Gift of Darkness: Book 3 in The Vampire Pirate Saga

by Isadora Brown

  He tried for a warm smile. "I have not yet met anyone worth caring about for such an extended period of time.”

  “Oh,” she said.

  As he turned to read her expression, she moved her head away. He opened his mouth, unsure what he was even going to say, when a loud groan pierced the sky.

  Kelia pointed at an oncoming boat. “We probably need to go.”

  With a bounty on both his head and hers, he certainly agreed.

  "Come," he said, taking a step back. He crossed the narrow dock to where his boat fervently bobbed on the surface of the water. "Let's get back to the ship."

  Kelia made no move to argue, not even to suggest they collect Emma and Daniella first. Odd. She was always the first one with a smart comment, something saucy and slightly infuriating but nevertheless true. It was rare she was this quiet.

  Then again, she certainly had endured a lot this evening without any time to process it all. He couldn’t blame her. And he was thankful she wasn’t arguing, because they didn’t have time to go chasing down the two witches with the incoming ship so close.

  He stepped down into the rowboat, and Kelia quickly followed. From the corner of his eye, he noticed she stiffened as she sat down. Her hands were on the oars, and even through this darkness, his heightened vision picked up how white her knuckles were.

  He took his seat behind her, pushed the boat away from the dock, and grasped the second set of oars. Though he could row this boat by himself with minimal effort, he decided to row at Kelia's leisurely pace instead. So long as they were out of the bay before the other boat arrived, he didn’t mind. He enjoyed this time with her, enjoyed the flash of flesh that peeked from her tunic, exposing her throat.

  More hair loosened from her braid, and he let go of one oar, ready to place his hand on her shoulder to offer some comfort. But he stopped before he could touch her.

  Who was he to offer comfort when his own selfishness had gotten her in this predicament in the first place?

  His hand slapped his thigh. She tilted her head, as though she was trying to see what he was doing, before straightening and looking forward.

  "You all right?" she asked, pulling on the oars.

  He picked up the oars to help.

  "I'm Drew Knight, princess," he said, conjuring up as much arrogance in this phrase as he could. "What sort of question is that?"

  Simply by the way her shoulders hunched forward, Drew knew she was rolling her eyes.

  "You know," he said, "for someone who used to be quite good at behaving as a Slayer, you constantly disrespect your captain. My crew would be thoroughly punished if they exhibited such behavior."

  "Oh?" She tilted her head, and he imagined that she was arching that left eyebrow. "And how would you dole out this punishment, Captain?"

  His mouth went dry, like he was some sort of foolish boy clamoring for the attention of a desirable woman. And yet, the way her voice lowered, the way it slithered down his spine, only enhanced the goosebumps and caused his heart—whatever was left of it—to palpitate.

  "Perhaps you need more time to consider the question?" She chuckled, her back arching as she rowed the boat farther into the ocean. She did not seem affected by the sea at all. Or, at least, she was not showing if her nausea was causing her any trepidation. "How disappointing. And here I assumed you were thoroughly experienced in the matter of... punishment."

  "Let me tell you, darling," Drew said quickly, forgetting he was all right with slow rowing and kicking his strength into gear, "I am well-versed in punishment to the point where I would punish you so well, you would beg me to do it again."

  Kelia looked over her shoulder, and this time, she locked eyes with him. Something passed between them, something deep but meaningful. Something more.

  Something that had her cheeks flushed redder than he’d ever seen them.

  At that moment, the boat hit the ship. They had reached the Wraith.

  Kelia blinked, dropping the oars, and then stood slowly. Drew cursed under his breath. Whatever that moment had been, it was gone now. Vanished, like his breath dissipating into the air on a cold, bitter night.

  "Ladies first," Drew said as he stood, steadying the ship.

  Kelia walked over to him, one hand on her blade, as though it was her anchor, something to root her in the moment, before releasing it so she could climb up the ladder. Drew followed up as one of his crew began to pull up the boat.

