“You’re awake.” He breaks into a wide smile as he reaches me, brushing the damp hair off my neck. It’s a casual move, but my skin warms when his fingers graze my collarbone. “How do you feel?”
“Like I just vomited up a fuck-ton of poison,” I admit on a laugh.
“Sit.” He pats the top of a wooden barrel. “I’ll get you some water.”
Zadyn returns a moment later with a waterskin. I catch his hand in mine. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asks, brows knitting together.
“For saving my ass earlier. And for taking care of me.” Hereaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear, waking the butterflies in my stomach.
“I always will,” he promises. “It’s my job.”
His statement leaves me with a twinge of disappointment, though I’m not really sure why. I push it out of my mind as I drink, directing my attention to the drunken karaoke unfolding before me.
“What’s going on here?”
“While you were braving Skull Valley, the crew was on a job. Raided the home of some wealthy merchant and brought back ten barrels of gold. Hence, the celebration.”
I glance around at the pirates—their golden-brown chests and tattooed arms on display in their skin-tight vests—noticing the multitude of gold jewelry dripping from their necks, wrists, and ears. I even spot one in a tiara, rolling a set of dice and pumping his fist in the air.
Toward the edge of the fray, the Pirate King lounges on a throne of stacked trunks, her inked fingers toying with the compass. Her stare is fixed on the antique brass, but it’s clear her mind is far away.
Bronyn claps his tattooed hands, and one of the pirates hops off a crate, passing him an instrument that resembles a guitar with six strings and a hollowed body.
“Who’s next?” he booms in his thick accent.
“I’ve a song to sing.” Kai stands, dusting off his jacket as he makes his way down to the quarterdeck. “It’s very old and very sad. One of my favorites. A love song.”
He steals a look at the Pirate King lazing on her throne, pointer finger pressed to her forehead, giving him full-on deadpan.
Kai turns to whisper something to Zadyn, who takes the guitar from Bronyn and slides onto the empty crate.
He plays guitar too?
Great. Just what my ovaries need.
Zadyn starts to pick at the strings, but when Kai opens his mouth, mine hits the deck.
His voice is otherworldly. He sings proudly, his tone rich and husky and full of passion. Mar and I exchange a look of astonishment. The song is sad and sweet—a story about a maiden whose loveabandoned her, so she cut out her heart and cast it into the sea after him.
Bleak, but you know, kind of sweet.
The Pirate King inspects her nails as Kai pours his heart out, his sights set on her and her alone. But she can’t ignore it when he kneels before her, and on the final note of the song, takes her hand and kisses it.
I don’t know howanyonecould remain indifferent to being serenaded like that. Voices like his are typically rewarded with fainting spells and flying bras.
But the Pirate King rips her hand away and plants her feet on the ground. “Bravo, little prince. At least that smug mouth is good for something besides talking people to death.”
He takes this as a compliment, his lips parting into a blinding smile. “Give me a chance, and I’ll show you just how good this mouth can be.”
She slowly reaches out a hand, then leverages his head to push out of her seat. I can’t contain my laughter as she stalks away.
It’s hilarious. The more Kai tries, the more she loathes him. And the more she loathes him, the harder he tries.
Kai is not used to being told no by the opposite sex. The only one who’s likely resisted his charm is me. But I suspect that’s because despite his harmless flirtations, Kai and I care for each other in a different way. It’s never been like that between us.
I turn back to find Zadyn still leaned over the guitar, his fingers moving deftly over the strings, drawing out beautiful music.
