She wove between groups in battle, narrowly avoiding being hit by meaty fists and sharp blades. Blood splattered her breeches and boots, but she gave it little thought as she focused her attention on reaching the man she loved.
CHAPTER 22
Pulse racing and lungs labouring, Percy swung his cutlass at his opponent, finally making a deep slice in the cur and felling him to the quarterdeck boards.
Hemustreach Butcher, must prevent him from finding Heather.
Boom! Crack-crack!
The ship vibrated with every blast of the cannons and carronades, and each one was followed by a lacklustre splash or the splintering of wood. And screams. Always screams.
Urgency rushed him, and he scanned the deck. A flash of red caught his gaze. There Butcher was, marching through the throng, his gaze transfixed on a target. Percy followed the man’s line of sight, and all at once both elation and terror slammed into his chest.Heather. Her eyes were just for Percy as she strode across the gangplank and onto thePandora.
Boom-boom!
One of theAmerica’s sails rent with a loudrrrrrip, but it scarcely registered. His pulse faltered.
The words “Look out!” were wrenched hoarsely from his throat, only in time for her to turn and see Butcher’s thick hand grip her around the throat.
Percy’s heart all but stopped, and he ran toward them, shoving and kicking any man who happened into his way. He couldn’t let Heather die. Hewouldn’t.
The air squeezedfrom Heather’s throat and the blood rushed to her head as Butcher gripped her neck. Instant panic flared in her chest. The urge to pull at his hand and kick was overwhelming, but she forced herself to recall Percy’s teachings.
Boom! Crack-crack-crack!
Her lips began to bulge, and her face was undoubtedly deep red, so without hesitation, she lifted her arms in the air to either side of his, and spun, swiftly bringing her inside elbow down on his forearm. The slide of his fingertips along her throat burned, but she gulped in a breath as soon as she was free.
Keeping her movement going, she turned again, thrusting her other hand out before her and connecting the heel of her palm to Butcher’s blood-splattered nose. Cartilage and bone gave way with a sickening crunch.
Butcher bellowed, and yet more blood spurted from the appendage.
Boom-boom! Boom!
Heather blinked the last of the spots from her vision, satisfied that she’d shown her mettle, then drew her leg back to kick him in the ballocks. But he blocked it. With bloodied hands, he clasped her ankle and tugged, pulling her entirely off balance. She landed on her back, the air left her lungs with a whoosh,and her pulse stuttered.
He had her. This was it.
With a maniacal gleam in his eye and a smirk that tugged at the scars marring half his face, Butcher withdrew a dirk and heldit aloft, prepared to slice down into her. Heather stiffened. The only way out was to roll, but to one side of her was the belfry and to the other, a cannon. Her vision wavered with terror.
But Butcher paused.
Heather blinked just as a blade was drawn across Butcher’s throat. With a gasp, Heather shuffled backward as Butcher blinked, his eyes gone wide and mouth agape. Then, blood spilled forth.
Boom!
The man choked and sputtered, and, like a great tree falling in the forest, he crashed to the quarterdeck.
And there stood Percy, ashen and heaving. Heather couldn’t have loved him more in that moment.
“Heather.”Percy wiped his cutlass on Butcher’s back and stepped past him to rush to Heather’s side, his body alight with conflicting concern and jubilation.
She accepted his proffered hand and staggered to her feet. “Thank you, Percy. I fear my skill at combat has not yet been mastered.”
Christ, but her voice was hoarse. Percy’s gaze slipped to the red marks around her neck, and he scowled, anger flaring to life once more in his chest.
Boom-boom-boom!
The ship shook, and he adjusted his footing, Heather’s hand still clasped gently in his.
