A sharp whistle screeched above. “Captain!”
His fist tightened.What now?
One of his crew waved frantically from the crow’s nest, spyglass in hand, signaling at something offshore. Hook hustled across the deck. If another storm was rolling in—
A ship sped their way on a convenient breeze. Big one from the looks of it.
“TheKraken!” the crewman called from above.
An icy chill surged through Hook’s veins.Of all the bloody ships…“Men! To your posts!” he called. Hook grabbed Smee’s arm and ordered, “Ring the bell. Get everyone on deck.”
Of all the times for Captain Blackbeard to show his ugly face. Doubtful he was here for a frolic with the merfolk. He’d likely caught wind of their recent departure the moment he pulled into Tortuga and followed course.Bloody hell. He’d been so distracted with Tink and his curse, he’d forgotten the bigger threat roaming the seas.
Across the lagoon, Cressida’s ship was a similar flurry of activity. They’d just spotted the same thing in their efforts to depart.
“Let out the sails,” Hook called. Thank fuck they’d already hauled in the anchor. If they could shove off, perhaps they could avoid an encounter. Captain Blackbeard wouldn’t have forgotten about a certain necklace Hook stole off him—or any of the many other things they’d done over the years. It was perhaps his worst theft ever for all the mess it started. The man thought himself the king of the seas. Well, Hook would show him the truth of the matter.
Hook turned for the wheel but crashed into the woman standing behind him, a frozen pillar in the chaos. Tink had gone white as a seagull, staring off toward the horizon.
“Did they say theKraken?”
He could barely make out her words over the bell starting to peal, the rush of boots across the deck, and various shouts and curses.
There was no mistaking a look like that. She knew the ship. Knew it and feared it. Not the kind of fear inspired by reputation either. What had that bastard done to this pixie trapped far from home?
“Get below deck. It’ll be safer there.”
She blinked, unmoving.
He clamped a hand on her shoulder. “Tink.”
A shiver echoed through her body as movement returned. “Right,” she said, voice barely audible. Without a glance at him, she took off for the stairs, braided blonde hair trailing behind her. Hook pulled at his collar, savoring an odd brief moment of relief as she disappeared below.
One less thing to worry about. That was all.
TheKrakenwould come upon theSirenfirst. It might give them time to run…but he couldn’t do that to Cressida and her crew, especially not when Blackbeard was involved. No one needed to be left at the mercy of that crocodile. Two against one, they might stand a chance, even with theKraken’s notorious firepower.
“Roll out the cannons!”
Fuck. They weren’t ready for a battle—nothing prepped, little room to maneuver.
“Sails secured!” Smee called up to him.
’Bout bloody time.Hook grabbed the wheel. Wind caught in the sails. TheJolly Rogerlurched away from the dock. Poor girl. He didn’t like to treat her so, but they had no choice.
He spied theSiren—judged the angle of their sails, the direction of the wind. With any luck, they could get theKrakenbetween them.
“Cannons to starboard!” he shouted.
The crew rushed to obey. Pride swelled in his chest. They knew their posts, their roles. Each member worked together like gears in the fancy pocket watch he’dacquireda few months back.
The breeze tugged at his hat as they raced toward the advancing enemy.
A deep boom sounded. A cannonball whizzed in their direction, falling short and splashing into the sea.
“That came off the front!” Sage yelled from below.
Hook grimaced.Aye. Leave it to the old croc to have a trick up his sleeve.
