Chapter 15
I wake to the remarkably loud sound of Arielle snoring. It’s still night and the stars are at their brightest. My eyes are slowly opening and I see Caspian putting his blanket around Arielle as she sleeps. It’s kinda sweet that he’s being so careless of himself for her to stay warm. His gesture for her beams an immediate flashback of Ace and I almost kissing. I’d give anything to be with him right now. All day I avoided him, blaming the funeral when he was all that I could think of when getting ready.
Caspian turns to sit down in the middle of the boat alone, and notices that I am awake.
“You’re an early riser.” He states with a curious smirk. ??That same look I saw over and over while we were fighting. It's cocky but playful, too playful for the circumstances.
Oh, you think now is the time for that smirk. Excuse you, sir! I bark at him in my mind. As much as I want to say that out loud, I should tread lightly. I may be able to get some answers out of him especially with Arielle sleeping. I have a feeling she will make things difficult later.
“I guess so, I can’t say I’m exactly in the situation where I’d be sleeping my best.” I respond in a sharp tone. “So you wanna explain why I’m here or what you plan on doing with me?” I pause and look around at the ocean, there’s nothing but the dark reflection of the night sky beaming off the water. “If you have the time, that is.” I add.
?? Why am I flirting? This man just pulled you off your ship and you're flirting?! Self control woman!
??Caspian looks out into the water and then over at me with a slight teasing smile but a gleam in his eyes. But the gleam and smile all goes away faster than it appeared. “I just do as I’m told, Abigail. I was hired to bring you in by a man with a whole ton of money and power.” ??
“By my parents?” I question, I don’t really know what all he knows about me or them, but I’m sure it’s more than what I know at this time. I can’t tell If I am being kidnapped or if I’m being saved. Caspian doesn’t respond and stares at the hard aluminum flooring on the boat.
For someone full of words on the Island, he’s awfully quiet now . I move on to another question in hopes to get more answers.
“Were those your men on the ship? My crew, my family, are currently in danger. Is that what you're doing?” I ask. I didn’t want to sound accusing but it was hard to get the thought out of my mind.
“No, love. Those are no men of mine.” His eyebrows furrow as he stares at the ground. “But I can guarantee once they notice you are gone, we will see them again real soon.” He sounds confident in his response. But I'm just so unsure of everything, I need to know more. I almost feel more confused than when I started. The girl everyone has been looking for all this time has been me all along? It’s such a strange thought.
“You should rest up, we have a long journey ahead of us and you will have an even longer journey after we get where we are going.” He threatens, still not making eye contact.
What does that mean? It sounds more and more like he was paid by someone to kidnap me and that this person may not have the best intentions in mind. My stomach twists and my heart pulls. I am so lost and confused and I have no idea what I am to do next. I hold tighter to the blanket I am wrapped up in. I know I need to figure out how to get out of this. To get back to Ace. But right now, I am still so exhausted and I don’t quite know who I am dealing with. He certainly doesn’t look like he will be falling asleep anytime soon, so I might as well keep quiet and rest up for now. If I am to get back to Ace, I will need my strength. ??
I nuzzle into the side of the boat but I am freezing. The ocean air brings chills onto my arms. Goosebumps crawling down my entire body. I try to reposition my blanket to cover the still damp clothing I have on. ??Caspian looks over at me and notices as I start to shiver. Concern overtakes his face and he then starts searching the boat. He looks around and grabs his green cape as he walks over my direction.
“You need heat or you’re going to get sick.” He says. He walks up right beside me and sits down, his arms reaching around me.
“What do you think you're doing?!” I state as I sway my body away from him.
“Oh don’t be daft! You are shivering in wet clothing, Abigail. I’m giving you my body heat for you to stay warm. Like it or not, I have to return you alive and well. Not sick and dying.” He growls out. He opens his arms waiting for me to curl in.
“Maybe, this should have been something you considered before pulling me over the side of the ship.” I snap. He is right though, getting sick is bad for both of us. ??
He sighs long and loudly. “Abigail.” He says in a soft convincing tone.
I don’t have the slightest idea about this man and as far as I know, he is a big reason for the chaos lately. But something about him makes me feel like I can trust what he says. At least for now, because I am literally freezing and his chest doesn’t seem too horrible of an option if it means I can stay warm. ?I roll my eyes so he can see and then lean into him. I don’t want him to think it was as easy of a decision but it really is the most rational choice. I lean into him still wary. He wraps his cloak around us over top of my blanket and wraps his arms around me, holding me still. The warmth coming off of him feels incredible, every goosebump slowly disappearing. He’s his own little heater and I am so comfortable.
I’ve never been cozied up with a man like this before, it’s kinda nice. Even if the man is kinda an ass.
I feel the weight of my eyelids as my blinking becomes heavy. I close my eyes and effortlessly fall asleep.