Page 113 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
I watched Dima finish off her meal, the sailor no longer gurgling out strained pleas. Gold surrounded me, the merchant ship captain having just traded her goods. My fingers toyed with the coins, the cold bite of them against my sweaty skin a relief.
Heaving a breath of boredom, I kicked one of the chests over, letting the coins spill across the sea water soaked deck of the Abaddon. And then, with all the flare of the greatest pirate to sail the three seas, I promptly fell backwards into it.
The rumble of my crew’s laughter could be felt beneath my splayed palms, and I could not help but smile in return. However, something was different about this time. I felt empty. Oddly unhappy despite the success of the attack. Why was I…unsatisfied?
Groaning, I tried to remember where my last correspondence from the prince was, plotting even as I celebrated with my crew.
***
Lian appeared on a foggy day on the Sea of Akiva. I knew she would be there, as I had successfully gotten the prince’s attention by writing him a letter. If one could call it that. Though it had not been very formal. Something along the lines of “I thought you would care to know that I have killed a merchant carrying what must have been weaponry for your soldiers. Finders keepers.”
Lian had written back one of the most heinous responses. She called me a scoundrel. A psychopath. A stupid bitch. But my favorite?A filthy pirate.
I hoped she would call me that last one in bed.
And when she used a female to portal her instead of Henry, I had grown even more excited. She was mine for the taking.
The two of them appeared amongst shadows instead of light, their faces grim and fierce. My attention immediately went to Blue. She had on a tight-fitting pair of olive green trousers, her black boots tied halfway up her calf. An equally skin-tight top with short sleeves covered her upper half while leaving little to the imagination. Exactly how I liked it.
Come on, Blue, show me what you are made of.
The first thing she did, the shadows from the female behind her still clinging to her form, was throw a dagger my way. I portaled before it reached me. My feet went from the small landing in front of the door to my quarters to the deck a mere foot from her. Then, I tackled her to the ground.
My fist went sailing into her cheek, catching her by surprise and forcing her head to whip to the left. That would likely be my last good hit.
And it was.
Lian let out a guttural roar that vibrated in my bones as she dug her nails into my neck, flipping us before slamming my skull into my own deck. Her fists smashed into my face again and again after that, unwavering in their pursuit for my blood. Mycrew watched on in resigned horror, each of them, even Dima, knowing better than to step in. The female who had come with Lian seemed just as prepared to watch, but she wore a lethal smile.
I finally caved after the ninth punch. My fingers tapped three times on Lian’s arm, and she immediately stopped. It was then that she seemed to realize she was straddling me. It felt good to sense her weight there, pressing into my hips. I would gladly keep her there forever. Alas, she was still pretending she did not want me like I wanted her.
She got up with a look of disgust on her face, saying something too quickly for me to catch.
“Eyes on me, Blue,” I signed, catching her attention. She glared, looking as if she truly might gut me right there. Instead, I lifted my hands and slowly signed her reward for winning the fight.
“What does that one mean?” She asked out loud, her mouth moving slow enough for me to understand, though she turned her head to face Bek after. My eyes followed Lian’s hazel ones, catching sight of Bek as she laughed. A smile tore open my face when my second answered her.
“Captain? Captain! What a stupid sign!” Lian was nearly hysterical as she tilted her face down to me again.
“Just teaching you since you will need to address me properly as a member of my crew.” Her eyes flicked with each movement of my hands, understanding enough that a snarl lifted one half of her enormous top lip and gave me the barest hint of her equally large teeth.
I wondered what they would feel like against my skin.
She was driving me fucking insane. Maybe killing her would be better. Get rid of her before she sucked me in any further.
No. I needed her at least once.
“I will never join your crew, you stupid fucking moron!” Lian was shouting so loudly that I could feel her voice against my skin, her fingers twitching as if she wanted to sign but simply could not amidst her anger. I was getting better at reading her lips. Her lips, which looked so soft. So enticing. “Sink one more ship and I will tear you limb from limb!”
I adored her when she was angry. The way her nearly round face grew flushed and her shoulders squared. Simply delicious.
Fight with me, Blue. Let me help you get out that frustration.
Just once. I only needed her once and then I could move on.
I whistled, catching Ro’s eye and waving her to my side. She walked slowly, her loose blouse billowing in the chilly wind. We needed to put some of this gold to use and splurge on new clothes. We deserved to look the best seeing as we were the best.
With Ro at my side, I focused back on Lian. On my conquest waiting to happen.