  By the time he was firmly back on the ship, Kelia was already heading across the deck portside. The moon was large, full and round, emitting a pale glow that only emphasized the shining stars.

  "Do things like this still catch you off-guard?" Kelia murmured as she learned her forearms on the side and gazed up at the sky. "Or are you so used to the stars and the moon that it doesn't affect you anymore?"

  "That's a silly question," he chided lightly, coming up next to her. He wanted to be closer to her, but he didn’t want to push it, didn’t want to overwhelm her. "When something is truly beautiful, it is never something that remains the same. The moon is full every cycle, but even she is different each time. Just like the ocean. The ocean is never the same every second of every day of every week of every month of every year. True beauty is timeless because it’s always changing. Or, perhaps, the change comes from me. Perhaps I am changing so the way I view beauty changes as well."

  Kelia gave him a long look before she smiled and glanced away.

  "Very pretty words, captain," she said.

  "Darling," Drew said, turning toward her and resting his elbow on the side of the ship. "If it's just the two of us, you can call me whatever you like. Captain, lover..."

  Her mouth dropped open, and he leaned forward, overwhelming her be damned.

  "Call me whatever you want, and I'll gladly respond," he whispered.

  She shuddered under his gaze, and he reflexively licked the bottom of his lip before he’d realized what he’d done. Her eyes widened, and she followed his tongue with her penetrating gaze.

  She opened her mouth, and Drew was ready for whatever she would say next. Something was going to change. He could feel it in his bones.

  "Captain!" a voice called from behind him.

  Drew curled his fingers into tight fists, dropping his arm that rested on the ship back down to his side. He whirled his head at his crew member, not bothering to hide his frustration.

  "What?" he snapped.

  "The boat is secured," Bryson replied. He did not seem to realize how annoyed his captain was. "May I take my leave?"

  "Aye," Drew growled. Ten minutes ago!

  When he turned back to finish his tantalizing conversation with Kelia, she had already descended belowdeck.

  Chapter 13

  It was impossible for Kelia to sleep that night despite the fact it was already late when she and Drew returned to the ship. Not when she had the feeling her mother was still alive with the Sirens.

  But how? Could they transform others into what they were, like Shadows could? Was her mother a Siren now?

  The thought stayed with her as she stared up at the ceiling of her room. With the moon's glow casting a strange light, things seemed coated in odd auras that appeared more ominous than comforting.

  When minutes turned into hours, and Kelia was still the only being in the room, she began to grow concerned.

  Had Christopher and Wendy rented a small boat for the night so they could be alone and sleep in the same room together? They were engaged, after all, and there was no extra space for them here.

  It was doubtful Emma and Daniella were still shopping, though. All they had needed was ingredients. Aside from that, why else did they need to be on the island?

  Maybe they were already back. On the ship but in a different room. Daniella was known to prowl around in middle of the night for a midnight snack. Kelia wouldn’t be surprised if, this time, she dragged Emma along to the galley.

  Kelia pressed her lips together and rolled onto her side, pulling the scratchy blank
et up to wrap over her body. Truth be told, she was not awake because she was waiting for her roommates to return. She was not awake because the silence was too loud or because the shadows that filled her room, even with the full moon, caused her to shift with discomfort. She was not even concerned with her mother being alive—though that was something she attempted to distract herself with and failed.

  The reason Kelia could not sleep was because she could not stop thinking about Drew Knight.

  She let out a breath and rocked to her back, staring at the ceiling once again. He had been too close to her tonight. She could smell the salt and the clover on him, could see the irises of his dark eyes. His cheekbones were crisp, and she longed to run her fingers across them just to see if they were as sharp as they appeared.

  This was not good. She couldn’t continue to stare at Drew Knight like she had not eaten for days and he was a slab of meat. If he noticed that, her actions would only feed his astronomical ego. But also, she didn’t want to be that girl who found herself attracted to a pretty man.

