Ahoy!

Thank you to Mel, Jill, and Gemma!

EIGHTEEN

The storm rages well into the night. It is an exhausting battle against the sea and elements as we struggle to make it through in a single piece.

Near dawn, the first break in the weather appears, and we are graced with watery beams of sunlight as if Heaven itself is trying to shine upon us.

The ocean is still roiling, but above us, hope is growing as the clouds continue to thin.

Captain Thorne begins an inspection of the ship, looking over the injured crew and damages sustained to the vessel.

Most of us are too tired to do much more than sit on deck and wait for her inspection to be over.

Jasper and I are perched against the starboard railing, our limbs heavy with fatigue.

"That was certainly an adventure," Jasper whispers.

I look at him and let out a soft laugh. "It was something," I agree. Across the ship, I spot Isabella tending to a few crewmen. It surprises me to see her caring for others, though perhaps that is my own mind being ungenerous.

Despite her pirate ways, Isabella has thus far shown a rather compassionate and thoughtful nature to most around her. She is difficult and tricky, but she is not unkind, nor is she thoughtless.

My shoulder is still aching lightly where Isabella reset it last night. The memory of her small hands on me makes my skin burn.

"Captain?"

I look at Jasper, surprised.

"What was that?" I ask, realizing belatedly that he's been trying to speak to me. He offers me a small, tired smile.

"I was musing that Isabella has been remarkably resourceful and reliable through this ordeal," he says, a barely concealed smirk upon his face.

I stare back at him blankly. "What are you saying, Jasper?"

He smiles then, looking out to the water. "Nothing," he says, shaking his head once. "But perhaps, fortune can be found in misfortune after all."

I want to refute what he's saying, but before I can speak, Captain Thorne is upon us.

"Captain," she says, and I immediately get to my feet.

"Captain," I repeat, inclining my head to her. She glances at Jasper, who has also stood at her presence. Her light eyes slide back to me.

"I need to see you in my quarters."

I nod, glancing once at Jasper before I follow the Captain across the ship.

I try to take inventory of the damage the ship has taken throughout the night. Some of it is minor, but some of it… I frown, wondering how we might fix a broken mast.

We reach the Captain's quarters, and my eyes blink heavily, trying to adjust to the darker atmosphere. The Captain keeps beautiful and lush quarters. Silk pillows upon velvet settees, a lavish portrait of the Captain behind a large mahogany desk that is scattered with gold instruments. Nothing about the quarters hints that the Captain has come by any of this honorably. I've never known a Captain to get rich like this in a respectable way.

The Captain enters the quarters and removes her hat, throwing it upon a settee while she reaches for a crystal decanter. She busies herself with pouring a glass of rum, and I stay silent, waiting for her to speak.

She drinks a measure of rum in a single swallow before her eyes land on me again.

I think she's about to speak when the doors of her quarters open. I turn, my spine tingling when I see Isabella push through the entryway.

"No fatalities," Isabella says. "And the damages are what we suspected."

I turn to see Captain Thorne nod before drinking another measure of rum. "Very well." She sighs. She turns to me, her light gaze piercing. "Captain Masen, I find myself in need of your aid."

I feel my eyebrows raise. "What is it I can do for you, Captain?"

Isabella settles on a velvet settee, and I find my mind busy with intrusive thoughts of how silky her soft skin would feel against the velvet.

I force myself to focus.

"We are in need of repairs," Captain Thorne says, pulling my attention back to her. "And the nearest port is one that is not known for its generous bargains."

I frown. "I haven't coin." It still irks me to admit it, and I have to fight myself from turning a venomous glare at Isabella at this admission.

Captain Thorne shakes her head, her long blonde hair dancing behind her.

"No, Captain. It is not your coin I seek."

I raise an eyebrow, waiting for her. She lets out a heavy breath.

"I am not known to have a good reputation in Cape Verde," she says slowly. "No one will bargain with me. I'm considered somewhat of an outlaw there."

This doesn't surprise me entirely. There must be a good number of places Captain Thorne is not welcome.

"And you?" I ask, turning to look at Isabella.

She smiles, and it is so charming, I have to look away from her or fall further under her spell. "I've an appointment with the gallows in Cape Verde."

I blink in surprise, turning to look back at her. She shrugs once, her smile still present.

"So we are sailing to a port that wishes to see you both in the hands of the crown?"

Captain Thorne pours another measure of rum.

"Yes, that's where you come in."

I look at her.

"I would ask that you pose as captain of this ship, acquire the repairs necessary while some of the more…" She pauses and looks at Isabella. "Notorious members of the crew stay out of sight."

I cannot believe what I am hearing.

"You want me to lie?"

"No, Darling," Isabella says, gathering my attention. "We want your help to repair the ship. No one will ask about us; you are unknown to these people. As far as they are concerned, you belong to a cargo ship that met misfortune. All of that is true."

I'm near speechless.

"We arrive in port tomorrow morning," Captain Thorne says, pulling my attention back to her. "At which point, you will become temporary Captain of this vessel."

I see I've been given no choice in this. I swallow hard, my jaw setting so firmly, I can feel a twitch fluttering under my left ear.

"Very well," I growl out.