Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“I do,” she says solemnly.
“And while we have had luck in the past with hunting mermaids, we haven’t seen any for a very long time. It’s like the species is becoming sparse. I’m not sure why that is, they don’t have any predators.”
“Except the sea witch.”
“Aye.”
“And you.”
“Aye. And us, but not for a very long time. Hence why we are going after the skeleton crew. If they have a mermaid on board, it will be easy pickings for us.”
Her gaze darkens. “How do you know the mermaid is still alive?”
“I don’t. But only fresh blood will do. Doesn’t work if they’re dead.”
“So you’re going to attack the skeleton crew and steal their mermaid and bring her aboard the Nightwind.”
“Precisely.”
“Easy pickings you said.”
“In a way. I know the Nightwind has been called a ship of the undead but it’s actually the Norfinn, that’s the ship’s name, that suits that moniker. If they’re already dead, they’re impossible to kill. It can get dangerous. But you’ll be safe in your cage.”
“I can fight.”
I laugh. “You’re a feisty one, I’ll give you that. But if you can’t overtake me, you certainly can’t overtake the undead.”
“I’ve trained with a sword.”
I raise a brow, biting back my amusement. “Where? When?”
“The king liked to indulge me. I learned here and there.”
“I’ve seen you handle a sword and, I’m sorry to say, you’re not very good at it.”
“I can hold my own.”
“And yet you let Aerik treat you the way he did.”
Her eyes blaze. “I did not let him do the things he has done!” she snaps. “You have no idea what it’s been like. And he is no different than you with your hot iron.”
Fair enough. I can’t pretend I know what it’s been like for her.
“My apologies,” I say. “I didn’t mean to sound so crass.”
“You’re nothing but crass.”
I shrug as if to say, pirate.
“But maybe you can teach me,” she goes on.
I grin. “Teach you how to wield a sword in combat? Why, so you can stab me at the first chance you get?”
“I don’t think stabbing you will do any good,” she mutters.
“You’re right. I find being stabbed to be highly annoying.”
She chuckles at that, a light melodic sound and I realize it may be the first time I’ve heard her laugh. Suddenly I want nothing more than to make her laugh again.
But then she catches herself, like she remembered that she hates me, and her face goes sullen again. Moody but still beautiful. God Almighty, I would take her in any mood and be happier for it.
“When do you think we’ll reach them?” she asks, averting her eyes, perhaps because I’m staring so blatantly at her.
“Tomorrow evening,” I tell her. “We’ll pull back a little as we get closer to the island. Let them get settled. Then we’ll plan an ambush.”
She finishes her glass of wine from the goblet and turns the stem between her fingers. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything, luv.”
“Have you ever killed a mermaid that you knew was a mother?”
A most peculiar question. This woman has a bleeding heart underneath.
“Not that I know of,” I say. “It’s hard to imagine any of those vicious creatures as mothers, but I suppose mermaids have to come from somewhere. Just figured they came from the devil himself.”
A look comes over her eyes, one that harkens to storms at sea that would swallow a ship whole. “Maybe they did,” she says blankly, and I swear I see a hint of a smile.
PART TWO
The Islands
CHAPTER 13
Ramsay
“How is the princess?” Cruz asks.
The sun is beginning to set in the west, a brilliant display of corals and purples that dance with the burgeoning stars. I feel a hit of guilt at the mention of her, the fact that she’s kept down in the cage when she could be up here taking in nature’s wonder, the sunset and the fresh sea air that has a slight floral scent to it, hinting at our proximity to the islands.
“She is surviving,” I tell him, the wind in the sails a steady drum above us.
“And how long are you planning to keep her in her cage?” he asks, levity in his voice. “After I heard you had dinner together last night, I assumed she’d be a part of the crew by now.”
“I don’t trust her not to hurt herself,” I admit. “She’s reckless and rash. She’d jump into the open ocean if given half the chance. When it comes to the islands, she’ll swim for them.”
“I see. And you don’t want to keep her with her husband because you want her all to yourself.”
“Her husband beats her,” I say, giving him a sharp look.
“And you don’t want to keep her with her husband because you want her all to yourself,” Cruz repeats with a grin.
“I’m keeping our asset safe,” I grumble, leaning against the rail.