Pirate Lord Read online

  Merek lifted a hand lazily, to pull the knife out from over his left shoulder. Lily sent another dagger flying, and he whipped his hand back before it could pierce his palm. The blade clattered to the ground, having bounced off the hilt of the previous knife. He narrowed his eyes at her, “Okay, you’ve got my attention.”

  “How dare you. How dare you threaten them. They are mine.” She continued advancing upon him, storming up the steps of his dais.

  “Rather possessive aren’t you. Fitting coming from a dog.”

  She stopped with her dagger over his heart, piercing his skin. “You crossed the line. You don’t touch a hair on their heads. You hear me?”

  He tilted his head to look up at her, biting his lip. But there was nothing unsure about the look he gave her. “Loud and clear. Have you thought about my offer?”

  The anger increased, it writhed within her like a caged animal, clawing for release. She dug the blade in a little further. Blood trickled down Merek’s chest. “You’re a monster.”

  “Takes one to know one.”

  “Lily. Back down.” Tristan’s voice broke through the red mist.

  She watched as colour flowed back into her knuckles, as she eased up her tight grip on the dagger, and pulled it away from Merek. She didn’t move from her spot on the dais though.

  “Will you swear an oath to me?” Merek’s honeyed words reached her again.

  “I don’t see why I should.”

  He leant his head back against the back of his throne, laughing slightly. “So, what exactly do you plan on doing now? Overthrowing me?”

  “I haven’t decided yet.” She heard Tristan’s sharp intake of breath from behind her, but she didn’t look at him.

  The Pirate Lord smiled, a long lazy smile that would have set Lily’s teeth on edge, were she not wearing exactly the same expression. His honey coloured eyes bored into her. “You look rather bedraggled – I suggest you go and get yourself cleaned up. And then we can all have a little chat and iron out the finer points of this deal of ours.”

  Lily’s fingers tightened around the hilt of her dagger once more, she broke her gaze from Merek only to glare at Eli, who had moved as if to hold her back. She nodded her head slightly. She was still in control, she wasn’t going to do anything too stupid. Merek was still wearing that grin.

  Lily shoved the blade she was holding back in her belt and wrapped her palms around the hilts of her daggers, pulling them out with one sharp tug. Her legs brushed against his knees as she leaned over him. He didn’t move, just sat there smirking at her, drumming his fingers against the arm of the throne.

  “Just so we understand each other.” She swiped her blade across his face, leaving a shallow cut across his cheek. He didn’t flinch. Blood blossomed where her dagger had slashed, pooling at the base of the cut and dripping down onto his collar. “If you kill my family, I will kill you.”

  “I think we’re of much better use to each other alive.” He purred.

  ~

  Lily stormed to her room, Tristan on her heels. Eli had been allowed to return to the town. Her fingers curled into a fist. He’d gods dammed stranded them here. They had no ship, and all the ones moored up at the docks were huge, far too big for the crew of The Shadow to manage. Even if they managed to keep the gate open by bribing a guard they would be slow, too slow to get away in time. Merek had played his hand and she felt like she’d dropped hers too soon. She could only hope there was something up her sleeve. He liked to play, then fine, she’d play. But she’d said nothing about obeying the rules.

  Tristan slammed the door behind himself. “What the hell Lily, why did you say that about taking his throne?”

  She was expecting this, she’d seen his expression. She steeled herself, reluctant to start a shouting match – not now, not after she’d thought she’d lost him once and for all. Lily sat on the edge of the bed, and looked right at him. “He’s afraid of us, we’re a threat to him – I was only acknowledging that fact – it’s nothing he didn’t expect me to say.”

  Her calm tone did nothing, he still shouted. “I told you not to provoke him, have you even tried?”

  Lily felt the anger winning. “I will not bow down to a man like that.”

  “Your refusal to bow to your superior has put all of our lives in jeopardy, the crew, the children, me, you – when will it be enough? He’s already destroyed our ship, our home. If you continue provoking him next time he won’t send warning.”

  She snorted, “You’re blaming me for all of this?”

  “Yes, it’s your fault! He asks you for one thing, your respect, and you can’t even do that!”

  “He is asking for more than that. He wants us to hand over our entire armada to his control. He wants us to be his guard dogs, doing his dirty work for him. I shall not back down.”

  Tristan fell to his knees before her, his voice quieter now. “Lily for the sake of our family, you may have to. I tried to warn you. If Lord Merek doesn’t get what he wants he’ll find a way to get it. He’ll do all in his power, especially now he knows how opposed to the idea you are – you’re a challenge for him.”

