“You clearly have alotto say,” he countered, and then that cocksure smile returned for Roman. “And you... Don’t even think about using this time to worm your way into her bed. Or is it her heart you’re after? I can’t tell. I suppose it could be both.”
“She’s my?—”
“Uh-uh-uh,” Blazed crooned, taunting, a lullaby primed for nightmares. “Some things should remain an inside voice. I know it’s hard, but give it a try.” The corners of Blaze’s eyes crinkled with his smile. “Wouldn’t want to throw you overboard because you said something I find off-color.”
Roman stepped forward until their chests came together—he had an inch or two on Blaze and stared down his nose. “Who I speak to, and how, isn’t your concern.”
Blaze only smiled. “While Augustus is away, consider me his proxy.Everythingyou say to Selene is my concern.”
“You—”
A female coughed from above. Roslyn stood between Luc and Xavier, all three Rangers in various positions of leisure. Picking nails, half-reclined,twirling knives… Their message was crystal clear: they’d be over that railing in seconds if things went sideways.
“Go, Roman,” Selene said. “We have nothing to say to each other.”
Roman backed away from Blaze and met her eyes. “You can’t avoid me forever.”
“Watch me.”
Without another word, he joined a group of his own people on the far side of the deck. Selene knew better than to think this was the end.
“He’s a piece of work,” Blaze said.
“We’re not bonding over this. We’re not friends. In fact, I’d rather you never speak to me again.”
His expression turned downcast. “I fucked up. I never meant to hurt you, and neither did Augustus.”
“And yet, I stand here hurt by both of you.”
Blaze’s brows climbed his forehead. “You forgave him, though.”
“I love him. He’s mine. I’m his. Nothing you do or say changes that.”
He raised his hands defensively. “I wouldn’t dream otherwise.”
She almost believed him. She wanted to believe him. But she could only see what her imagination had produced in graphic detail since learning the truth. Wild kisses. Frenzied undressing. Bruising, desperate fingers.
Selene didn’t know the details—hadn’t wanted them—but even the most innocent version of their kiss was a betrayal. And Blaze had inserted himself in a place that washers, so fuck him and fuck his feelings.
“Stay away from us,” she ground out, eyes pricking with fresh tears.
“He’s my best friend, Selene. And I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’ve always loved him.”
“You left him to die.”
Blaze reared back as if slapped. “That’s unfair.”
“We never should have left him on the street. Gods, I knew better.” She shook her head. “He’s always putting everyone else first?—”
“Like you did back in Perean?”
This time, she reeled back. She’d have done exactly the same thing in Augustus’s shoes.
Blaze put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Selene, we will get him back. This isn’t the end.”
“You can’t know that.”
“Maybe not.” Blaze glanced around at Omar’s family, the Drynopians,and the few remaining pirates from Cassia’s crew. The intermingled groups worked in silence, but more often, they laughed with each other and spoke with animated hands. “I know what it looks like to lose to Thorne, and trust me, you don’t want to see that happen to anyone aboard.” He looked into her eyes. “No matter how much you might hate some of us.”
