by Lisa Kessler
“Okay.” She had plenty to tell him, too, like how she had been shortsighted to push him away, and how it had been her love for him that kept her fighting out on that boat, and maybe even tell him how much she wanted to share her life with him however long that might be.
She waited as the seconds ticked by.
Drake squeezed her hand. “I want to respect your wishes, but I’m begging you not to ask me to walk out of your life. Until you, I never had one. I’ve been alive for almost two hundred and fifty years, existing and going through the motions. You showed me that being alive and just living are two different things. I don’t want to live in a world without you beside me.”
Heather’s vision clouded as tears burned her eyes. “I know I said it would be best for you if I walked away, but…I can’t. I don’t want to.” She swallowed, fighting to get the words out. “I was scared of what the future could hold for us, but when I was trapped on that boat with Ashley, all I could think about was how I would’ve given anything for one more day with you. If you’re willing to watch me get older and hold my hand when people start thinking you’re my son, then I’d count myself lucky.”
She lifted his bandaged hand to her lips, pressing a tender kiss to the back. “Can we just pretend I never had that conversation with One-Eyed Bob?”
Drake chuckled, and the sight of his smile warmed her all over. “Aye.”
He cupped her face, his gaze like a caress before he bent to kiss her. She hummed into the kiss, sighing as he pulled back. When she opened her eyes, she caught his hand. “Why haven’t you healed?”
“Greyson connected me with a local root doctor.” He shifted his weight, breaking eye contact. “I couldn’t lose you.” His gaze met hers again. “I needed something to bring you back in case we lost the fight with Ashley. The root doctor works magic with her Loa, Met Agwe.”
“My grandmother used to tell me about the root doctors. Loas like to make deals.” Heather inspected his hand before shaking her head. “What did you trade?”
He unwrapped the bandage, exposing the red angry skin around the stab wound. “I’m not immortal anymore.”
She must’ve looked like a fish gasping for air. She couldn’t find words. Finally she choked out, “You could have died.”
He shrugged as he rewrapped his hand. “You were the one Ashley wanted.”
“Drake!” Heather gave his arm a weak shove as a tear spilled down her cheek. “I could have lost you. You had eternity in your hands. Why would you trade that away?”
He braced himself on either side of her hospital bed, leaning in until his forehead rested on hers. His breath warmed her lips as he whispered, “I’ve seen forever, love. I would rather have you.”
Her fingers slid back into his hair as she drew him close, kissing him over and over. When she released him, she searched the ocean in his eyes. “You didn’t have to give up immortality for me.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He took her hand, threading their fingers together. “Will you grow old with me?”
Nothing in the world could’ve wiped the smile off her face as she nodded. “Aye.”
He raised a brow, growling, “Love it when you speak pirate.”
She laughed and clung to him as his lips met hers.
The future was suddenly very bright.
Epilogue
“This is really a formality, but be ready for Captain Flynn to be an asshole.” Skye rolled her eyes. “He’s not really excited about expanding the crew.”
“Well, he was pretty keen on bringing Harmony into the fold,” Dr. Charlotte Sinclair said.
“That was only because he wanted my connections to the Digi Robins.” Harmony opened both of her hands. “Now you’re all stuck with me!”
Heather grinned, taking in the circle of women who had become her friends over the past couple of months. Although they hardly knew her, after the battle with Ashley the three of them had brought over food and helped her with her recovery. They quickly circled around her and made her feel like family. There were days when she couldn’t believe how much her world had changed. Drake had moved into her place, although he did keep his workshop and his dock on the river, and now she had a group of non-virtual friends who looked at her as an equal instead of an oddity.
“Never dreamed I’d be part of an immortal pirate crew.” It didn’t escape her notice that the crew waited for the sun to go down before the vote on the deck of the Sea Dog. It had taken a few weeks for the sunburn to fade from her skin after her fight with Ashley. She wasn’t eager to be in the sunlight again anytime soon.
Skye chuckled. “Not all of us are immortal.”
“True,” Heather agreed. She and Skye had both refused a sip from the Holy Grail. Char and Harmony were as immortal as the rest of the pirates.
A knock on the door to the captain’s quarters drew all their attention.
“Come in,” Skye called.
David stepped inside, wearing his typical black suit, white shirt, and black tie. Heather had no idea why he was on the Sea Dog tonight. As far as she knew, he didn’t get a vote on new crew members.
