Page 41 of Swept By The Alien Pirate Prince

“I have to admit, I agree with her,” he finally said after an extended silence.

I wasn’t expecting him to say this, but I tried to keep my surprise about it suppressed as much as I could.

“I can understand where she is coming from. She still seems kind of nervous and definitely paranoid about everything and everyone.”

“It probably doesn’t help that we are stuck on this foreign planet with surroundings she doesn’t recognize,” Cyburn added.

I nodded. “Yeah. That’s true.”

“So, what did you say to her? Did you make the promise?” Cyburn questioned.

I studied his face, wondering how he might react if I told him I had to think about it, or if I’d denied her request.

I rubbed my arms as a strong breeze swept across the deck and sent a chill through my bones. We probably wouldn’t be able to stay outside much longer. The wind was picking up, and the thunder was rolling in closer.

“I told her that of course I wanted to make the promise to her.”

“So, is that a yes?” Cyburn asked, his eyebrows raising.

“It’s a yes, but I feel like it’s a lot of pressure to live up to. I want to be loyal to you. I never want to betray your trust and I hope that you know that, but things happen.”

Cyburn’s eyes narrowed. “What kinds of things?”

“I don’t know…” I trailed off, a little offended that he was pressuring me to make the same promise that Silver did.

“What’s wrong?” A comforting smile washed across his face, and he reached out to grab my hand resting in my lap. He clutched my hand and gave it a tender squeeze.

“Nothing.” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s just…” I paused and searched his face. “Don’t you trust me anyway? Wouldn’t you alreadyknowI have your best interests at heart and that I’d never intentionally hurt you? Why do I have to confirm it? It seems like no one believes me if I have to keep making the promise.”

“I want to believe that.” Cyburn nodded, and his expression was genuine.

I crossed my legs. “I was hoping that it would be reciprocated. That I can also trust you and know that you care for me and have my best interests at heart. It goes both ways.”

Cyburn’s features softened and he wrapped his long arm around my frame, pulling me closer.

“I will go to the ends of the universe to protect you always.”

There was such assurance in his statement that I believed him with every fiber of my being. My mood lifted, and my spirit brightened.

“Thank you for saying that,” I whispered.

Cyburn held me closer. “I mean every word. You can count on me for everything.”

There was not a single note of hesitation in the way he spoke the words. My love swelled for him. He had pride when he professed the way he cared for me, and he clutched me possessively, making me feel safe. Guilt tackled me, because now I felt like I’d been stubborn.

I grinned. “Good. I thought we were going to have to fight and that I was going to have to take you out.”

Cyburn roared with laughter, and his voice carried with the wind. “Oh, you think you can take me out, do you?”

I laughed too. “Yeah. I’d have to throw you in this water.” I pointed to the churning sea under our dangling feet.

“I’d take you with me.” Cyburn kissed my forehead.

“I guess we’d just be two souls lost in the ocean.”

“Sometimes it sounds better than what we’re going through right now,” Cyburn confessed, his voice going hollow and low.

I reached for his hand and kissed his knuckles. “We’ll make it through together.”

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