“It was a pirate’s deal,” Jax said with a snort, followed by a groan.
“Stop moving,” Safira scolded him.
Still half-twisted towards the quay, I went still. “You’re hurt.”
“Probably from lifting you during that dance. You make a better anchor than you do a dance partner.”
“If you want my help, you should mind your tongue!”
“You, help me? Perish the thought.”
“Unlike you, my word means something. I might be terrible at healing magic, but I can still do…something!”
“I’m touched by your concern, but I’m fine, pet. I took the tiniest of knife wounds. Probably from a pen knife. Typical pirate’s ball. I wasn’t the only one with a plan.”
Another scream, this time of desperation, came from the dock. I turned back to find Marigold’s figure bent double, then straightening. She was trying to pull off her voluminous gold gown to swim after us.
“If you leave her here, she’s dead,” I repeated, the pitch of my own voice rising. “That’s why she’d risk swimming through a shark-infested bay. That’d be better than whatever Blackbeard would do to her.”
“You do like to answer your own questions,” Jax said, voice flat.
He was in pain.
“Go back for her, and I’ll heal your wound.”
His teeth flashed in the moonlight. “Never. It’s not part of the plan.”
“Even if you turn around and retrieve her, you’ll make better time. She’ll probably be happy to row for you.”
“Wouldn’t trust her to.” He gasped a little, the movements of the oars faltering. “What use have I for a woman who’d betray me?”
“Must be why we get along,” I snapped. “I’ve always made it clear I’d toss you overboard the first chance I got.”
“Mm, yes, from the second day I knew you.”
“Go back for her,Jax, or I will make your life so miserable you’ll wish you’d never set eyes on the sea!”
A laugh bubbled up in his throat, then abruptly cut off. His voice was papery when he spoke again. “I’m twice cursed, thanks to you. What more tricks do you have up your sleeve?”
“Do you want to find out?” I hesitated. We were getting too close to the ship. “You’re losing a lot of blood, aren’t you?”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine. Turn back, Jax. I’ll row the boat myself.”
“I never deviate from a plan.Never.That’s how good crew get killed. Goodpeople.”
“Wives, you mean?”
His refusal to answer said it all. I stood in the boat sharply, not caring how it rocked.
“Watch it!” Jax barked.
I wasn’t the “beachmaid” they all thought I was. I knew how to move in a boat. I turned back toward the shore, where the figure still stood, quivering as if she couldn’t convince herself to jump into the bay no matter how many steps towards the edge she took.
I focused on the rose bushes somewhere behind her, feeling rather than seeing them.
“Put your dress back on!” I shouted across the bay.
