“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” he offered.
“I am,” Anna smiled at him.
“Good,” Sully remarked. “I know the crew can be a bit intimidating at times.”
Anna laughed at the older man’s concerns, “I have four older brothers, Sully. I think I can handle a few reformed Pirates.”
Anna looked at the men surrounding her, realizing with a jolt they reminded her of the brothers she left behind. The knowledge brought a pang, but it was also a balm, calming the aching she’d suffered in her chest for weeks. “Anna,” Sully interrupted her thoughts. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Anna said softly, realizing for the first time since her arrival in the realm, she spoke honestly.
“Course the lass be fine, Sully,” Doc shouted over the others, his tone hoarse with alcohol and age. “She be among the finest men in the realm!”
“Aye!” Several crewmen shouted as they rose up metal and wooden cups in a cheer.
She remained in the company of the crewmen for the rest of the day. Anna sat amidst them during dinner, loving the friendly banter and tossing of food across the table on the cargo deck. Char and his Guards chose to eat elsewhere, the brash manners of the crew clearly too much for their civilized values. Anna didn’t mind the attitudes, feeling more at home than she had in a long time.
A thought came to Anna and she turned to Sully, who sat at her side. “Sully, isn’t Jake going to eat?”
Sully smiled knowingly at her, “I’m not my Captain’s keeper, Anna, Jake eats when he chooses to.”
“Oh,” Anna dropped the subject, but couldn’t help to wonder if he avoided the meal because of her presence. Anna was clear she didn’t want to spend any time in his presence; perhaps a bit unjustly. It would not surprise her if Jake declined his meal to obey her wishes. The Captain was nothing if not chivalrous.
After most of the men finished and the sun started to set, Anna found herself staring up at where she knew Jake to be. Through the day, the men told stories of Jake’s heroism and kindness to them. From taking in lost causes to defending those who didn’t truly deserve his defense, Anna suspected the crew was intentionally trying to soften her opinion of their Captain. It was working.
Anna ascended the stairs to the stern castle, where Jake still stood at the wheel. He didn’t seem to notice her approach until Anna stood only a few feet from him. “Anna,” Jake’s tone was surprised. “Is everything alright?”
“Fine,” Anna stood next to the wheel. “You weren’t at dinner.”
“I wasn’t hungry,” Anna nodded at Jake’s excuse, a silence falling over them.
“I never did thank you, for saving me the other night,” Anna shifted uncomfortably. Jake looked shocked at her gratitude. Anna’s guilt over ignoring him since the attack grew. She was overwhelmed and a bit intimidated by his brutality, but Jake saved her and he didn’t deserve her coldness. “And, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry,” Jake prodded.
“What you did to those men, how you stopped them so easily, it was, you were,” Anna’s words were hesitant and she left them open ended.
“I frightened you,” Jake finished for her. Anna nodded in response, feeling bad for the wince her motion brought to Jake’s features. “It wasn’t my intent to scare you.”
“I know,” Anna assured. “And, you didn’t deserve my rudeness these past few days because of it.”
“I understand, Love,” Jake smiled. “I haven’t exactly shown you reason to trust me of late.”
“Yes, you have,” Anna ducked her head before looking back up at him. The shock she saw in his eyes was painful to view. “Everyone is entitled to their secrets, Jake. It was unfair of me to condemn you for keeping yours.”
“Anna,” Jake began, but a heavy jolt interrupted his thoughts.
The unexpected and violent rocking set Anna off balance, sending her plunging forward. Jake caught her easily, pulling her to his chest with one arm while his other hand remained on the wheel. Anna gasped at the contact, having forgotten how hard his chest felt when she was pressed against it. The wind picked up around them, but Anna ignored the incoming storm, her eyes focused on Jake’s. The strange heat she felt when in his presence returned, unfamiliar and unwanted, but present none the less.
A sense of desperation settled over her and Anna pushed away from Jake’s hold. “I should,” she started, but couldn’t find the words to finish.
