Pirate Lord Read online

  “Then I hope I plague your dreams tonight, and however far we go in your head, just remember I am Tristan’s, I will never be yours. No matter how well you think we are matched.”

  “You don’t agree we are one and the same?”

  “You’re reckless, so am I. But I’m like that because I have something to protect, something to fight for. I let myself fight, for them. But you, you’re just doing this for power, there isn’t anyone in your life that you have a reason to fight for. Maybe that’s why you stay here and let others fight for you, because in the end, you know you don’t have it in you. Even your own son doesn’t want to be with you.”

  Merek’s expression shut down, and Lily was surprised when rather than jumping up from his throne to attack her, he nodded to the door. A clear order to leave. She bit her lip, and decided it would be wiser to do so than continue this line of conversation. The glint in Merek’s eye was a warning, he was holding himself back right now, trying to stop himself from killing her.

  ~

  She’d felt the swelling come up as she left the castle. The cool wind bit at the tender skin. No doubt it would bruise, if it wasn’t already. Lily sighed and climbed up the gangplank.

  “What’s that?”

  She cursed internally. Trust Tristan to be hanging around on deck before she’d had a chance to get to her cabin and see the extent of the damage. She was pretty sure some of Roselyn’s makeup was still around somewhere, she’d planned to find it and cover up the worst of the damage. He’d flip if he knew where she’d really gone. “I tripped.”

  “Well I’m not surprised with those bloody shoes you wear.”

  “What do you have against the heels? I can fight perfectly well in them and you know it.”

  “They’re…distracting.”

  Lily smiled, they were already off topic. “So just because you find the sight of me in them arousing I’m expected to alter my wardrobe?”

  “It would be nice if you considered me.”

  “Well I’ll bear that in mind next time I visit Mrs Beets. Any other points I should consider, would it be better if I just wore nothing at all?” She purred. It was worth it for the look that appeared on his face, that cocky grin, hungry, wanting.

  “Don’t tempt me.”

  She draped her arms over his shoulders, Tristan immediately responding by digging his fingers into her hips. She tried her best to ignore the reaction her body had to his touch. Tristan wasn’t asking about her bruise anymore, so that hurdle at least had been leapt. Still, he was rather distracting, “If you hate the sight of these boots all that much then why don’t you help me out of them.”

  “Oh no, I’d much rather you left them on.”

  “Ugh just go have a quickie in the store room would you – I’m sick of listening to you. Honestly, you both have the sex drive of teenagers.”

  “Don’t worry Roselyn, we’re just teasing.” Lily had already spotted her lingering in the background. Roselyn was here for a reason, like Merek she had the habit of doing everything with purpose.

  “Are we?”

  Lily’s lip twitched even as she released that warning tone, “Tristan.”

  He narrowed his eyes, but Lily merely shrugged by way of an apology, snaking her arms back from his shoulders, and pulling out of his reach.

  “Why can’t Roselyn leave? Better yet, you’re welcome to join us.” He broke out into a laugh, unable to keep up his serious face.

  Roselyn opened her mouth for a cutting retort, but Lily beat her to it. “Go jump overboard.”

  “Seriously?” Tristan pouted, but Lily knew he wasn’t really annoyed.

  “What are you doing here anyway Roselyn? I wasn’t expecting to see you.”

  “She wanted to speak to you, I told her you were busy but she insisted on waiting. Honestly, it’s almost as if she didn’t believe me.” He rolled his eyes.

  Lily nodded, she had thought so. “Girl talk, off with you.”

  “Ugh, I’m starting to realise why we haven’t had women on board for you to play with.” He continued muttering, shoving his hands in his pockets and ambling off in that aloof way he had, when he was told to do something he didn’t want to do, but did it nonetheless. Lily was the only person who he walked away from like that. With everyone else he managed, somehow, to get his own way.

  She nodded in the direction of the cabin, and Roselyn followed without a word. Lily flopped into a chair, resting her feet on the meet table, her fingers curling around the arms of the chair. “Complete privacy. Tell me what you need to tell me.”

  “How did you know I wanted to talk alone?”

  “Female intuition?”

  “Won’t he be pissed off?”

