Page 147 of The Sky Pirate's Stowaway
“What’s that smell?” Kaspar suddenly asked, nose lifting as he caught a scent on the breeze.
I followed his gaze to a vendor whose stall was surrounded by eager customers. “Sugar clouds,” I said, already steering us in that direction. “You haven’t lived until you’ve tried them.”
We joined the queue, and I watched Kaspar’s fascination as the vendor manipulated a glowing, molten sugar substance, stretching and folding it until it became impossibly thin, creating what looked like delicate pink and gold clouds.
“Two, please,” I said when our turn came, handing over coins.
The vendor wrapped the confections in waxed paper and handed them over with a flourish. I passed one to Kaspar, enjoying his expression of delight as the sugar cloud dissolved on his tongue.
“This is…” He closed his eyes, savoring the flavor. “I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
The more we strolled through the vibrant streets, and I watched Kaspar’s eyes light up at each new wonder, a cold realization washed over me. The joy on his face wasn’t just momentary happiness—it waspossibility. A life he could have here, with his sister and nephew, away from danger and piracy.
My throat tightened. I suddenly pulled him into a quiet alcove between two shops, away from the bustling crowd. His browfurrowed in confusion as I gently lifted his chin with my hand, forcing myself to meet his gaze.
“Kas,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, “you could stay here, you know. When we bring Kayla and Cody back—you three could make a life here, together. A good life.”
The words felt like razors in my throat, but I pushed on. “A life with me is a life on the run. Constantly hiding. Constantly fighting.”Constantly being surrounded by death and danger.
Kaspar’s expression morphed from confusion to something akin to horror. He pulled back slightly, searching my face.
“Are you serious right now?” He shook his head, ginger hair catching the sunlight. “Don’t be so stupid, Max.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, gripping firmly. “I told you—I’m staying with you. On the ship. That’s my home now.” His voice softened. “You’remy home now.”
My heart tap-danced a frantic rhythm against my ribcage at the conviction in Kas’s eyes. Did he fully understand what he was committing himself to? “But what about Kay—”
“I’ll love visiting Kayla and Cody here. This place is perfect for them. And though I’ll miss them so, so much, my place is with you, in the skies. It’s in my blood too, now, you know.” Before I could say anything else, he picked up his half-eaten sugar cloud and held it to my lips. “So stop trying to get rid of me and eat this.”
I opened my mouth, letting the sweet confection dissolve on my tongue as his fingers lingered. Without thinking, I caught his wrist, holding his hand in place as I slowly licked the sugar residue from his fingertip.
His pupils dilated, breath catching. Around us, the city continued its cheerful bustle, but we existed in our own small world for that moment.
My heart now thundered in my chest—not just with desire, but with a terrifying, overwhelming feeling I’d sworn never to allowagain. The last time I’d felt this way, I’d ended up betrayed, broken, and maimed. Eric had taught me that love was just another weapon to be used against you.
Yet here I was, falling deeper and deeper, despite every warning alarm in my head.
I cleared my throat, releasing his hand. “We should go. We need to be on time to meet Torres.”
Our usual meeting spot was a cozy pub called The Rusty Compass, tucked away on the edge of the city near a sprawling green space that bordered the eastern district. The place was perfect—always packed with loud merchants and dockworkers celebrating their latest hauls, music from a scratchy phonograph competing with raucous laughter. You could scream state secrets in here, and nobody would hear a word over the din.
Torres was already at our usual corner booth when we arrived, three mugs of ale waiting. Her eyebrows shot up when she spotted Kaspar’s hand firmly clasped in mine.
“Who’s this then?” she asked, a knowing grin spreading across her face.
I slid into the booth, pulling Kaspar down beside me. “This is Ghost. My… um… boyfriend,” I said, the word sounding odd on my tongue.
Torres smirked. “Well, you always did have a weakness for inter-crew romance.”
I felt Kaspar stiffen slightly beside me. “Except this time, there’s no hiding involved, and I genuinely love and care for him,” Kaspar said quietly, his green eyes meeting Torres’s with surprising steadiness. There was no challenge in his voice, just a simple statement of fact.
Lifting Kaspar’s hand to my lips, I placed a gentle kiss on his knuckles. “And the way I love him is nothing like with Eric.” As I said it, I knew it was true, that this wasn’t the same, and therewas no reason to panic. Kas wasn’t Eric, and thank the goddesses for that.
Torres made an exaggerated retching sound. “Goddesses, please tell me you’re not this nauseating around your crew.”
“Of course not.” I laughed, the sound genuine and light. “The fearsome Reaper has a reputation to maintain.”
We ordered food, and as we ate, I filled Torres in on everything—Kaspar stowing away, Viper’s increasingly erratic behavior, and the mutiny that ended with me as captain. I carefully omitted any mention of Kaspar’s fluxweaving abilities. After everything, I trusted Torres, but the fewer people who knew, the better.
“So we need your help,” I concluded, leaning forward. “Kaspar’s sister Kayla and her son Cody are still in Embergate. We want to bring them here, get them settled properly. They’ll need papers, housing, and employment for Kayla. I’ll pay you handsomely,” I added, sliding a small pouch across the table.