“You should get below decks,” Jake’s voice seemed thick, but Anna brushed off the thought. “It isn’t safe on deck in a storm.”
“What about you?”
“I’ve been sailing a long time, Love,” Jake assured with a smile. “I’m a bit sturdier on my legs than you.”
She almost snorted at his statement, wondering if he knew how her knees shook when he touched her. Deciding to allow Jake to dictate this one last action, Anna nodded and turned to escape the stern castle, avoiding looking back to the man who confused her senses. Anna hadn’t felt such desire for a man before and it caused guilt to rise in her throat. If she hadn’t been sucked into a portal, Anna would still be with her fiancé. Safe, predictable Richard never left her feeling breathless and always allowed her to control every facet of her life and their relationship. Anna thought her life with Richard was what she wanted, was even ready to make it a permanent arrangement, but now she questioned. Even if she could find a way back to her world, Anna doubted she would be content with the man she chose after all she went through.
***
Jake watched the Prince pace his navigation room, the man’s body vibrating with anxious concern. “We have no choice, Highness,” Jake stated. “We need to know who wishes her harm.”
“And, who’s to say this informant of yours would know?” Char argued.
“I guarantee it,” Jake assured. “If there is something evil happening, Andre Marrow will know about it.”
“You said Anna would be safe on your ship and, as much as I hate to admit it, you were right,” Char stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair. “Docking is a mistake. We need to keep moving.”
“Moving where, mate?” Jake asked tiredly. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d happily sail the seas the rest of my life, but this isn’t solving anything. Besides, your Fairy may be trying to reach you. Perhaps, she has news.”
He was tired of feeling useless and running from an invisible enemy. Jake needed to know who was after Anna so he could end the threat before any mistakes were made. Jake watched the Prince drop into a chair on the opposite side of the desk. He too debated the wisdom of his choice to dock but when he remembered Andre hailed from the small seaside town of Everett, Jake altered course immediately. Jake knew his informant would be travelling home for the remainder of the summer as he always did. If he was lucky, Jake would catch the man in town.
“Anna doesn’t leave the ship,” Jake repeated his plan to the Prince. “I go to land alone and meet with Marrow. I find out what I can and we come up with a plan from there.”
Char nodded in agreement as Jake knew he would. The Prince really didn’t have a choice in the decision, but Jake wanted to inform him of the plan before the man did something foolish. Jake couldn’t risk the Prince growing angry or anxious and removing Anna from his ship. “When do we arrive?” Char asked.
“We should be docked within the hour,” Jake informed him before returning to his post at the helm.
True to his word, Jake pulled the Crimson Jewel to dock in Everett just under an hour later. He gave the order to tie off and jumped down the stairs to the main deck. The plank was lowered to the dock and several of Jake’s men jumped down to secure tie lines to the wooden posts.
“Why are we stopping?” Anna’s voice sounded from behind him.
Jake turned in time to see Char smile at Anna and place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We are picking up some supplies. Then we’ll be underway again.”
Jake saw disbelief in Anna’s eyes and knew she saw through the Pri
nce’s lies. He was only slightly surprised when she didn’t call him on it. Anna didn’t seem the type to enjoy confrontation and her deep-seeded sweetness wouldn’t allow her to intentionally hurt anyone; even someone who was clearly lying to her.
“I don’t suppose you want to tell me why we’ve docked,” Anna prodded Jake as Char moved away.
“Sorry, Love,” Jake shook his head.
“You know,” Anna’s attempt to keep the frustration from her voice was palpable. “I’m not a child. I don’t need protected from the truth. And, I don’t deserve to be lied to.”
“I’ve never lied to you, Anna.” Jake willed her to see the truth in his statement. “I kept more than my share of secrets, but I never lied.”
“I know,” Anna ducked her head, her voice a whisper of what it had been. “I’m just tired of everyone else making my choices for me.”
“Then, choose to have dinner with me when I return,” Jake suggested.
“Dinner,” Anna repeated shyly.
“Aye, on the beach,” Jake stepped closer until their bodies were a breath apart.
