He never would’ve expected the response they received.
Which was…nothing.
Not a single murmur rose from the crew. The only response was from the dark-haired pirate, who stopped walking, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Damn,” he said with a lifted brow. “So, she was telling the truth.”
She? Who the fuck?—
“If it’s an audience with the pirate lord you want, then an audience with the pirate lord you shall get.” More dark laughter from the crew, and Quentin’s skin crawled as the pirate’s smile hitched higher.
“Lucky for you, you’ve been picked up by the pirate lord’s son himself! A royal welcome for some royal guests.”
Quentin’s blood turned to ice in his veins. Delaynie’s nails bit into his skin.
The man uncrossed his arms and extended them with a flourish, giving them a dramatic, mocking bow. “Captain Darius Draethos, son of Lord Varyn Draethos, at your service.”
Quentin had to stifle a groan. These fucking pirates.
“I honestly don’t give a shit who you are,” he growled, a hand drifting to the baldric still laying across his chest. “So long as you get us to the Kizar Islands unharmed.”
The captain—Darius—reeled back, as if slapped. “Where are all your cute little Onitan manners?” He grinned. “I thought you were all better trained than that.”
“I guess I never learned.”
“No. Maybe you didn’t.” Darius’s gaze drifted past Quentin. “But based on the horror on her face, I bet she did.” His green eyes glinted. “My, aren’t you a pretty little thing? They can dress you down in breeches and drop you in the Mirrored Sea, but you reek of rich Onitan blood.”
“Don’t you fuckinglookat her.” Quentin’s snarl ripped from his throat before he could swallow it.
He knew it was a mistake the moment he said it.
More laughter rippled through the crew. Darius took a menacing step forward. “Oh, did I strike a nerve?” He crowded into Quentin’s space, grin growing wilder, tinged with insanity. “Is she yours, then? Or are you just hoping that one day she lets a runt like you taste that tight, well-bred cunt?—”
Quentin’s snarl turned into a roar. He lunged for the pirate, dagger in hand and already aimed for the vein in his throat. His blade whistled through the air, target in reach?—
Something cool and wet wrapped around his wrist, yanking him back and slamming him into the ship’s railing. He struggled, but coils of water wound around his arms and legs, pinning him in place. His dagger clattered to the deck.
Darius chuckled, shaking his head. He snapped his fingers and two men rushed Delaynie, grabbing her arms, tying a rope around her wrists.
“Let go of her?—”
“I’m fine, Quentin.” Her cool eyes met his. Any lingering panic from the wreck had left her, replaced by her polished, regal aura. Soaking wet and exhausted, but a lady in every right. “They won’t hurt me.”
Quentin groaned, struggling again against the watery bindings. “Delaynie?—”
“As precious as this is,” Darius interrupted, “it’s also a little boring.” He turned to a member of his crew. “Tie them to the main staff. Then make sail for Tenevra.” Darius cast a glance back at Quentin, corner of his mouth kicking up. “If they want to meet daddy dearest so badly, then I would hate to be the one to deny them that treat.”
The hairs on the back of Quentin’s neck stood on end. The bindings of water fell from wrists, quickly replaced by two men who tied his hands with solid rope behind his back. Together, he and Delaynie were marched to the center of the deck and pushed to the ground against the main staff. The crew made quick work of their bindings, running coils of rope across their arms and chests.
Shouts filled the air as the ship was readied for sailing. The great black sheets of canvas were unfurled, thundering in the air. The air was calm, but they caught the slight breeze, and the ship lurched across the waves.
Delaynie was silent beside him. Her hair was starting to dry, the auburn lengths blowing across her face.
Quentin heaved a sigh, thumping his head back against the wood of the main staff. “Well,” he said after a while, when the sun was beginning to beat down on them in earnest. “I think that actually went quite well, all things considered.”
Delaynie didn’t answer, but Quentin caught the slight upward curl at the corners of her mouth.
Chapter 52
