My face was instantly burning. The number of times we’d kissed was the correct number: zero. Dewspell had a bounty out for his capture, for chaos’ sakes! I wasn’t going to kiss an enemy of my home.
“Follow my lead,” he said, sounding as though this was actually reassuring. “You’ve been doing it beautifully all night.”
As if to emphasize that point, he twirled me in time with the other dancers. For once, I didn’t even stumble.
“Jax…why in the old gods’ names did you bring me here?” I asked, already out of breath.
“You’re quick enough. Haven’t you figured it out yet?”
The fact that I hadn’t was only frustrating me more.
Jax’s nostrils flared as he laughed. “Allow me to explain.” He spun me again, then grasped my waist to lift me a good six inches off the ground, returning me to the dance floor lightly. Just as he’d told me, I noticed Goldenbeard himself—our mysterious masked host—returning to the dais. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was using a bit of wind magic to extinguish the candles in one of the chandeliers.
“Everyone in this ballroom knows my tale,” he said. “Pirates are terrible gossips. They know exactly what I’m looking for. And while the location of the isle where the Queen of the Sea is located changes each year, there’s an easy way to locate it.”
“What?” I asked, already suspicious.
“By following me, of course. Something Blackbeard has been doing for the last five years.”
I couldn’t help a glance at the slim, proper looking man with glasses as he guided the young woman in gold around the dance floor. “Then why would you…”
Jax leaned in so close, his lips brushed my ear, giving me a shiver I wanted to blame on the intruding wind magic. “While he’s here dancing, my crew is hobbling his ships.”
Hobbling ships? I didn’t really want to know what that meant. I imagine it involved a certain amount of bloodshed.
“I thought fighting was forbidden here.”
“It’s against the rulesin the city,“ he said, pulling me close once again. Once more, his breath on my ear left it tingling—and me blushing. “But we’re pirates. Goldenbeard himself knows we don’t follow rules if we don’t have to. The bay is technicallynextto the city, notinit. And anyway, I found a convenient way to get at what Blackbeard holds most dear.”
“Treasure?” I asked.
“His ships.” Jax shook his head at my ignorance. “See that young lady in the gold?”
“I do.” She laughed giddily as she danced, as if Blackbeard had just whispered something in her ear. She was rather pretty, and far too young to be with that pirate.
Jax kept his voice low and close, adding to the flush on my cheeks from dancing. “Her name is Marigold. She helped us earlier.”
My eyes widened. “In exchange for what?”
Jax laughed. “Now you’re beginning to understand our ways.” He managed to shrug while still performing the next part of the dance, arching his arm so I could pass under it. “I offered her a berth on my ships—a chance to be a real pirate, and not just a pretty seawife waiting at the port.”
“What if she told him? What if it’s a trick?”
“Don’t worry, pet. I always have a backup plan.”
The song ended. The room grew darker. Suddenly, I was almost gasping for breath. “Jax. I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“A shame, for the plan is already afoot. Relax and come along for the ride, Sofie. It’s all I’ve ever asked of you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to ground myself and resist the urge to pull at the threads of chaos all around us. “All you’ve ever asked is for me to risk my life for your stupid treasure.”
“The last dance,” Goldenbeard announced, his voice wavering on the conjured wind he used to carry it. “Be ready, you lovers, for it is a short one.”
I was beginning to feel faint. “I need to sit down.”
“There’s no time.”
The musicians struck up the tune, something lively I would never keep up with. I began to sway…right into Jax’s enveloping arms. He was holding me close, not even bothering to lead me in this dance, as if he did not want to risk our separation when the lights went out.