“Alone?” Anna asked.
“Don’t you trust me, Love?” Jake teased.
Anna hesitated at his question, her eyes growing thoughtful as she stared up at him. “I trust you,” her voice was low, but confident.
“Anna,” Jake groaned as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Her trust humbled him and Jake struggled to resist wrapping Anna in his arms and claiming her where they stood. Jake doubted Anna would appreciate a public display.
“How long will you be?” Char’s tone was filled with anxiety and frustration as he interrupted Jake’s heated internal struggle.
“I won’t be long,” Jake promised, watching Anna pull away from him with a telling blush. She moved across the deck to join Sully and a few of his men in conversation, looking back at him briefly before he jumped down to the docks below.
“Haste is appreciated,” Char muttered. “I want to be away from land.”
“By the way, mate,” Jake looked up at the Prince above him. “You’re a terrible liar.”
Char seemed surprised at Jake’s comment before realization dawned. Jake saw the man look back toward Anna, a pained groan forming on his lips. He shouldn’t have taken so much enjoyment from the Prince’s misery, but Jake was grinning as he questioned some of the locals on his informant’s whereabouts. His excursion drew into the afternoon as Jake struggled to find information. It took a few dozen coins and reassurances he wasn’t looking to harm the man before someone finally told Jake where he could find Marrow.
Jake walked the beach to the man’s small shack, finding him sitting on his rickety porch with a metal tumbler of alcohol in his hand. “Captain Reynolds,” Andre’s glassy eyes stared up at him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I need information,” Jake didn’t waste time with bargaining or small talk. He tossed a satchel of coins at the man’s hip, landing it on the porch beside him.
Andre’s eyes widened and sobered as he looked in the bag. “An awful big reward for information I may not have.”
“A woman named Anna in Meridelle,” Jake leaned against the porch railing. “There is someone trying to harm her. I need to know who.”
Andre’s expression grew severe, telling Jake the man knew what he was talking about. “I’m afraid you paid way too much, Reynolds. I don’t have a name for you.”
“Nay, you know something,” Jake stated, confident with his reading of the informant.
“Aye,” Andre nodded slowly. “But, you won’t like it.”
“Tell me,” Jake demanded.
“I don’t know who ordered the hit,” Andre stated. “But, I know where it came from; the Dark Guild.”
“The Dark Guild,” Jake repeated with confusion. “What business is she of theirs?”
“Again, I’ve no idea,” Andre claimed. “All I hear is she’s special somehow. They need her to fulfill some kind of prophecy. But, if anyone asks, you didn’t get this information from me.”
Jake’s hopes of ending the danger posed to Anna died as he took in the information Andre offered. Andre was right; Jake didn’t like what he offered. “Thank you, Marrow.”
“Reynolds,” Andre stopped him as Jake turned away. “Be careful. The Dark Guild has eyes and ears all over the realm; including inside the Prince’s court. You’d be wise to show caution in who you assign your trust.”
“Concern for me, Marrow, how noble of you,” Jake eyed the drunk with some humor.
“What can I say,” Marrow took a gulp of his ale. “You pay well.”
Jake walked back toward the docks, his steps growing faster as Marrow’s words replayed in his mind. Whoever was after Anna reached her inside the walls of Char’s castle; he’d been foolish to believe her safe on his Crimson Jewel. As he reached the docks, a scream wrenched through the air. Jake’s heart thundered as he sprinted to his ship.
Chapter Twelve
The scene on the main deck of the Crimson Jewel was chaotic. The majority of his crew stood with swords in hand, facing down the equally armed royal Guards. By the lack of bloodshed, Jake suspected no blows were shared, but the tension onboard threatened to erupt at any moment. Dane held one of Char’s Guards in a chokehold, the Guard’s face turning a dark shade of red. The remaining Guards shouted for their comrade’s release. Char stood to the side of the mess with a look of shock on his face.