  Drew Knight is much more than pretty, her inner voice pointed out.

  Her hair hit her face as she shook her head. She was not that person. She did not care about such trivialities as love and feelings and charm and attractiveness. And yet, here she was, unable to sleep—unable to even contemplate the fact that her mother could very well be alive—because she was too wrapped up in him. She growled to herself and sat up, running her fingers through her wavy hair.

  They had almost kissed again if that Sea Shadow had not interrupted them...

  The problem was, she wanted to kiss him. She still did.

  What if next time, when she had the chance, she allowed herself to indulge in her desire? What if it into something more than kissing? Because there evenings when she envisioned Drews' hands on her body, discovering her in a way she could never discover herself. She envisioned the way his eyes sometimes darkened when they watched her. The way his lips might kiss other parts of her body that were not her lips. Her body ached when she had these traitorous thoughts, and she was suddenly disappointed that Jennifer was not here with her, to help her sort out this mess.

  At the thought of her old friend, Kelia released a sigh. Her fingers stopped running through her hair and she could not help but allow a twinge of sadness to creep into her thoughts, even though she had been so angry for the longest time since their encounter on Port George. Jennifer had been her friend, had helped her, and now...

  Kelia stood, tossing her hair over her shoulder. She was getting a headache thinking about all of these things. She needed fresh air. She needed to quiet her mind.

  As she ascended the stairway, the stairs groaned under her weight. She paused, hoping she had not awoken anyone.

  Truth be told, she expected the witches to still be out, enjoying the island and all it had to offer while they still could. She didn’t know much about Drew's crew; for some reason, Drew preferred to isolate them as much as possible. Kelia had never found the time to ask him if this was for the benefit of the crew.

  As the colder-than-expected night air chilled her face and hands, she rubbed her arms and then leaned against portside. The bright stars, like jewels in the sky, cast big reflections on the ocean, and the moon was solid and warm, like a mother reaching for her child.

  Kelia arched her back and shifted her weight to her right hip. The island was barely visible from where she stood. Drew had ensured his ship was blocked by any casual observer, looking out from the docks. His ship was his safe haven. Even if his presence was located on the island, he still had his ship to return to. He still had a place to retreat.

  Her eyes happened to glance over at the lone quarters on the deck of the ship rather than placed below it. There were no windows; Kelia couldn’t make out if there was a possibility of Drew being awake at all. Not that it mattered. It wasn’t as though she would walk over there, knock on his door, and be angry with him simply because he would not leave her mind.

  The water lapped gently against the ship, a soothing sound that relaxed her nerves. There was a heavy drop at starboard. Perhaps another Shadow placing a boat in the water to enjoy the island while he could? Kelia glanced up to the black sky. The glow from the moon was getting dim. She was not entirely sure if that was because morning was close by or if it was something else entirely.

  "Do you not feel that there's a particular chill in the air, Ms. Starling?"

  Kelia whirled around so quickly, she nearly lost her balance and slipped on the deck. Thankfully, she managed to grab the side of the ship in order to keep herself steady.

  It was the Shadow from before—the one who had interrupted Drew and Kelia earlier that evening.

  "Oh. Um, yes, yes, I do."

  Odd. Shadows never spoke directly to her. They were probably curious, if a little unsettled, with a human and a few witches walking around. Maybe this was part of Drew isolating them. At any rate, it took her off guard.

  The Shadow stepped closer, tall with olive-colored skin and dark hair cut short, like Drew's. He was exceptionally broad and well-built, with dark eyes and a strong jaw. While there was an air of casualness and charm that surrounded Drew, this Shadow seemed quiet and pensive.

  Is there a reason you compare every new man you encounter to Drew Knight? the same inner voice from earlier asked. She grimaced at the intruding thought and tried to offer a smile to the crew member.

  "Would you like my coat?" he asked.

  Kelia’s face burned, and it dawned on her that Shadows could see exceptionally well even through the darkness, so he could probably see her blush as surely as she felt it.

