“I’ve known the truth for a long time,” Marcus said.
“Ahh.” The captain paced around us, a snarl on his lips. “I can’t fault you for enjoying her company while I had Nadine’s.”
“’Tis not like that,” Marcus said.
Captain Zale laughed derisively, then he became serious. “If you don’t enjoy her company, then you won’t mind if I take her off your hands.”
Marcus’s grip tightened, and I stepped closer to him.
“I do mind,” he said. “I intend to make Caroline my wife.”
“Caroline?” The captain’s eyebrows rose, and then he laughed again. “Your wife? And how will you manage that? Your life belongs to me and to this ship and crew. ’Tis no place for awife. Nadine didn’t believe me, but she eventually came to her senses. I can’t say I blame her, but she should have had the courage to tell me she was leaving.”
I saw the struggle in Marcus’s gaze, old lies warring with newfoundhope. He wanted to believe we had a future together. We both did.
“As your captain,” Captain Zale continued, “the crewmen are under my direction, and I am taking what is rightfully mine.” He reached for my wrist and pulled me toward him.
I cried out in pain.
Marcus still held my other hand, but he saw my discomfort and let me go.
The captain pulled me closer, my back to his front, reminding me of being in Lloyd’s grip.
“Leave us,” Captain Zale said to Marcus as he ran his nose up the side of my face. “I will show Caroline her new duties.”
In a flash, Marcus pulled his cutlass from its sheath and sliced it through the air, resting it against the captain’s neck.
Captain Zale stiffened, his hold tightening around my chest.
“Let her go,” Marcus said evenly through clenched teeth.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Captain Zale sneered.
“Without a moment’s hesitation.”
I felt as if I was living through the same scene from the Castle Royal, but this time it was Marcus who was defending me. I saw no hesitation, no fear, no uncertainty in his gaze. His hand didn’t quiver, and his intentions were clear. He meant to free me and would not back down until he succeeded or died trying.
The captain pushed me away, and I fell just like I had in the caves, but he did not run, like Lloyd. He pulled his own cutlass from his sheath, and the sound of steel rang against steel.
“No!” I cried as the two men began to parry. I didn’t want Marcus to get hurt because of me, yet at the same time I sensed that this fight wasn’t just about me. It was for the years of abuse Marcus—and the others—had suffered at the hands of Captain Zale.
“Get out of here, Caroline,” Marcus yelled as he moved his sword this way and that, hitting the captain’s over and over.
They lunged around the cabin, the small blades of their cutlasses easy to maneuver in the tight space.
“You’re not safe,” he said to me as I lay on the floor where the captain had shoved me.
I should have obeyed his command, but I couldn’t leave him.
They were equally matched in strength, height, and skill. Sweat broke out on their brows as they stepped forward and back, around in a circle, their blades ringing.
The door flew open, and Hawk appeared with Timothy at his side.
“Take him!” the captain yelled at Hawk.
I caught Hawk’s gaze and saw his uncertainty, but he didn’t move to help the captain, telling me all I needed to know.
A pirate ship was a democracy, and a captain could be challenged at any time. It was not up to Hawk to defend the captain from one of his own. The captain must be the strongest, bravest, and fiercest of them all. And if Marcus overtook the captain, proving he was better fit for the job, he would gain the respect of the crew.