  “Good. Let’s keep it that way.” She forced herself to breathe properly. “You know I never realised how much of an angry person I was until I met you.”

  “Seriously? God I’ve missed you.” He grabbed her in an embrace, and kissed her hard.

  Chapter 7

  Laws of the sea

  It had only been a day, but it had felt like a lifetime, especially as she hadn’t bothered to say goodbye. He was sure to remind her how he felt about her, in the bed, on the floor, against the wall, and in the bath. When he left her alone for long enough to change into the dry pair of clothes that the servants had hastily dumped just inside the door he entertained himself by throwing her daggers at the wall – trying to hit the spot where she’d confronted the assassin. He was almost as good as her now. Almost. He didn’t think he’d ever have her eye for throwing blades.

  Tristan flicked his wrist again, releasing the dagger at the exact correct moment, letting it spin wildly until it planted itself into the plaster. Next to her mark, but not quite on it. He grunted, and reached for another.

  Lily appeared from the bathing room. “Ready to face this bastard?”

  Tristan grinned, “Are you?”

  Lily ripped the daggers out of the wall in answer, slipping them back into her belt. She had insisted on him cleaning them up properly before he’d started, as she’d put it, ‘playing with them’.

  He led the way back to the throne room. She didn’t say much for the walk, and he didn’t either, he could tell she was deep in thought, hopefully trying to come up with some solution to whatever mess they were now in. Merek was worse than Tristan had remembered, and he couldn’t shake the anger that had risen when he’d seen the way Merek spoke to his wife, the way he’d looked at her, even with her husband standing behind her. Still, he’d hear him out. Lily seemed as in the dark as he was about what exactly Merek wanted from them, and why he thought blowing up their ship was the best way to achieve it. Tristan would listen to him, and if he still felt like slicing his throat open, then maybe it was time for a new pirate lord. They reached the huge doors to the throne room, and Tristan propped one open for Lily to enter. He caught her hand as she passed, giving it a quick squeeze before letting his arm fall back to his side, and slipping into step beside her.

  Merek was slouched in his throne, boredom emanating from him, as if a short while ago he hadn’t been pinned to the back of the chair with Lily’s daggers. He knew he was back in control again. Tristan hated that. From the expression on Lily’s face she felt much the same. Her lips were a tight line, a muscle in her jaw feathering. Tristan doubted anyone else would notice, but he knew her well enough to see when she was absolutely furious. He’d had that anger directed at himself before. Merek better watch out, Lily was not in the mood to be pushed.

  There were a few guards at the door, but aside from that it was just th
e three of them. Tristan hoped that Eli had found the crew, and told them about The Shadow. To be honest they’d probably all known by the time Eli reached them – the explosions had rung out across the whole Island.

  Tristan had seen the first blast himself, as he strolled down the road back to the inn where the children were sleeping; Chop and Saff, the kestrel, watching over them. Chop had seen Tristan needed a drink, after Lily’s disappearance the previous evening. They’d received no word, he’d been worried, and furious. The kids could tell too, much as he tried not to be short with them. He had been tempted to go to the castle and see what had become of Lily himself – but without an invitation he would not be allowed entrance.

  Etiquette went out of the window the moment The Shadow went up in flames. It was exactly what he should have expected, very much the Pirate Lord’s style, reminding Tristan that he could give, but he could also take away.

  Merek looked at Lily approvingly, hungrily. “Much better.”

  Lily bristled but said nothing about his comment and his leering. She was really trying. His own teeth were gritted tightly together. “Okay, what do you have to say?”

  “I’m afraid we’re still waiting on one more member.”

  She slipped into the room, stopping to the side of Merek’s throne, her hand grazing the twisted wood.

  “You?” She wore a dress that would have been more fitting in a brothel, accentuating her now released curves, which must have taken a hell of a lot of binding to flatten down. Her large almond eyes and red lips made her hard to forget, along with the tattoo along her cheekbone – the twin of Marco and Milo’s marks; the mark of the Westerners.

  “You know her?” Lily asked.

  Tristan nodded. “She was the one who warned us about The Shadow.”

  Merek grinned, “Yes. Roselyn is my little helper. She is my most obedient employee.”

  “She’s the assassin I told you about.” Lily hissed.

  Tristan’s mouth went dry. He had thought she’d looked dangerous, but he hadn’t put two and two together. She hadn’t given a name, or a reason she was on deck. She’d just told them to make sure no one was on The Shadow tonight. She’d seemed so sincere, so petrified, that Tristan had listened. He was glad he did. “Her?”

