as the Scarlet Night moved away from its dock. There was no going back. The ship began to move faster and moaned as it picked up speed. Squeezing her eyes shut, she began to count again. One…two…three…four…, but there would be no “in come free.” Not this time.
Water soon rushed past the hull. She’d done it. She’d gotten away. Alice would be safe. No matter what happened to her, they had at least escaped Wolfsan. She found a small measure of ease in that. But said ease soon vanished when the gates of hell opened.
Death at Wolfsan’s hands would have been a blessing. In the deep, black hell, the ride turned horrific. She’d lost the contents of her stomach, yet continued to retch. The boat popped and strained around her. It pitched violently in all directions at once. Anna tried to wedge herself between two large casks as the sea beat watery fists against the sides of the ship and the wind howled like a wounded beast.
She screeched as she tried to ride the bucking ship. Fingernails scratched for any handhold, only to have the ship lurch in the opposite direction, but then a sword of light sliced through the blackness. Men’s voices reached through the howling of the storm. They shoved past the barricade she’d built. The door pushed open, spreading the swinging glow of a lantern into the hold. Annalise scrambled to hide herself deeper in the shadows, but a brutal pitch of the ship caught her and tossed her across the space like a child’s toy.
That was the last thing she remembered until now. “I’m Captain Jaxon Steele.” Captain. Captain? The word swam in her muddled mind until realization burst in her brain. The light in the hold. They found me.
CHAPTER 3
Her eyes flew open. It was no dream. He’d captured her. She tried to scramble away from the man sitting on the edge of the bed. Ignoring the rise of bile in her throat, she called upon her last shred of strength. She shoved at the tangle of blankets and knocked things to the floor.
“No, no, calm yourself.” He grasped her elbow. “I’ll not hurt you. We’ve both been through a long night, but I dare say you’ll survive the day.”
She yanked her arm from his hand. Her heart pounded. Blood rushed in her ears.
The bed she laid upon nestled in a niche built into the curve of the boat’s side. If she retreated any farther, she’d be trapped. The captain’s broad shoulders encased in damp linen blocked her view of the rest of the room. He smelled of sea, rain, and heat. She released a shuddered breath.
He scowled at her and moved away to sit behind a massive writing table littered with parchments and leather-bound books. Annalise blinked to focus. She’d never seen such a fine desk. Oak dolphins leaped up each leg. Iron straps held the piece to the floor. Tall-masted ships sailed in carved relief across its wide front. The piece screamed of power and prestige, as did the man seated behind it.
He raised a small wooden pail with a short leather mug tied to its handle and filled the cup. Returning to the bed, he handed it to her.
“’Tis weak ale. You need to drink, but go slow. Don’t need you soiling my boots again.”
She peered into the cup before meeting his stare. “I-I soiled your boots?”
“You did.” He moved to a stack of trunks in every size and description. Sliding a flat-topped case close to the bed, he sat, once more blocking her exit.
“I’m sorry.” She clutched the mug with shaky hands.
He stayed too close. Anna looked for a way out. There was none. She started to hyperventilate. The alcove closed in around her. If she could just get by him. Then what? Her mind felt jumbled, and between the pain in her leg and the nausea in her belly, there was a good chance she’d soil his boots again by drinking the ale. Her powerful thirst won out, however. She took small, cautious sips.
“You can make it up to me. Tell me who you are and give me the name of the man who brought you aboard.”
“No one brought me aboard.” She spoke into the cup.
“No one? Then how do you come to be on my ship?” His words were clipped and sharp.
This wasn’t the plan. Panic snaked through her. What now? Come on, Anna, think. How could she when the captain’s nearness caused all her senses to collide? “What are you going to do to me?”
He rubbed at the dark growth of beard shadowing his chin. “Do? Interesting question. I’ve a list of answers, but none you’ll like.” He gave her a hard stare. “If it’s true, and you’re here on your own accord, a better question would be what are you going to do for me? You’re a stowaway on my ship, and I want to know why. Then we’ll discuss what you’ll owe me. I am a pirate, after all. I do little for no profit and nothing that doesn’t benefit me or my crew.”
Annalise shook her head. He’s confused or perhaps he’s trying to frighten her. Teach her a lesson for sneaking aboard. Her stomach gave an unhealthy twist. “A pirate? No, that’s wrong. I heard…I understood you were a privateer.”
He scowled. “Pirate, privateer, one is the same as the other to me. My crew doesn’t know the difference. Half of them would view you as bad luck, slit your lovely throat, and toss you to the sharks. The other half would fight to take turns with you,” his gaze traveled the length of her body, “tempting as you are, then slit your throat, and throw you to the sharks. Followed closely by what remained of me, I’m afraid.”
Annalise clutched the bedclothes to her chest. The ale rolled in her stomach. Thrown to the sharks? They were going to kill her. She shook her head in stunned disbelief. No, this was not the plan.
“It’s a bit of good fortune for you only my cook and I know you’re here. And, little Miss Whoever-you-are, I intend to keep it that way. Once we land in Port Royal, I’ll figure out what to do with you. Until then, you’re to remain hidden in this cabin and under my protection for the remainder of the voyage. Is that understood?”
Anna continued to shake her head. Port Royal? “No…” The word slipped between cold, trembling lips.
“No?”
“That’s not right.” A wave of hysterics engulfed her. Her fingers turned to ice and went numb as chills crept up each arm. “You said Port Royal. That’s wrong. You’re not a pirate. You’re a privateer. Your ship is heading to Port St. Maria. He told me. Why would he lie? He said the Scarlet Night is bound for Port St. Maria.” Hysterics bloomed in her chest.
He gripped the tops of her arms “Who told you this? Don’t lie to me. Who are you tossing? Give me the bastard’s name, so I can kill the both of you.”
“I didn’t lie. Let go of me.” She jerked away from him. “I’m telling you the truth. I’m not with any of your men. The cup of ale splashed to the floor.
Cold rage coming from the captain frightened her to her very core. Visions of circling sharks made bile rise in her throat. She shoved past him with all the strength she could muster and tried to stand. No air. Can’t breathe. “I m-must get to Port St. Maria.” Her injured leg crumbled beneath her, and he caught her about the waist. Weak as she was, fear made her push at him. She had to stand. If only she could make her legs support her.
Captain Steele raised a mocking eyebrow as he released her and let her drop from his grasp into a tangle upon
