He ignored that and strode into her room, his pointed tail swishing behind him. “I know why you’re doing this, you know.”
Cali had crewed with Vaskel long enough that he did know her. And he probably knew why she felt compelled to help find Marina, but that changed nothing.
“Marina is more my fault than anyone’s,” Vaskel continued. “If anyone should join the pirate crew to search for her, it should be me.”
That snapped her head up. “Absolutely not. You and Iris just figured out that you’re perfect for each other.”
Vaskel grunted but didn’t argue with her.
Cali tucked a clean vest into her almost-full knapsack. “The reason I fell for Marina’s ploy was because I don’t have what the rest of you have found in Wayside. As much as I love this village, I haven’t found my purpose here.”
“That doesn’t mean you won’t,” the hellkin said, although his tone wasn’t convincing. “You’re an important part of the village, Cali, and you’re still part of our crew.”
“There isn’t much need for an archer in a peaceful village.”
“It isn’t always peaceful,” he reminded her. “And you’re valuable for more than your ability to shoot an arrow.”
Cali put a gray-and-black-striped paw on Vaskel’s shoulder. “I’m not leaving for good, Vask. I didn’t go with Marina because I knew it would mean saying goodbye to you and Lira and everyone else in Wayside. That feeling still stands. This is nothing but a quick trip.”
“With a notorious pirate crew.”
That thought thrilled her more than she wanted to admit. The pirate captain thrilled her more than she would ever say.
“She doesn’t look dangerous,” Cali said. “But even if she is, I’m not exactly helpless.”
“No, you’re not,” Vaskel admitted, cutting his eyes to her bow and quiver of arrows leaning against the wall. “I know all too well that you can take care of yourself.”
She held his gaze, searching his pinched, crimson face. “Then why the worry?”
He bit his lower lip.
“You trust me, right?” she asked.
“You know I do,” he blurted. “I trust you with my life.”
“Then trust me when I tell you I’ll return.”
His dark brows knitted together. “Promise me.”
First Sass, and now Vaskel. She must be giving off running-away-for-good vibes. She took his hands in her paws and squeezed them. “I promise.”
“Even though you have an unhealthy obsession with pirate romance and a hot pirate walked through the door of the Tusk & Tail and welcomed you onto her all-female crew?”
Cali dropped his hands and laughed. “Unhealthy obsession is a bit of an exaggeration.”
“You’ve read every pirate romance in Iris’s library.”
She brushed this off with a shrug. “She doesn’t have that many.” Her whiskers twitched. “You think the pirate captain is hot?”
Vaskel rolled his eyes. “Come on, Cal. Anyone would think Bonnie is stunning. Remember how well I know you? She’s exactly your type.”
Cali swept her gaze around the small, rented room, noticing how cramped it suddenly felt. “I’m not going because the captain is attractive. I’m going because I need to get away for a while.” She released a heavy breath. “I know I escaped Marina’s clutches, but the fact remains that I let myself get manipulated by someone who could have done some serious damage to people I care about. Not only that, but I found myself in a love triangle with Thrain, which requires some serious reflection.”
Vaskel pressed his lips together, clearly smothering a smile or a laugh. “Thrain feels as foolish as you do.”
She cringed at the thought of battling with the dwarf for Marina’s heart. “At least he doesn’t want to challenge me to a duel any longer.”
“I should never have told you that.”