  “Probably. But he’s always pissed off about something or other. What do you want?”

  Roselyn wandered over to the dresser, fingering the handles of the cabinet. She opened her mouth once, then closed it with a sigh, and made to head back for the door. “It’s okay, it doesn’t matter.”

  “Roselyn, stop deflecting. I’m not your enemy. If you want to talk to me then talk. If I can help you then I will. I told you, I want to be your friend. However far you take that trust is up to you.”

  Roselyn froze, her hand halfway to the door. “Do you trust me?”

  “I’d like to think I can.”

  “Even after what I did?”

  Lily shrugged, “We spoke about that.” She dragged her feet back off the table, and propped her elbows on it instead. “Talk.”

  “I went to see Merek.”

  “So did I.” Lily rubbed at her sore eye, it hurt to blink. “I’d rather you hadn’t told him about my scars.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve never been able to keep things from him.”

  Lily cringed. She’d have to get Chop to make her some sort of balm. Even without a mirror she knew her brow was swelling. “He does have that ability to draw things out that we’d rather not reveal doesn’t he.”She reached for the rum bottle perched on the counter, pressed it to her forehead. The glass was at least cooler than the heat coming from her brow.

  “He does it to you too?”

  Lily sighed quietly, “I think he does it to everyone. It doesn’t make you weak Roselyn.”

  “Still, I am sorry.”

  “Get to your point, this isn’t what you came to tell me.” She nodded at the chair beside her.

  Roselyn came to stand beside it, but did not sit down. Her hands clutched the upholstered back, her knuckles going white. She hadn’t met Lily’s gaze once, and it had not gone unnoticed. “Well, you know I am free now – my debts paid off that is. I am no longer tied to Merek’s side.”

  “He’s told you as much?”

  “He confirmed that my payments are complete.”

  “I’d get that in writing if I was you.” Lily adjusted the bottle against her bruise, “But has he told you that you are free to leave?” She knew Merek well enough to know that he spoke like a snake. You had to read into every single thing he said, make sure that there were no loopholes whatsoever. Hopefully Roselyn realised this as well, she’d spent enough time with the man – but then, she had fallen for him. Perhaps his faults were not as obvious to her.

  “I don’t think it’s even crossed his mind that I want to.”

  “And what do you want Roselyn? What do you really want to do right now?”

  Roselyn finally looked up. They just stared at each other for a moment.

  “Why do you want to be friends with me Lily?”

  “Because I know about loneliness. I didn’t really have any friends growing up, everyone was afraid of me. It was the same for you, wasn’t it? More powerful than you seemed, more dangerous. It makes them wary, and makes you wary of them. You think anyone who gets close can’t see what you are, that they’ll be in danger, that it’s better to just be alone. But there are people who can accept it. I found a whole pirate crew. They accept me, and they forgive me for my imperfections. You and I, we’re both human, we make mistakes, an
d we get backed into situations we can’t avoid.”

  “I shouldn’t have come here. I’m sorry. For everything.” Roselyn stormed out of the door before Lily could move.

  She sucked at her cheek and let out a small laugh. She’d been expecting as much. Lily pulled off her boots, and padded barefoot over to the cabinet where the rum was stored. She should put a cloth over her bruise, but right now, she needed a drink.

  The bottle of rum was considerably emptier when Tristan shouldered open the door. Lily met his eye and nodded to the booze. With a sigh Tristan accepted the invitation, dragging the bottle over to himself and drinking straight from it.

  “I want to kill him.” She stood up suddenly, pacing across the room.

  “I know.” Tristan took another swig of the rum.

  “We’ll make it look like an accident. Nobody has to know. I can swipe one of Roselyn’s blades, he can die in his sleep. It doesn’t have to be messy.” She was thinking aloud, her hands moving wildly as she spoke.

  He smiled, “You had me at we’ll make it look like an accident.” He stood up, catching at her hand and bringing her to a halt. “But Lily,”

  She nodded, “I know.” They couldn’t.

  He brushed his thumb gently over the swelling on her forehead. The sensitive skin tingled at his touch, “I know he did this to you. Maybe we’d be better off letting him win, at least for now. Acting rashly won’t do anything to help our situation right now.” Letting her hand go, Tristan sank back into his chair.

