That sounded exhausting, but what the hellfire did I know about flying?
I glanced at the corner where I’d been sleeping for the last week—as far away from everyone else as possible. Reaper had given me a hammock, and I’d headed for the hold, prepared to sleep down there, but the man had stopped me. Apparently, I wasn’t allowed to sleep down there anymore, but I could sleep anywhere on the lower deck. So I found a spot away from the others, set up my hammock, and that was that.
So far, I’d only woken up one morning covered with dead fish. I’d yelled and started whacking them off before I was fully awake. And then I’d realized there were a whole lot of pirates standing around me, laughing like a bunch of teenagers, the jackalope butts.
But it hadn’t happened again, so I was hoping those kinds of tricks were over with. Of course I knew more crap was coming my way since I was the new guy and a stowaway to boot, but one could hope, right?
“To Stitches. You need your head seen to.”
I stopped in my tracks for a moment. My head? What the hellfire did I need my head seen to for… Oh.
Oh.
Because Reaper had banged my head on the mast when he shook me. But… no one else knew that, did they? No one else was close enough to hear, and I hadn’t hit itthathard.
Had… had Reaper told her to take me to the doc?
Was it possible that he felt bad about it?
For some reason, my belly swooped at the thought, but I scowled the feeling away because seriously, what the hellfire?
Heshouldfeel bad. He was the one who’d hurt me. I mean, maybe it was an accident—and from the flash of regret I’d seen on his face, it had been—but he’d still done it. And he hadn’t apologized.
With a scowl, I murmured, “My head’s fine.”
She shrugged. “Still needs seeing to. And you need some salve for the sun.”
With another sigh, I followed her to the ship doc’s small room.
“Stitches, have you met Ghost yet?”
A very tiny, older woman turned around and gave me a big, warm smile. “Hi, Ghost. It’s lovely to meet you.” Her smile and warm tone were so sweet and welcoming, I felt like crying. She was the first person on this whole damn ship who actually looked… happy to see me.
Even though she only had one real eye—the other was glass—her hazel gaze softened, and before I could stop her, she pulled me into a hug.
“Oh, dear boy.” She patted my back. “It’s all going to be okay.”
Was it though? Because it really didn’t feel like it would be.
Even though it was weird since I just met this woman, I accepted the comfort, giving her a small squeeze back.
She released me and held my shoulders at arm’s length. “Welcome toThe Black Wraith, sweetheart.” She looked me over from head to toe. “You need some sun salve before you burn to a crisp.”
Ariella cleared her throat. “He banged the back of his head.”
“Oh,” Stitches said, turning me around so she could look. “Oh no, you poor thing. Come sit down.”
The doc’s room was basically a closet, yet she somehow fit all of her supplies and even had room for a chair that she promptly sat me in.
Ariella said, “Ghost? After you’re done here, resume your duties.”
I gave her a nod, and she knocked on the doorframe three times before walking away.
“Don’t mind her. She’s actually very sweet.”
I couldn’t help it, I snorted. I wouldn’t describe a single person on this ship as sweet, except this woman.
I had the feeling Stitches thought even Reaper was sweet.
