I nod. "She is coming aboard. This is..." my words dry up as I realize I can’t share her name. The last thing I need is for my men to know who this is. I cough, covering up my blunder. "Madeline,” I blurt out.
My face pales as I realize what I’ve just said.
Madeline? Did you just give her the name of your dead mother?
She jolts at the name, her eyes narrowing as she stares at me. Her nostrils flare, but even though she opens her mouth as though to speak, no sounds come out.
“Her name is Madeline,” I repeat, my voice more firm this time as I regain control of the situation. “And she is coming aboard. Have one of the men prepare a room for her below deck. Conrad, take her to the bathroom and have the cabin boy bring her a set of his clothes. She can’t stay in this.” I gestured to the baggy t-shirt that isnotadequately covering her up.
Conrad glares at me, but he doesn’t push back. “You’ve got it, Captain.”
* * *
A couple of hours later,I showered and changed, and I’m standing on the deck of my ship watching Helena. She’s wearing different clothes but still manages to look out of place.
My FaePhone is tucked in my pocket, and I’ve spent the past hour below deck. I was responding to various calls and emails that came through while I was in Aqualis. Summer Fae can be a nuisance with their tricks and glamours, but no one can dispute that they make the best technology in Aranthium.
Even if I'm in the middle of the sea, my phone gets a signal. I bought a state-of-the-art solar charger the last time we docked in the Summer Court. Why not? Money is no issue, and having expensive things is a good look for me. People have certain expectations for the Pirate of Death. Obnoxious shows of wealth are practically part of the job description. I have a reputation to maintain, after all.
When I returned above deck, my gaze immediately went to the female standing at the metal railing. It’s been twenty minutes, and Helena hasn’t moved since I came out. She is looking out over the swirling blue and green waters surrounding us. The ship is large, but not so big that I can’t see everywhere on the deck at once.
“Has she said anything?” I ask Conrad, who is standing next to me.
“Not a word. I gave her the clothes you requested, and she dressed in the crew’s bathroom. She has been standing there ever since. It’s eerie, and the crew is already asking questions—”
I snarl at him. “They are not to touch her. At all. She is under my protection.”
He puts up his hands in supplication. “Man. I figured as much, but do you want to tell me why she’s even here?”
Shaking my head, I fix my mouth in a straight line. “It’s none of your concern.”
He sighs but doesn’t push the point any further. A long moment passes and neither of us speaks. The atmosphere is tense on the deck, and I can feel my control over my emotions slipping.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I snap. As far as I’m concerned, this conversation is over. Conrad raises a brow, turning to look at me, but he takes the hint and finds something to do.
Good.
Now I’m stuck on board with a female, already something I don’t enjoy. If that wasn’t enough, she’s here because I have to kill her.
Running my prosthetic through my hair, I start to walk towards her.
Committing murder isn’t enough for her father. He insisted that I have to make it look like someone else killed her, which means we must get far away from Ice Mer territory.
Gods. I need a stiff drink.
My life is such a mess, and this woman is making things worse.
As I stroll up next to Helena, I try not to notice how the cabin boy’s clothes fit her frame so well. She is wearing a long, cream-colored tunic that falls below her hips. She has on black leggings that hug her every curve and show off her lean thighs, but I suppose we didn’t have any footwear for her because her feet are bare.
Despite belonging to our smallest crew member, the tunic is clearly too large for her frame. She has a large black leather belt cinched under her breasts, making it more obvious than ever that she is a woman on board an all-male ship. Her purple and cerulean hair has dried off since her ascent to the surface, and it is flowing in billowing waves all around her.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Philips ogling her instead of doing his job. I growl at him, baring my teeth in his direction, and he quickly turns back to manning the ship.
No matter what King Phelix has asked of me, the Princess is still a guest and will be treated appropriately. Until the time comes to get rid of her. I have morals. I won’t allow for disrespect towards her.
I turn my attention back to Helena. She is holding onto the railing and wobbling. Her icy gray skin stands out against the gleaming metal of the railing, and even without her tail, it is undeniable that she is different from the rest of us. She looks so out of place, it’s laughable.
She must hear me coming because she turns and looks at me. As she shifts, a wave comes over the side of the railing. The ship rocks, and she slips, her bare feet sliding on the deck.