Brandt elbowed through the gathering crowd, tugging at shirts, pressing fingers to wrists, examining eyes with the fervor of disbelief.“By the powers…” he stuttered, shaking his head.“Never saw the like in all my years.”
The color drained from his face, and he leaned hard on his cane, staring at the crew as if they’d sprouted wings.
Caleb lifted both hands to the wind.“Thank You, Father!”
A sudden shout came from the helm.“Closin’ in on the Devil’s Mouth, Cap’n!”Shorty called, fear scraping his voice thin.
Desi shook her head.“What… what just happened?”
Alden turned, his weathered face alight.“God happened, Miss Starr.”
Before she could respond, Caleb was before her, his arms warm, steady, wrapping her in a strength that stilled her trembling.“He heard me, Desi,” he said.“He cast away Ayida’s curse.The men are healed.”
He took her hands, kissed them, then pressed them against his chest.“He’s real.And He loves you.”
She blinked up at him, unable to speak.No… He couldn’t.And yet Caleb’s eyes shone with a light she couldn’t deny, a joy that defied reason.
More men poured from below, laughing, clapping shoulders, their limbs strong again.
“I don’t understand,” Brandt stammered, stumbling as his knees weakened.“They were half-dead not an hour past.”
Caleb caught him just in time, easing him onto a barrel.“Steady, Doctor.Breathe deep.The battle’s not yet done.”
“Both ships bearing down, Cap’n!”Liam shouted from the quarterdeck rail, spyglass pressed to his eye.“They mean to trap us between their guns!”
Darting to the railing, Desi glanced off their stern.The sea rolled beneath her—living, breathing, fierce—as two French frigates spread wide, one veering starboard, the other larboard, their hulls slicing the foam like twin blades.
“Not if we take the weather gauge first,” Caleb returned, his voice clear and commanding.“Alden, bring her up into the wind.Hands to the braces!Haul taut!”
“Aye, Captain!”Alden barked, spinning toward the crew.“You heard the order!Haul, lads, haul for your lives!”
The crew moved as one, running lines, shouting to one another over the roar of the wind.Bare feet slapped the planks, tar-stained hands strained at the ropes.Above, topmen swarmed the shrouds, loosing the reefs.Canvas thundered open like the wings of seraphs catching heaven’s breath.
TheSentinelleaned hard to starboard, her timbers groaning, the deck alive beneath Desi’s feet.She clung to the railing as wind tore at her hair and skirts, salt spray stinging her lips.
They were inside the portal, she could feel it.A subtle hum in the air, a shimmer at the edge of vision.Two worlds brushing together.
If she could just get her hands on the Ring…
Her heart slammed against her ribs.If she dropped it now, she could return home, back to her time, back to Daria.She could retrieve the relic from the seabed and save her sister’s life.But to do so would mean abandoning Caleb.
Abandoning this moment when he needed her most.
The larboard frigate fired.
A thunderous roar split the heavens.The sea erupted in towering columns of water beside them, drenching the deck and sending Desi sprawling behind the mainmast.One shot struck the main deck, splinters raining like daggers.
“Hold steady!”Caleb roared.“Keep her close to the wind.Aye, that’s it!She’ll not catch our stern if we’ve the Lord’s own breath behind us.”
Alden’s eyes gleamed.“Wind’s shifting, Captain.Coming north by west.”
Caleb turned his face to the gale and smiled.“Then we’ve the weather edge, by His mercy.Bring her about.Ready about!Helm a-lee!”
TheSentinelbucked and groaned, sails booming as she turned.Desi gripped the rail with both hands, her heart thrashing in her chest, watching Caleb stride through smoke and spray, coat snapping behind him, hair wild in the wind, jaw set with determination—calm, confident, alive.
The thunder of cannons echoed across the sea.Desi’s breath caught in her throat.
How could she ever leave him now?