  “What if I can’t hold back?” she whispered.

  “Then we’ll deal with it. But we’ll set that firmly aside as plan B.” He hooked his foot around the back of her leg, pulling her towards him, “For now, how about I help you ease at least a few of your frustrations.”

  “Do you ever think about anything else?”

  Tristan paused for a moment, as if considering deeply, “I’m not that narrow minded Lil.”

  “I respectfully disagree.” He chuckled, but she remained serious. “Tristan, if all of this does go wrong. If I kill him. I think it would be best if you and me disappear for a while. Just the two of us. The children will be safer that way, everyone will be safer. If you told me to run, I’d do it. As long as you were beside me, I’d go to the ends of the earth.”

  His breath caught in his throat. He couldn’t quite bring words to the forefront of his mind, so instead he pulled her into his lap, his hand slipping into her hair as he kissed her.

  Chapter 20

  The contract

  Chop’s balm had worked a treat, there was no swelling anymore, and no pain, although her forehead and her right eye were both black with bruising. Lily didn’t bother to try to conceal it, Merek knew he’d injured her, and Tristan knew she’d lied about falling. She was used to being wounded, used to bruises, blood, scrapes, and so were the crew. No one looked at her twice when she strode out of the meet room, albeit she tilted her hat a little lower than usual to shadow the damage. Jon and Kris flanked her, daggers strapped to their waists. Lily wasn’t taking any chances. Merek was coming on their ship, and she wanted her children to be able to defend themselves if he was stupid enough to start a fight. Irena was beside her father, already waiting at the top of the gangway, glaring down at the people below. The Pirate Lord and his lapdog were yet to show, though it had only just turned midday. No doubt he was one of the types who thought there was such a thing as being fashionably late.

  Lily took up her spot at Tristan’s side, her hands resting on her sons’ shoulders. They did not shrug her off, they seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation. The crew were quieter than normal, all of them out on deck. No one had stayed below, not today, not for this. Though she would not sign this contract in their view. She would not let them watch when she and Tristan made their marks on the parchment. She gripped the twins a little tighter, only faintly aware that she was doing so.

  “He’s here.” Chop’s deep voice snapped her out of whatever pit she’d been spiralling towards.

  She had to get a hold of herself. Lily set her jaw, and glanced at Tristan. His stern expression mirrored her own. All eyes focused on the man ascending the gangplank.

  He had dressed up for the occasion, for once the tattooed octopus that sprawled on his chest covered by a shirt, though he was still scruffier than Lily felt a lord should be. Everything he wore was good quality, but aged and ruined with creases, as if he’d slept in the clothes he was wearing. Today his coat was black, a colour so dark it seemed to take in the light around it. The fabric shimmered like oil, in the places where it was not scuffed with dust from the road. He’d walked here then. He tipped his hat to them as he stopped, the toes of his shoes grazing the first planks of Hunter. Lily fought back the urge to push him back, to force him away from her ship. Merek tilted his head and grinned at her, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. She gritted her teeth and made herself let go of her children. They didn’t move from their place beside her.

  Roselyn stood just to the side of Merek, a step behind him. She didn’t look at any of the crew, but had fixed her gaze on a point somewhere above everyone’s heads. She radiated that cocky easiness that Lily knew only served as a mask. It was nothing more than make up.

  Lily’s eyes darted back to Merek as he cleared his throat. “Would you like us to disarm ourselves?”

  “Don’t bother, I know Roselyn can kill us with her bare hands, if she wanted to.”

  Merek sneered, throwing an approving glance back at his assassin. “True.”

  Lily took note that Roselyn ignored her master’s attention, keeping her gaze on nothing. “Besides, I’ll certainly remain armed.” She treated him to her most disturbing smile, which he completely ignored.

  He nodded, his honey coloured eyes flashing. Merek took a step, and he was on their ship. Lily felt like he’d brushed his finger down her spine. It was not a pleasant sensation. She ignored the goosebumps that rose on her arms.

  “These must be your children.”

  “Jon, Kris, and Irena.” Tristan nodded to each of them in turn. Lily didn’t trust herself to speak.

