And for what? To keep Viper happy? To maintain the fear that kept the crew in line?
I’d joined the Imperial Fleet at sixteen, dreaming of leading men through honor and respect. Now here I was, threatening a young man who’d done nothing worse than try to make a joke. Make a connection.
My fingers traced the worn wood of the railing. Below, I heard Ghost resume his scrubbing, the brush striking the deck with sharp, angry strokes. He’d probably hate me now.Good. Hate was safer than whatever had sparked in those green eyes when he’d teased me.
Still, my chest ached at the thought of extinguishing that playful light. Of becoming exactly what everyone expected the Reaper to be—cold, cruel, untouchable.
I squared my shoulders, forcing steel back into my spine. This was who I had to be. The crew needed the Reaper, not Maximus Blackwood. Ghost needed to learn that too, before his friendly overtures got us both into trouble.
Better to crush his spirit now than watch Viper crush his skull later.
Boots thudded on the deck behind me. I didn’t turn around.
“Are you alright?” Ariella’s hand brushed my arm, light as a feather. She glanced port and starboard, ensuring we were alone.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” The words came out sharp. I yanked my arm away, gripping the railing tighter.
“Because I saw what happened down there.” She moved beside me, keeping her voice low. “That wasn’t like you. Even for the Reaper act.”
“The ‘act’ is what keeps this crew in line.”
“From the nest, it looked like Ghost was just being friendly.”
“Friendly gets people killed on this ship.” My knuckles whitened on the rail. “Or have you forgotten what happened to Cooper?”
Cooper’s death haunted me still. Three months ago, he’d been our sail master—young, cheerful, always ready with a joke. The crew had loved him. Even Viper seemed to tolerate his sunny disposition. Then during a raid, Cooper hesitated to fire on a merchant vessel after recognizing his cousin aboard. That moment of compassion cost us the prize and earned Cooper a trip over the side, courtesy of our captain.
I’d watched him fall, his scream swallowed by the wind. The crew’s horror had quickly morphed to fear as Viper immediately promoted Sparrow to sail master, acting as if Cooper had never existed. The message was clear—sentiment had no place aboardThe Black Wraith.
Since then, I’d continued to cultivate my reputation as the Reaper with ruthless precision. The crew’s fear kept them alive. Any hint of warmth or friendship had to be crushed before it took root. One slip, one moment of visible weakness, and Viper would replace me as quickly as he had Cooper.
My fingers traced the worn railing where Cooper used to lean, gazing up at the sails he cared for so well. Sometimes at night,I still heard his laugh carried on the wind, a reminder of what happened to those who let their hearts rule their actions aboard this ship.
“Ghost needs to learn the way of this place sooner, rather than later,” I told her.
Ariella sighed, a furrow etched deep in her brow. For a moment, she seemed far older. I recognized that look—The Black Wraithhad a way of stealing years from all of us.
“Butcher’s been looking for an excuse to start something with him, and after that display…” She trailed off. “I’ll keep an eye on him. Make sure he stays out of trouble.”
I stared at Ariella for a moment before eventually replying, “Thank you,” with a quick nod. When she turned to go, I caught her arm. “I cracked Ghost’s head on the mast,” I admitted quietly. “Will you take him to Stitches?”
“Of course I will.”
She left me, and I stared out at the endless sky, trying to ignore the phantom ache in my leg and the heavier one in my chest.
5
Kaspar
“What a freaking asshole pirate,” I muttered under my breath, pushing the scrub brush way harder than I needed to, but I had to take out my anger and frustration on something.
I wanted to punch something, or rather, someone—a jerk with a handsome face.Ugh. Why did he have to be so handsome andsucha goblin-dicked schmuck? I’d thought he was kind—I’d seen it in his eyes—but apparently my kind-o-meter was way off.
But Ihadseen him watching me.
All. The. Time.
Constantly.