Sully held back behind the other crew, using his wide form to shield Anna from the events the older man feared would come. Jake wanted to take Anna in his arms and ensure she was unharmed, but he denied himself the urge, turning toward his crew instead.
“Easy, mates,” Jake ordered. “Stay your blades.” His men seemed reluctant as they obeyed the command, albeit a bit slowly. The Guards lowered their swords as Jake placed a restraining hand on Dane. “Easy, Dane,” Jake spoke softly.
“He laid hand on Miss Anna,” Dane confirmed Jake’s suspicion. “No man lays hand on her, Captain’s orders.”
“Aye,” Jake confirmed. “That was my order. Now, let’s lock him in the brig until we can sort this out.”
“You’re not locking up our man, release him,” one of the free Guards demanded severely.
“I can’t do that, mate,” Jake’s hand moved to the butt of his blade as the Guard stalked closer, prepared for a fight if the man offered one.
“No,” Char found his voice in time to have his Guard stand down. “We’ll lock him up until we can settle the matter.” The Guards seemed unhappy at their Prince’s order, but they sheathed their blades and stood back.
“Take him to the brig, Dane,” Jake ordered. Dane looked like he was going to argue, but he did as his Captain commanded. The giant carried the traitor down the stairwell, slamming him into the cells on the steerage deck with enough force to be heard from two decks above.
“I’ll question him,” Char offered as he followed Dane’s path to the cells, his Guardians close behind him.
Jake turned to Anna, her eyes full of questions. “What happened?” Jake asked as he stepped closer to her.
“I,” Anna shook her head, her brown eyes dazed. “I’ve no idea. One second I’m sitting with Dane, the next Guardian Maxwell grabs my arm and Dane puts him in a headlock.”
“Then, the men took arms,” Sully added.
“Thank you,” Jake spoke forcefully, his meaning obviously clear to the older man who dipped his head in understanding. Sully could have taken arms with the men, but instead took Anna, shielding her from any events which may have followed. Jake knew it went against the man’s code to abandon his crew for the care of a woman, but Sully did it for him. And, Jake wanted to be sure the man knew how deep his gratitude ran. “I’ll see to the prisoner, make sure the men are settled.”
“Do we shove off?” Sully asked.
“Not yet,” Jake informed; anxious to see what the Guard had to say before setting sail.
Jake moved toward the stairs, halted by
Sully’s meaty hand on his bicep. “Jake,” Sully’s voice was too low for any but his Captain to hear him. “What Anna didn’t see was the blade in the Guard’s other hand. He meant to kill her.”
Jake’s blood chilled at the man’s words. It was no worse than he suspected, as Dane generally wouldn’t react with violence unless warranted, but hearing the words from Sully’s lips was striking. Jake nodded in understanding. He wanted to remain close to Anna, but knew she was safe with the men of his crew. While Jake didn’t trust many, he knew his men and they were loyal. Their swiftness to arms when defending Dane and Anna was proof to their allegiance. With a last look around the deck, Jake disappeared into the bowls of his ship to hear what the traitor had to say.
Several hours later he stormed back to the main deck, frustration dogging his steps. Char excused his Guards so Jake and he could interrogate the traitor in privacy. However, despite the constant interrogation, the man hadn’t so much as opened his mouth.
“He’ll talk,” Char mumbled from behind him, his tone low so not to be heard by the crew.
“Why?” Jake asked, spinning on the Prince to get his point across. “Why would he talk?”
“It will just take some time,” Char’s tone didn’t hold the same confidence it had hours before.
“You go right ahead and keep talking, Mate,” Jake stepped onto the plank leading to the dock.
“Where are you going?” Char shouted after him.
“For a walk,” Jake informed, disappearing down the dock and onto the beach.
Jake needed time away from the tension and frustration on his ship. If he was the Pirate he used to be, Jake would have the answers he wanted hours ago. Jake would have given the traitor a reason to speak. He hadn’t done as he wished, despite his rage over the man’s attempt on Anna’s life. The Guard was Char’s man and it was the Prince’s right to question him.
Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1) Page 11