  “Precious.” His expression conveyed that he thought them anything but. The children eyed him with the same distrust tinged with disgust. Lily felt a spark of pride.

  Tristan gestured to the deck, bidding Merek and Roselyn welcome, although they weren’t. “We can sign the contract in the meet room.” He hesitated for a second to make sure Merek made to follow him, then headed for the captain’s quarters.

  Lily nodded at the twins, who nodded back, once. They didn’t make to follow their parents. They had all agreed, everyone would greet the Pirate Lord, but of their crew only Tristan and Lily were to enter the meet room with him. The twins and Irena were to stay on deck with the rest of the crew. Even Irena didn’t move a step, though she stared after them with great interest. Lily tore her gaze away from those dark eyes, instead fixing her attention on Tristan’s back.

  A shadow fell over her as Merek slipped into step beside her. “Ironic isn’t it, a Pirate Lord who hasn’t raided in thirty years.” He looked about the ship, breathed in the air, “It sure brings back memories.”

  Lily didn’t bother to hold back her tongue. “We’ve already determined that you prefer for other people to fight your battles.”

  “Still sore about my Roselyn’s deceit? Yes she told me you weren’t too happy that she didn’t tell you about that part of my plan.”

  “I’ll get over it.” He was still scanning the crew, dragging his feet as they followed Captain Wolf.

  Lily realised who he was looking for. “He’s not here. He went into town.” Jim hadn’t wanted to be there anyway, and Lily thought it better if he wasn’t. He hadn’t told any of the crew who he was, and had asked Lily and Tristan to do the same. To see him and Merek next to each other wouldn’t fail to raise suspicions, it was obvious they were related.

  “Fine.” His honey eyes lingered upon her.

  Lily ignored him,
though she felt the weight of his gaze, and kicked her heel back against the door that Tristan had held open for her. Merek filed in, followed by Roselyn, who glanced at Lily for a moment. She was hardly surprised the lapdog hadn’t left his side for an instant, nor had given any mark of acknowledgement for the weeks she had spent amongst those gathered outside. Eli hadn’t shown himself. But she could understand why. Lily let the door swing shut behind her, and clicked the lock into place.

  ~

  It was all there. Somehow seeing it in writing was worse, more solid. They would be pardoned for their crimes, and in return Jon and Kris would be sent to him when they were ten years old. From then on they would be trained at the institute of the assassins, and after their training was complete they would be free to go, or work for Merek. Lily suspected it wouldn’t be as clear cut as that – that Merek would find a way to twist it, so that they would be his, as Roselyn was. He’d likely make them repay him for every penny of their education before he’d deem that ‘their training was complete’. But there was little she could do; he’d written that they’d get a choice, she couldn’t ask for any more from him, and she couldn’t afford to push it right now. She still had to ask for her favour.

  Lily could only hope that when the time came this piece of paper would be enough to gain her sons freedom once more. She’d pay their education debts herself if she had to, rather than see her sons in Merek’s hands. As for Lily and Tristan, they were to be at Merek’s beck and call, free to do whatever they wanted until he called upon them. And then they were required to do whatever was requested of them.

  From this point onwards they fell under his protection, and by way of that, his order. Hunter and the Pack belonged to the Pirate Lord. There was no mention of Irena, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Lily.

  “What about Irena?”

  Merek’s eyes darted up to her. “What about her?”

  They were all arranged around the meet table, Lily and Tristan side-by-side, Merek sat across from them. Roselyn stood by the door, leaning casually against the wall. Her hands were behind her back, her shoulders a little tighter than usual, the only thing that gave away that she was not as at ease as she looked. The sun was bright and warm against Lily’s back. It seeped through her black shirt, heating her skin. It was comforting more than anything. Any other time she’d have happily stretched out in it and enjoyed the feeling. Tristan had teased her about it more than once; how she’d find pools of sunlight to bask in, like a cat or a lizard. Lizard had been a step too far for her, she hadn’t gone easy on him the next time they’d sparred. But now was not the time. Lily dragged herself kicking and screaming back to their current situation, back to the piece of paper before her. Merek was still watching her, one of his eyebrows cocked.