  Quickly, she pushed away from the portside. "Um, I was just going.”

  "I do apologize." The Shadow's voice was low and alluring, something sensual about the way he spoke.

  Kelia did not feel at ease, however. Instead, she felt as though thousands of needles were pricking her skin, and she was not sure if this Shadow was someone to avoid or someone to get to know more thoroughly.

  "I know we have not ever spoken and you have been on this ship for months,” he continued. “My name is Casey Stepford, and I am—was, I should say—a left-tenant with the East India Company. They brought me to the Queen after I stumbled on their secret.”

  Kelia had been ready to take her leave, but this made her pause. “Their secret?”

  “Who they were working for,” the Shadow said. “How the Society was created for the Queen and the Shadows, rather than against them by the East India Company. Instead of killing me, she had one of her Shadows turn me, hoped I could be of some use, but I was weak. I was abandoned shortly after that. So I left the island and made my way here." He nodded to the island in question. "Where I met Drew Knight."

  Kelia swallowed. Why was he sharing this information with her? Her entire body felt like ash, numb, nothingness that could blow around in the wind. This was the most he had ever spoken to her—the most any of the Sea Shadows on board had ever spoken to her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Part of her was glad to be speaking to someone that wasn't solely magical or a captain, but another part of her was suspicious. After everything she had been through, she did not feel as though she could simply trust someone.

  "I am speaking too much," he said with a slight shake of his head.

  Kelia smiled despite herself.

  He took on a rather adorable look as if embarrassed. He slowly removed his overcoat and handed it to her.

  "My jacket,” he said.

  Kelia didn’t have time to ponder if she should take it or not. She didn’t want to be rude. As such, she took the offered jacket and slid it on. It drowned her body and did not offer the warmth it might have if someone alive who was not a Sea Shadow had been wearing it. She gripped the edges of her sleeves with the tips of her fingers, taking in a breath, unable to stop herself from wondering if she would feel differently had this been Drew's jacket.

  "There you are." He stepped back.

  Kelia loo
ked up at him, at his face. There was something genuine about him, something that made it easy to like him. She didn’t know if it was part of his allure as a Sea Shadow or something that simply came naturally to him.

  "I say, it is rather big on you.” His gaze ran up and down her frame. There was nothing lecherous about the look, though. "Hopefully it does a proper job at keeping you warm, miss."

  The Shadow took a step back, probably ready to retreat. Though dawn had not yet announced its appearance, Kelia knew light would hit the horizon soon, and even though Shadows were safe from light as long as they were at sea, she wondered if perhaps this particular Shadow was ready for sleep.

  "Kelia." The word came out like a croak, like she had not spoken in hours and her throat was both dry and raw.

  "I'm sorry?" He turned back around and took a step toward her, now closer to her than he had been before. Nothing untoward; rather, there was a space that was roughly an arm's length between them. It did feel too close, however.

  "Kelia," she repeated. "My name. I'm sure you know my name, but you may address me as Kelia if you wish."

  She felt uncomfortable as she spoke, shifting her weight from side to side. She was unable to make eye contact with him until she finished her sentence. Her heart skipped a beat. He was so incredibly striking that it was difficult to form sentences around him.

  "Kelia," he said with a smile. "It is lovely to finally meet you. I must apologize that it was not sooner. Our captain insisted that we did not even look at you if we wanted to keep our lives, but I felt now was a good moment to offer you a kind word." There was a chuckle, but Kelia could not decipher if it was truly amused or if the Shadow was being polite. "He is very protective, especially over you, Kelia. You should regard it as the highest compliment. Drew Knight is not the sort to be protective, to care about others, especially humans."

  Kelia buried herself deeper into the jacket and inhaled slowly. Subtle hints of smoke, the ocean, and something metallic—blood, maybe?—filled her senses. It was not an entirely pleasant scent, and she gripped the side of the ship in hopes that it would settle her stomach.