sea drifting around him. “Tell me, Queen Celeste, did you truly think you could take him from me and not expect me to retaliate?”
“If your son chose to chart his own course, what makes you think I had anything to do with his decision?” She held fast, refusing to be baited. Behind her, she sensed her guards coil in readiness to protect her.
“My son will not be led astray.” He inclined his head, searching her face, his expression so like James’s, yet there was no humor in his dark eyes. “Is that understood?”
“Are you threatening me, Admiral?” Celeste forced a smile, though inside, panic slowly enveloped her. What fool would challenge the pirate king?
“A warning and a promise.” His gold tooth gleamed as he drew back. “I should hope a wise and benevolent ruler such as yourself would recognize the difference. Do we have an understanding?”
“’Tis my understanding that you crossed the Endless Sea to tell me, in no uncertain terms, you would rather go to war than relinquish the hold you have on your son.” Celeste tutted, ignoring the way her hands trembled as she clasped them together in front of her. “Whatever James decides to do with his life is none of my concern, nor is it yours.”
The admiral inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring as he held her gaze. “Such fire. I see why he chose to keep you to himself.”
“Have you any more threats?” Her sweet demeanor returned. “Or have you quite finished?”
“Oh, this is far from concluded.” He tugged on his hat. “I am sure our paths will cross again, Queen Celeste.”
“Until that day, Admiral Hook.” Celeste stepped to the side, allowing him to exit.
The moment the door closed behind him, she stumbled to the nearest wall and leaned against it. Her hands still trembled, her legs turned to jelly. That might have been the most idiotic thing she’d ever done. What had gotten into her? Challenging Admiral Hook in such a way would only leave her susceptible to retaliation. He had a fleet of pirate ships—a bloody armada!—at his disposal.
Making an enemy of him was akin to utter ruin. He would hunt down every ship bearing the Nevarro flag, pillage each one, reap the benefit of their good fortune. Then he would kill every man on board and burn the ships to ash. Without trade to bolster their economy, Nevarro would collapse. It would devastate her kingdom and send her people into poverty.
“Damn him.” She muttered the curse to the empty room. “Damn you, James.”
For the rest of the day, Celeste’s thoughts drifted back to her encounter with Admiral Hook. Why had he come to her? Why request an audience, only to threaten her? Had something transpired to cause a rift between father and son? Had she been the cause?
For every question, three more arose with it. Finally overwhelmed, she barred herself inside her room and retrieved a bottle of rum hidden in the back of her wardrobe.
She poured a good measure and sipped as she stared over the sea, her gaze lost to the coalescing colors of the sunset. Closing her eyes, she sighed and remembered their bargain.
Six months.
There were two more months until the winter solstice. Would he return? Or had he already forgotten her and their stolen moments of pleasure?
“This rum is better than mine.”
Celeste turned, her heart catching along with her breath. “James.”
He leaned against her wardrobe, another bottle in his hand, a tempting grin upon his lips. The damned man must have used the map to find a way inside the castle undetected. He swaggered close, taking a drink before setting the bottle aside. While he looked the same as he had the first day she’d met him, she now saw the complicated man beneath the boasting pirate captain.
“Did you miss me, little star?” He paused a breath from her, reaching out to twirl an errant strand of hair around his finger. His eyes shone like the full moon in a midnight sky.
“That depends.” She smoothed her hand over his chest. “Have you come to kidnap me? To steal what remains of my treasure?”
He snickered. “I have come for something far more valuable than jewels and gold, Princess.”
“And what would that be?” She traced her fingers along his stubbled jaw, noting the hiss of his breath at her gentle caress. “My throne?”
“Do you truly think so little of me?” His brow furrowed, his voice hoarse, as though he were fighting the desire coursing through him.
“After the uninvited guest I had grace my presence this morning, forgive me if I have reservations.”
“Ah,” he said, dropping his gaze. “Aye, well...my father is not known for his restraint.”
“Did you know he was coming here?” Celeste asked, dropping her hands to her sides.
“He informed me of his plan several days ago.” He searched her face, his expression softening. “When I told him I would no longer serve under his flag—”
“You what?” Celeste interjected, gripping the lapels of his coat.
“I cut ties with my father.” A half smile brightened his face as he took in her surprise. “After I gave him the treasure I took from Nevarro, I left with the Raven and my crew.”
Disbelief choked her. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“What did he say to you?” James asked, concern lacing every word.
Celeste related the encounter, word for word. Her heart pounded inside her chest like a war drum.
James’s laughter stunned her. She blinked before frowning.
“My being threatened by the pirate king amuses you?”
“Forgive me,” James said, smothering his laughter. He reached for her, but she batted his hand away.
“I fail to see humor in this.” She crossed her arms, confused by his reaction.
“If my father truly wished to threaten you, he would have done so with action, not words.” James rested his hand on her hip. His touch burned, igniting a dormant ache inside her.
“I do not understand.”
“He was testing you, love.”
Fury rose like a tidal wave inside her. “Testing me?”
“Aye.” He stepped closer, bringing their bodies flush.
She closed her eyes, savoring the heat of him and his familiar scent as it wove through her body. Slowly, tension eased from her and she leaned into him.
“Whispers of our adventure reached him, and when he confronted me, I told him the truth.”
“What truth?” Celeste whispered the question, desperate for the answer.
“The princess of Nevarro dared to make a bargain with a pirate and led us on a merry chase.” He swallowed, his voice as deep as the Endless Sea. “And I fell in love with her.”
“James.”
She clung to him, threading her fingers through his hair. Her breath caught as his words brushed her lips.
“I love you, Celeste.”
His lips crashed down upon hers. She opened for him, welcoming the passion pouring from the very depths of his soul. He tasted like both sin and salvation.
The kiss lingered, turning from desperate to a slow exploration as her hands roamed over him.
James drew back, his breath ragged. “Does the offer still stand?”
“What offer?” Celeste asked, dazed by the need smoldering between them. Realization struck like lightning as her bargain rose from those last memories together. “Oh. That offer.” She nodded. “Aye, it still stands.”
“Then I accept...with provisions.” His smile vanished as he kissed her again.
Celeste pressed a hand to his chest. He drew back, passion painted on his handsome face.
“Provisions?” She homed in on the word before desire could drive it from her mind. “What provisions?”
“I keep my ship and my crew.” He grinned. “As well as my title.”
A smirk tugged at her lips, and she indulged it. “Captain James Hook. Pirate Lord. Master of the Endless Sea.”
“Best not forget queen’s consort,” he murmured, lifting her hand and brushing his lips across her knuckles.
“You wicked thief.” Celeste moaned as he pressed his sinful mouth to her throat. “You’ve done it again.”
“Done what?”
“Stolen something never intended for you.”
His eyes danced with amusement. “And what is that?”
“My heart,” she replied simply. “I love you, James.”
“You can add that to my list of titles,” he said with a carefree grin.
“What?”
“Keeper of Celeste’s heart.” He pressed her hand to his chest. “As you are keeper of mine.”
Celeste kissed him. Thoroughly.
They sealed their bargain with more than a kiss, and come sunrise, all would hear the wonderful news of their union.
Queen takes Hook.