Page 90 of Viktor at Sea

“Everything but the spears,” Garth told me, staring at his checklist. “Chip and some of his men are just fetching them, so we’ve got to wait.”

“I thought we loaded all the spears yesterday.”

“We received word from Isle that they’d like to double their order.”

“More money for us, I guess.” I shrugged and turned my head to glance around the crowd that had gathered to see us off today. There was always something so exciting about a send-off. It was electric, and the energy was unmatched, but I didn’t feel in very high spirits today.

How could I be when it felt like I was ripping my heart out and leaving it behind in Jorvik while I sailed away for months? Call me dramatic, but I didn’t care. The pain felt so intense, and it just got worse with each passing second as I waited for Astrid to arrive.

“And the map?” I asked, my eyes still trifling through the crowd, unable to spot her anywhere.

“Don’t worry, old friend. I’ve got the original map, and there are three other copies,” Garth chucked and patted me on the back. “She’ll show up soon. There’s no way she’s going to miss seeing you off.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied smoothly even though he had hit the nail on the head.

Iwaslooking for Astrid. She said she wouldn’t miss this for the world, so where was she? What was taking her so long?

“Astrid loves you too much to let you go without saying goodbye,” Garth assured me, his words touching my heart more than he could imagine. “Plus, she would never let you leave with Kis.”

“You’re not wrong about that,” I chuckled. “You know–”

“There’s your lass,” he chuckled and patted me on the back. “I also see Chip and his men, so I’ll help them load the spears onto the ship and get them put away. In the meantime, say goodbye to your wife and join us. The sooner we leave…” his voice trailed off suggestively.

“The sooner we come back,” I murmured, but I didn’t pay him much attention as my eyes were set on my wife.

I watched as Astrid weaved through the crowd, rather unceremonious about it. Several people tried to stop and talk to her, but she ignored every one of them to make her way over to me.

“I thought you would leave before I got here,” Astrid panted, stopping in front of me. “I ran here as soon as the buns were done.”

“Buns?” I questioned, confused.

“I made buns for all of you,” she told me, gesturing to the basket she held. “Buns and cheese. It’s not much, but you didn’t eat much at breakfast.”

“You shouldn’t have gone to the trouble, but I really appreciate the gesture. I know the crew will be grateful,” Ismiled. Almost as if she knew something was going on, Kis jumped out of my arms. Her tail hung high up in the air as she sauntered away from us–as if giving us a moment of privacy to say our goodbyes. Too bad I couldn’t say the same for the rest of Jorvik who were all watching us like they had never seen a married couple converse.

“I’ll take that onto the ship for you,” Chip dropped by to say. Before either of us could even acknowledge his presence, he took the basket from Astrid and loaded it onto the ship with the spears.

“Do you have to leave now, or do you have a moment?” Astrid asked, her eyes wild and fearful as she stared at the busy happenings on The Serpent.

“For you, I have all the moments in the world, my siren.” If only that were true. “Come here,” I whispered, and before she could protest, not that I thought she would, I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her into me. I didn’t like how everyone was watching us intently, as if they were watching a show, but that wouldn’t stop me from embracing my wife goodbye.

“Everyone is watching,” Astrid whispered, her warm breath fanning my face. Despite her words of protest, she tilted her head back in anticipation, and her eyes fluttered closed when my lips brushed against hers, the touch featherlight.

“Let them watch,” I growled and pressed my lips harder against hers, needing to feel her.

Astrid rose on her tiptoes and kissed me back just as hard and passionately. Her fingers gripped my hair, pulling it out of the bun I had put it into earlier, but I had no complaints. All I could do was growl against her mouth while she sucked my tongue and held onto her while she pressed the sweet nothings into my mouth. Even when we ran out of air, we panted against each other’s mouths, not ready for the moment to end.

We both knew this was goodbye, and I hated it.

I was usually the first person on The Serpent before a big mission, but today, I was the last, and it still felt too early. How was I expected to sail the Seven Seas if my heart wasn’t with me? And why couldn’t these people give us one damn moment of privacy so I could kiss my wife the way I wanted to?

“You should go now, pirate.” Astrid kissed me one last time and pulled away to press her forehead against mine. “But before you do, I have something for you.”

I gripped her waist tighter, not ready to let go. “You already baked me fresh bread. What else could you possibly have for me?”

“My necklace,” she told me, brushing her hair over her shoulders as she reached behind her neck. “Until you come back, it’s yours.”

“What? No!” I exclaimed, shocked. “I can’t take your necklace, Astrid. You wear it all the time.”

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