Page 42 of Of the Stars and Sea

Then a plan hatches in my muddled mind. The man next to me is offering himself freely. If Grayson is having Cassandra come toourroom tonight, then I shall have my fun first.

I look back to the pirate and he’s still wearing the same smirk. Some small part of me screams in protest as I say, “We can use my room instead.”

His smile widens and there’s something not quite right about the look of it, but I think no more of it as I carefully slide off the stool and steady myself on my feet.

I stumble forward with the first step I take and the man takes hold of me, steadying me. “Easy there. Do you think you can make it or shall I carry you like a maiden?”

I scoff and shove him off me. “I am no fair maiden who needs your assistance. I am a pirate captain of one of the most powerful ships in the Southern Realm,” I boast, taking another step forward. This time I manage to keep myself upright.

“Right,” he snorts. “And I’m the Kraken.”

His jab hits somewhere in my chest, but I pay it no mind as I look to my left and see not only Grayson, but the entirety of his men watching me stumble toward the staircase in the corner. Not one of them makes a move, but I notice Grayson’s knuckles are a stark white as they grip the mug of ale in front of him. Hislips are drawn into a firm line and his other hand rests on the pommel of his sword that should be hanging from his belt on the back of his chair, but instead it remains at his hip.

Strange, I think right before I feel the weight of a heavy arm drape over the top of my shoulders. The motion pulls my attention away from Grayson, as the pirate—who I just now realize has no name—tugs me closer to him.

“Oh, the things I’m going to do to you,beautiful.” His breath is hot against my cheek and I can smell the stench of alcohol on his breath. Or maybe that’s my own breath. It’s difficult to tell, given how close he is.

Suddenly, I feel hot and sticky. His closeness is damn near suffocating. The closer we get to the bottom of the staircase, the louder my heartbeat rings in my ears.

“Get off me,” I murmur, trying to sneak under his hold, but his hand closes around the top of my bicep, squeezing me closer to him.

“You want this,” he purrs and there’s a rival of thoughts in my foggy mind as I imagine it is Grayson’s arm wrapped around me. I imagine what it might be like to be held inhisembrace. But the pirate next to me is much too short and a kink grows in my neck as the weight of his arm pulls me down at an awkward angle, ruining the traitorous fantasy.

“No, I don’t think she does.” Grayson’s smooth voice cuts through the air and I canfeelhim before my gaze snakes to my left. Despite his large frame, he looks well at ease as he leans against one of the many wooden pillars that keep the inn’s second story firmly above us. His arms are crossed over his broad chest and he has a bored look on his face.

Irritation sweeps over my nerves at his nonchalance.

“And what wouldyouknow of what she wants?” The pirate’s hold on me tightens, leaning toward the edge of painful as his fingers delve into the side of my arm.

Grayson pushes himself off the pillar with grace. Flickers of the surrounding candlelight dance in the shadows cast over his face as he saunters over to us. My breath quickens when he stops within an arm’s reach of me and his familiar scent of a crisp ocean breeze snares me.

But I break free of it. Remembering the words he spoke not that long ago. Words that cut me so deeply, they were the reason I fell into this drunken stupor to begin with.

“Let me be, Grayson.”

The arm draped over my shoulder stiffens. “Grayson?” the pirate mumbles. “Grayson Tyde?”

Grayson flashes his canines in a serpentine smile. The scar along his cheek cinches, making him look even more menacing.

“One and the same,” he muses. “And you seem to have your arm wrapped around something that belongs to me.”

The pirate drops his arm immediately and I whirl on him. His face is a blur of color as it takes my eyes a moment to settle and the room to stop spinning.

Hells, how much did Idrink?

When the spins stop, I see he’s backing away with both his hands up. “I’m sorry, Captain Tyde. I didn’t know.”

“I am not athingand I belong to no one, least of allhim.” I seethe, pointing at Grayson.

The pirate looks between Grayson and me, his eyes darting back and forth, unsure of which one of us to believe.

“Leave us alone.” I turn toward Grayson and he just smirks at me.

“Looks like he’s the one leavingyoualone.” Grayson snorts.

I toss a glance over my shoulder to find the man missing. He scurries past a few tables of patrons and slips into a seat at the table furthest from us. “Coward!” I shout which earns me a red-hot rod of pain that shoots through my skull.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I rub at my temples.

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