“Hi.” He stood tall as he took in the room. “Could I get a minute alone with Heather?”
The others turned her way, and she nodded her approval. “Sure.”
“We’ll see if Flynn has arrived yet so we can get this show on the road.” Skye stood and led the others out.
When they were alone, David cleared his throat. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Thanks. Me too.” Years ago things hadn’t been so awkward between them. With all the changes in her life, her relationship with David had become strained to say the least. “I didn’t get to thank you for getting me to the hospital in the helicopter.”
“You don’t need to. I was glad to help.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not sure what Drake has told you about being part of the Sea Dog crew. Department 13 has partnered with them a few times in the past to find artifacts, and after this…incident…with your sister, I’ve come to realize the crew wasn’t involved in the Digi Robins double cross.”
“Good. And that means?” She vaguely understood her sister’s dark web adventures, and she had been with David the night his brother’s descendant died in the Bonaventure Cemetery. How it all tied in with the Sea Dog crew was foggy at best.
“What I’m trying to say is, if you throw your hat in with the crew, you need to know you will be involved in dangerous situations in the future.” He crossed his arms and shifted his weight, his gaze never leaving hers. “I’m saying you can be in a relationship with Drake and not have to be a part of this crew.”
Heather blinked. “You mean like it was with you and me?” She crossed her arms, adopting his stance. “Like when I thought we were in a relationship, even though you kept me in the dark about the most important thing in your life, Department 13? No, thank you.” She raised her chin. “You can’t be in love with parts of someone. Drake’s not keeping me out of the chambers of his heart. We’re there for each other, no matter what. He trusts me and I trust him.”
She sighed and dropped her arms. “If there’s danger ahead, we’ll face it together.” She patted David’s arm as she passed by. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
…
Drake watched as Agent Bale left the ship without a word to anyone. Good riddance. He didn’t know what Bale had needed to talk to Heather about, but he’d bet his hammer the agent was warning her away from joining the pirate crew.
A minute later, Flynn crossed the gangplank, his red hair slicked back into a tight ponytail. His eyes narrowed as he sized up the crew. If the captain thought he could turn them against Heather, he had another thing coming. One-Eyed Bob had known Heather and her family since she was a girl, and Skye had already claimed her as the sister she never had. Greyson and Colton were also staunchly in her co
rner.
“Where’s the carpenter’s woman?”
“If you mean Heather Storrey, I’m right here.” Heather strode down the deck toward the bow, her hooded robe fanning out behind her like the queen she was.
God, she was a vision. He was the luckiest man on the planet. She shot a smile at Drake before focusing on the captain again.
“I’m eager to join your crew.” She paused, then added, “Oh, and you’re not getting my house. Turns out I found the figurehead without your help.”
Flynn chuckled, gesturing to Heather as he faced the crew. “You see? She’s already backing out of our bargain. She has no honor for a pirate’s bond.”
Before Drake could jump to her defense, Heather’s eyes narrowed. “Where’s Duke?”
Flynn’s copper brow arched. “Do you know our first mate?”
Heather shrugged. “I thought he’s your bodyguard.”
Flynn crossed his arms, his expression rattled. “How did you…? Never mind.”
Drake watched Heather. He couldn’t recall ever telling her that Flynn had chosen his first mate for his size. Flynn named Duke as first mate to protect himself from mutiny, not for Duke’s sailing skills.
Heather couldn’t have known any of that…unless someone else was helping her.
The corners of Drake’s mouth tugged as he held back a proud grin. She was playing the captain. A literal ghost from Flynn’s past had to be communicating with her.
Flynn dropped his hands to his sides, raising his voice. “You’re too sickly to be a valuable member of this crew. You’re too pale. The sun would kill you in a day.”
Drake ground his teeth. Heather didn’t look shaken by the captain’s attack. Far from it. The determination in her eyes had him wishing he could toss her over his shoulder and take her home.
Soon.
“The color of my skin has nothing to do with my ability to help this crew.” Her gaze cut over to Drake with a knowing half smile, then back to the captain. “You see, captain, dead men tell me all kinds of tales.”
Greyson’s booming laugh echoed across the deck. “She’s got my vote.”
Cheers and applause followed. The vote to welcome her to the crew was inevitable.
Even Flynn gave her his vote in the end.
