Page 5 of Captive Heart

I try to pull away, but his grip tightens. He leans in close, his breath hot on my face.

"I've always had a thing for human women," he whispers, his voice low and dangerous. "Merchant life doesn't provide many opportunities for... companionship."

I feel a shudder of revulsion run through me. I know exactly what he's implying, and the thought of it makes me want to vomit.

But I can't let him see my fear. I have to keep my wits about me if I'm going to get out of this alive.

"Please," I say, my voice steady despite the trembling in my hands. "Let me go. I won't cause any trouble."

The captain laughs, a cruel sound that sends chills down my spine. "Oh, I don't think you understand, my dear. You're not going anywhere."

He leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "In fact, I think you're going to be very useful to me."

I feel a surge of panic rise up in my chest, but I force it down. I can't let him see how scared I am. I have to find a way out of this.

But before he can act on his words, a sudden change in the sky draws everyone's attention. Rumbling storm clouds roll in as the wind picks up, whipping my hair up around me.

"It seems we'll have to entertain each other later, human bitch."

The captain's laughter rings in my ears as the crew throws me into the brig, the heavy door slamming shut behind me. I'm left in darkness, the only sound the howling wind and the crashing waves.

I huddle in the corner, my heart racing as I try to make sense of what's happening. The storm seems to be growing stronger by the minute, the ship creaking and groaning as it's tossed about on the waves.

I can hear the crew shouting orders above me, their voices barely audible over the roar of the storm. I know they're doing everything they can to keep the ship afloat, but I can't help feeling like I've been abandoned.

I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep warm. The brig is cold and damp, the air heavy with the scent of salt and seaweed. I can feel the ship pitching and rolling beneath me, my stomach lurching with every movement.

I close my eyes, trying to calm myself. I can't afford to panic, not now. I need to stay focused, to think of a way out of this.

But it's hard to think clearly when all I can hear is the storm raging around me. I feel like I'm trapped in a nightmare, unable to escape the darkness that surrounds me.

I don't know how long I sit there, lost in my thoughts. It feels like hours, but it could just as easily be minutes. Time seems to have lost all meaning in the chaos of the storm.

Suddenly, I hear a loud crash above me. The ship lurches violently, sending me sprawling across the floor. I scramble, looking for somewhere safe but only spotting a chest on its side, open with more gold than I could ever dream of spilling out. The last thing I hear is the sound of wood splintering, the screams of the crew as they're tossed about like ragdolls.

And then nothing.

4

ZOLDRYN

Flying patrol with Vorak is a welcome distraction from the politics of the island. The wind whistles past my scales as we soar above the crashing waves, the salty scent of the sea filling my nostrils. Vorak and I exchange a grin, the thrill of the hunt coursing through our veins.

Suddenly, my keen eyes spot something unusual on the shore. A shipwreck, its mast snapped in two, lies half-submerged in the water. My heart races with excitement. Treasures from the human world are rare and valuable on Fouuer Island.

"Vorak, look!" I call out, gesturing towards the wreckage with my wing.

He follows my gaze and lets out a low growl. "A hoard!"

We dive towards the shore, shifting into our dark elf forms as we land on the sand. The ship groans and creaks, its timbers splintered and broken. We approach cautiously, our bare feet sinking into the wet sand.

Vorak's eyes light up as he spots a glint of gold among the debris. "I knew it!" he shouts, already digging through the wreckage with his claws.

My fingers brush against something solid, something that doesn't belong in the wreckage of a ship. I dig around it, uncovering a small chest. The lock is broken, and as I lift the lid, my eyes widen in surprise.

A small human female lies curled up inside, her chest rising and falling with each breath. She's unlike any human I've ever heard of, with light blonde hair that shimmers in the moonlight and eyes that glow like emeralds. A strange magical hum radiates from her, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Aren't humans supposed to be hideous creatures? Dreadfully plain and ugly, I've been told. Never served on a bed of gold and jewels like this one.

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