Kate's POV

I couldn't explain it if my life depended on it, but I trusted Chloe. I was fascinated by her. She was so different from anyone I had ever known. In a way, I guess I knew that she had been hurt too, that she had been looked down on her whole life just like me. It was like she understood me just from a single glance, her azure eyes piercing into my soul and looking at everything I was and had ever been. The way she looked at me made my heart leap and ache all at once, making me wish that I could be as close to her as possible, tell her everything she wanted to know about me, give her everything she wanted. I had never told any of this to anyone, though. Not even Victoria. Well, especially not Victoria. It was obvious that she was about as enamored by Max as Max was by her, but Victoria had said nothing to me on the subject.

We had managed to make a deal with the young pirate girls, deciding to give them the map so that they would take us home. It would take a week before we finally reached England, though. We had gotten quite far in such a short amount of time and Max had us on a course that would take us around whoever would be waiting to capture them on sight. Max had been kind enough to let Victoria and I sleep in her room while she shared a room with Chloe. Part of me wished that Max had suggested we sleep in Chloe's room so that I could get a better sense of who she was, but apparently, Victoria had been wishing something similar in a different way.

It was our first night staying in Max's room and Victoria was already snooping around. She quietly rummaged through drawers and the modest desk in the corner of the room, pretending like she was never truly interested in anything she found. I had changed into my nightgown and was sitting on the edge of the small bed, watching as Victoria opened a drawer in what looked to be a dresser, her delicate fingers tossing items of clothing to the side. I could've sworn that I saw a bit of blush cover her cheeks, her hand freezing in one place as she stared at something that I couldn't see.

"You really shouldn't be snooping," I said softly, trying not to sound like I was demanding anything. "We only just became guests instead of prisoners." Victoria spun around to face me, quickly shutting the drawer.

"I have every right to be nosey," she retorted, snapping a little. "That awful girl did see me in my undergarments after all. She looked as though she would faint from the sight. And did you see her staring? She obviously enjoyed it. It's only fair that I have a little fun of my own now that she's gotten a look at what she's probably been thinking of since she first saw me. Pirates are so crude in that way, always thinking about how they can bed someone." I watched her as she sat down at the desk, her chin lifted high as she spoke, but she didn't look at me. I couldn't help the amusement I felt at the way she spoke. It was almost like she wanted Max to think of her in such a way.

"Well, would you want her to try to sleep with you?" I asked, unable to stop myself or the slightly sarcastic note that hung on the words as they seemed to slam against Victoria like a ton of bricks. She blushed, snapping her gaze toward me, immediately taking away any courage I had felt before I had spoken.

"That's ridiculous," she snapped, folding her hands in her lap and looking away from me. I could've sworn that I saw her legs clenching beneath her skirt, but it was too dark to know for sure. "Leave me alone for a moment, I need to change." I furrowed my brow at the comment, confused by the request.

"I've helped you change many times, Victoria," I replied, feeling a little hurt. "That's part of my job."

"Don't argue with me, Kate, just leave me alone so that I can change," she said sharply, shooting me another look that made my heart stop. I nodded, leaving the room without saying a word. I was barely out the door when she shut it behind me and I heard the lock click, making my heart sink. I sighed and looked around, wrapping my arms around myself to protect me from the cold. I was out on the deck now, unable to help myself from admiring the way the moonlight shimmered on the water's surface. I walked to the very front of the ship, watching as the water flew by beneath the ship. It was quite cold, but not as cold as it had gotten in London in the winter at some points. I looked up, watching the stars twinkle softly overhead. I smiled to myself, watching shooting stars as they sped through the sky.

"How many wishes have you made?" A voice asked, making me jump. I turned to see Chloe making her way toward me, a soft smile on her face as she approached me.

"None yet," I replied, smiling at her. "I'm not sure what to wish for." My heart had started beating a little faster as the tall girl finally came to stand just beside me, looking up at the sky.

"What would you wish for?" She asked, the moonlight making her eyes look strangely haunted. It took me a moment to reply, having been caught up in the way her face looked so different from any of the other times I had seen her. She still had that spark in her eyes, but she looked tired like she had been fighting for a decade and had only just been allowed to rest. I looked away from her, wringing my fingers as I locked my eyes on the wood beneath my bare feet.

"Answers, maybe," I replied, feeling surprisingly calm standing beside the blue haired stranger. She felt… Safe? I heard Chloe chuckle beside me, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath of the sea air like it could cleanse her body and mind of anything and everything all at once.

"What sort of answers are you looking for? Maybe I can help you find them," she opened her eyes again, turning to look at me as she leaned back against the railing of the ship. It was then that I had a chance to see her fully, her body drenched in moonlight. She was wearing her night clothes, simple trousers, and an off-white tunic. The fabric of the tunic hung loosely over her frame, showing off her curves, how flat her stomach was as her torso lead up to the swell of her breasts. I looked away from her before my eyes could linger, my cheeks beginning to burn a little. I just hoped that she hadn't seen me staring.

"I have too many questions," I replied, feeling her gaze on me as I spoke. "I wouldn't want to bore you with them." Chloe chuckled again, making me look up at her. She had a smile on her face as she caught my eye, making my heart beat a little faster.

"You could never bore me, Kate," she said, her voice sounding oddly sincere. "Ask me something." Her voice sounded so soft as she spoke, pulling on something in my chest. I paused, unable to tear my eyes away from hers.

"What would you wish for?" I asked, watching as a grin tugged at her lips.

"I'd wish for money," she replied, pushing herself off the railing so that she was standing up straight. "That way I could live a good life." I was slightly taken aback by her reply, watching her as she stretched her arms over her head. Her tunic lifted up, showing off a bit of her toned stomach, making my throat go dry. Her trousers were apparently a tad too big because they hung so loosely on her hips that I could see the way her muscles and hip bones created a V shape that I couldn't stop my eyes from following. I was still staring at her slight midriff when I replied.

"Money doesn't always give someone a good life," I said, my eyes flicking up to hers as she stopped stretching. When I met her gaze, she had a smirk on her face. She took a step toward me, her body inches from mine. I felt my heart slamming against my ribs, making it hard to breathe.

"Do enlighten me, my dear," she said softly, almost a whisper. I swallowed hard, unable to break my gaze from hers.

"Love," I said simply, the word little more than a breath as it escaped me. Chloe smiled, moving closer to me and reaching out to put her hands on my waist. I was frozen, a mixture of fear and excitement filling my lungs until I was pretty sure I was drowning. Was this right? It felt right. I wanted it, I wanted her closer to me, wanted her more than anything else I could think of.

"Is that something you'd wish for?" she whispered, her breath brushing against my lips as she spoke. I let out a tiny sigh, trying to find something to say. I looked from her eyes to her lips and then back again. I just nodded a little, pretty sure that I was losing my mind. She smiled, leaning toward me and slowly closing her eyes. Was this right?