When they got back to the house, Drake scooped her up into his arms, enjoying the sound of her laughter as he carried her inside.
“Do you carry around all your new crewmates?”
“Hell, no.” He kissed her as he lowered her feet to the floor with a grin. “You were incredible tonight.”
“I’ve dealt with bullies my whole life.” She shrugged as she slid her hands up his chest. “This is the first time I’ve ever had people in my corner before.”
“You’ve got a whole crew now.” He stepped back and took her hand, walking her to the dining room table. “I’ve got something to show you.”
“In the dining room?”
Sitting in the middle of the table was a new laptop right beside hers. He barely knew how to open the damned thing. Harmony assured him it would have no trouble running the online games Heather enjoyed. That was all that mattered.
She stared at the computers and gave him a quizzical look. “Whose laptop is that?”
“Mine.” He chuckled. “You’ll have to show me how to use it.”
Her eyes shone in the dim light from the living room, but her smile told him all he needed to know. “You bought a computer? Really?”
“Harmony helped me.” He pointed to the new laptop. “I was hoping you might teach me to play Skull & Crossbones.”
She rose up on her toes and kissed him. “I would love to.” Her smile tilted with a sexy glint in her eyes. “We will kick all kinds of pirate ass.”
“Aye.” He took her hand. “But there’s only one particular pirate’s ass I’m interested in.”
She raised a brow. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Hope it’s mine.”
She swatted his ass playfully. “You know it’s yours.”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged, shocked to realize how much he enjoyed flirting. “Lots of asses were on the Sea Dog tonight.”
“Yours is the only one I want to get naked with.”
He wrapped her in his arms, nuzzling her lips with his. “Good to know.”
Later that night, naked, spent, and tangled in the sheets of their bed, Drake stroked her hair as moonlight filtered through the window. Her breathing deepened as she dozed on his chest. He kissed her hair and breathed her into his lungs. This was love.
And it was the greatest treasure this pirate had ever known.
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Acknowledgments
I have so many people to thank for their support while I wrote this book. I had no idea when I started this one that during the course of writing it, I would visit the emergency room four times, go through surgery, and then lose my mom to cancer ten days later. I was gutted emotionally and physically, but my husband stood beside me through the storm and never lost faith that somehow, some way, I would bounce back.
Thanks so much to all my readers for sticking with this pirate crew even though you had to wait so long for this book. My Night Angel readers’ group on Facebook, you all are seriously the best! Thanks for the virtual hugs and prayers when I needed them most.
I also need to thank my family for rallying around me during the darkest days. I love you all more than words can say.
I’m also so grateful to my intrepid beta readers, Denise Fluhr, Heather Cox and Katie Roberts! This book was such a challenge for me to write, and your love for Drake and Heather was a huge inspiration for me to finish the book. Thank you so much for that!
I also need to thank my amazing agent, Laurie McLean, and the entire team at Entangled Publishing for being so patient with me. Lydia, you were a ray of hope throughout the darkness. Thanks again for the emails and extending my deadline a few times. And I need to thank Liz Pelletier, too, for loving this pirate crew as much as I do!
Thanks to my son, Reno Wilson, who patiently answered all my online gaming questions. Any mistakes were mine.
And finally, thanks to my mom, Allison Benbrook. I hate that you’ll never read this book, but in my darkest days, I clung to the knowledge that I’m your daughter, and you would never give up, so neither would I. I love you, and I miss you always.
About the Author
Lisa Kessler is a best-selling author of dark paranormal fiction. She’s a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal.
Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.
You can learn more at Lisa-Kessler.com
Stay up-to-date on new releases and giveaways by subscribing to Lisa’s newsletter here: goo.gl/qaIIiS
Don’t miss the Sentinels of Savannah series…
Magnolia Mystic
Pirate’s Passion
Pirate’s Pleasure
Also by Lisa Kessler…
The Muse Chronicles
Lure of Obsession
Legend of Love
Breath of Passion
Light of the Spirit
Devoted to Destiny
Dance of the Heart
Song of the Soul
The Night Series
Night Walker
Night Thief
Night Demon
Night Angel
Night Child
The Moon Series
Moonlight
Hunter’s Moon
Blood Moon
Harvest Moon
Ice Moon
Blue Moon
Wolf Moon
New Moon
Stand Alone Works
Beg Me to Slay
Forgotten Treasures
Across the Veil
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