I woke what could’ve been days later, facedown in a drool-dampened, sideways pillow.
For a few blissful moments, I was dazed, not remembering where I was, what I’d done or what had befallen me as I’d fled Endergeist and its furious king.
And then my full faculties returned.
I launched out of bed, pausing only to rid myself of the slipper that was stubbornly clinging to my foot. Throwing open the door to the captain’s cabin, I bellowed at the top of my lungs, “Captain Bluebeard, you didnotjust marry me!”
With a burst of magic to shed my pirate attendants, I charged out of the cabin like a bull—straight into Bluebeard’s back.
Chapter two
Jax
Oneminute,Iwasenjoying the fine sunshine that arrived the morning after I condemned another woman to her death. The next, I was staggering into the rail of my newest ship, then tumbling over it, the little red-haired wildcat on my back.
As I plummeted into the dark, frothing water around the ship, I considered not even searching for the sunlight above. Might it be better if I just…stayed? Would the curse allow it this time? Or wouldshepropel me out of the water, forcing me to continue my wretched quest of seven years?
What was a cursed pirate to do? Stay, and find out if the Bride would let me sacrifice myself for the angry little sorceress who’d just knocked me overboard? Or swim, and find out if I could finally defeat this abominably clever curse?
Then, just as always, I shook off the idea of giving up and letting the Bride win. There were still so many adventures to livefor, so many fights and victories. This treasure could not elude me forever.Shecould not elude me forever.
And then, just as I pointed my face toward the sky, the wildcat was in front of me, a blur of frosty white skin and dark fabric, grabbing me by the topknot in my hair and hoisting me back to the air.
Still under the surprising power of her grip, I spat water and took a huge breath, feeling the drag of my boots and weapons-laden belt. Curse her, my best blades were going to rust!
I ripped her bony hand free of my hair. “What,” I said with a cough, “did that accomplish?”
A flash of surprise marred her fair face, followed by a scowl. Why did everyone think elite pirates couldn’t read or speak well? I wouldn’t have my title if I couldn’t keep the required ledger. Nor could I lead a virtual floating city of crew members without the ability to speak effectively.
Above us, the crew was lowering a rescue boat from the newest addition toCarabosse. This one was a fair enough merchant ship, not the fastest but no doubt laden with trade goods bound for the north. She’d do. Though she’d need a new name…
“You foul brigand,” the wildcat raved as she treaded water—better than the average lass in a gown, I must admit. “How dare you trick me into marriage! I know all about your brides—“
“You know less than you think.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes practically bulged.
“I’ll gladly explain the terms of the curse to you,” I said, pausing to cough once again, “as soon as we’re out of the water. The sea is cold and full of sharks here.”
She lifted her already upturned nose, which was now as red as the sunrise she’d slept through. “This isn’t cold, and I’m not worried about the sharks.”
“You’re right. Where I’m from, this would be called frigid.”
Again, she eyed me suspiciously as the rowboat hit the water, as if I had somehow stolen educated words along with the usual pirate’s bounty and was trying to sell them to her.
I knew I shouldn’t ask, but I couldn’t help myself. “Why aren’t you worried about sharks?”
“Oh, that’s rich.” She angled her face away from both me and the approaching boat, as if she could not bear to view either of us. “I see you don’t know whoIam.”
“I know what you did,” I said, not bothering to hide the hint of taunting, “and I know that makes you a balancer from Dewspell Academy. And such a dutiful one at that, to curse even a newborn princess to endless slumber.”
The cold sea deprived me of the chance to see her pale skin flush with anger, for it was already a spare few shades away from turning scarlet. “I did what was necessary.”
“Then I know you might be the right woman for the job, and that’s plenty. The crew and I have a rather large problem with a cursed bit of treasure. One I can’t retrieve until the curse’s terms are met.”
“You’re cursed? Or the treasure is cursed?”
“Yes.”
