Page 11 of His Clever Captive

“Probably the ship’s engine,” I lie.

“Probably.” She chews her lip. “What about you? Who’s Xi?”

I stiffen. “How do you?—?”

“You muttered her name in your sleep. Twice.”

Of course I did. Vrekking dreams. “She’s my sister. An oracle. And eternally nosy.”

“An oracle?” Her eyes light up. “Like a seer? What did she?—?”

“Nothing.” I snap the word too harshly. Lacey’s flinch is a knife to my gut. “Sorry. She’s…a sore subject.”

Silence stretches, but it’s comfortable for once. A rarity for me.

Then Lacey asks softly: “Tell me something about you, Vex. How about something from your childhood?”

I blink. “What?”

She faces me, knees brushing my thigh. “You’re all deflections and smirks. But I’d like to get to know you.”

Know me? Am I worthknowing? “Fine. You can have my tragic backstory. My mother was a servant. The Royal Commander at the time,my father, took…liberties. She died bringing me into the world on a promise he would take care of me. Ryz was my best friend until he learned I was his father’smistake.Then I became his favorite target.” I shrug, like it doesn’t still gouge me. “Stole my first ship at sixteen. Ran away for good. And have been pissing Ryz off ever since.”

Her lashes lower. “Vex, I?—”

“Don’t.” I chuckle bitterly. “Save the pity for someone who cares.”

“It’snotpity.” She grabs my wrist. “It’s anger. You deserved so much better.”

The sincerity in her voice is a live wire. I want to kiss her.AndI want to run.

I slide my hand into hers. “Now, you tell me. How is a woman so beautiful, so sweet, and so clever, still…untouched?”

Her cheeks flush. “How do you know I am?”

“Please. Berrix told me you jumped when the sponge squirmed.”

She smacks my arm. “We don’t have moving sponges on Earth!”

I give her a wink. “Okay, a lucky guess then.”

She takes a deep breath, her gaze drifting back to the stars. "I grew up in a very religious household. Strict, traditional. My parents were loving, but they had very specific ideas about howI should live my life. I wasn't allowed to do a lot of things other kids did."

She continues, recounting a life full of rules and missed opportunities—a stark contrast to my reckless, pleasure-seeking lifestyle.

“Anyway. I’m waiting. For…the one.” She cringes. “Silly, right?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes go wide. “Vex?—”

I grin. “But brave.” I trace a line up her wrist, her forearm, with my fingertips, ending in a gentle tug of her elbow toward me. “Unfortunately, the universe doesn’t reward brave little creatures.”

Her lips part. “Then who does it reward?”

“Pirates who take what they want.”

I lean forward and capture her mouth with mine.

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