  “I am here you know.” Roselyn purred, her painted lips twisting, the tattoo on her cheek dancing as she sneered.

  Lily had told him about the assassin who had watched her sleep, had a conversation with her, and then disappeared out of the window. He couldn’t say he knew the name Roselyn, but he had certainly heard the rumours that the Pirate Lord kept some assassins as members of his court. Only the best. If Roselyn was one of these assassins then she was certainly dangerous. If Merek wasn’t a match for Lily then Roselyn might prove to be.

  “Do take a seat Roselyn, you make everyone nervous when you linger like that, I’m sure.” She did so, her bare legs slipping free from a slit in the skirts as she folded them daintily.

  Lily glanced down. “I like your boots.”

  Roselyn said nothing.

  Merek raised his voice. “Are you done?” Lily nodded, though she suspected Merek hadn’t wanted an answer. He glowered at her. “Now then, I have told you what I would request of you – your loyalty to me, and the use of your armada when summoned. But before that you must prove yourselves to me; your rebelling against me has not exactly put you in good graces.”

  “How do we prove ourselves?” Tristan asked, his voice hoarse.

  Lily glanced at him, his face was pale.

  “I currently have a…disagreement with a man of rather high status. His armada prepares to head for us as we speak. I want you to gather your forces, and face him. I will not have him blockade me within my own Island. I plan on sending a force out to greet him. You, and your Pack.”

  “If we don’t?”

  “Then you will both be arrested and tried for your crimes.”

  Lily’s voice rose in outrage, “What crimes? There are no laws on the seas.”

  “There are more powerful things than laws. You have both broken pirate code on more than one occasion. Just your existence, Lily, is an abomination to the rule of the code. There are not supposed to be female pirates, especially as captains.”

  “There have been female pirate captains before me.” She hissed.

  “And they didn’t last long either.”

  Lily adjusted her posture. The flagstones were cold against her bare feet, but she was glad for the discomfort, for the cool stone that kept that rage at bay. “You said crimes, what else have we supposedly done?”

  “Don’t play dumb Lily, it doesn’t suit you. I know very well that Captain Wolf has broken parlay laws more than once. Bringing weapons, killing those protected under parlay guidelines. Unarmed men. Not particularly honourable is it?”

  “So you will grant us a pardon?”

  “Amongst other things; I will give you a new ship, you will both be pardoned for your crimes – as well as given exclusion from the finer points of the code, indefinitely.”

  “Deal.” Tristan spoke before Lily could say a word.

  “I haven’t finished yet. Once you have proven your worth, I shall allow you to leave, and you may do as you please until you receive word from me. But, I also want one more thing. Or, should I say two more things. The twins. Jon and Kris. You shall send them to me when they come of age, and they shall be enrolled in one of the best schools in the land – the Institute of the Assassins.”

  All moisture left her mouth, “What?”

  “Oh they will get the best education, I can assure you of that. Roselyn will tell you. I was her sponsor when she went into training.”

  “You plan to have them trained as assassins?”

  “It is not all about killing people. The schools of the assassins are some of the most highly regarded in the world – they must be clever, they must know about everything and everyone. Once their training is complete they can choose for themselves whether they work for me or seek their fortunes elsewhere.”

  Merek asked for too much. But Lily couldn’t see what else they could do. If they didn’t agree to his terms they would lose the children anyway, potentially lose their lives. But if they did. She couldn’t bear to think about her sons being taken away from her, even if it was to get an education. What would they become under his watch? He could turn them into monsters.

  “Fine.” She could barely get the word out, it tasted like ash in her mouth. She felt Tristan slip his hand into her own and squeeze it, but she didn’t return the gesture. She felt numb, like she had lost them all over again.

  “Don’t look so downcast – I’ll tell you what, I’ll add on a little something else on my end to sweeten the deal. After all, the beginnings of a relationship lie in the exchanging of secrets. Perhaps doing this will help us get on that path.”

  “Stop with the pretty words. We’re done with that.” Lily spat.

  Merek gave a dismissive shrug. “It has its disadvantages you know – not sinking ships, letting them go on their way once you have raided them. Slavers in particular are meticulous about keeping records. You wouldn’t think it of them, but there you go.” His eyes glittered with malice.

  Her eyes widened. “You know who bought me.” Lily breathed.

  He chuckled darkly. “Making a name for yourself, Lily, has it’s pros and its cons – it just so happens that your face has been plastered over posters across the continents, and somebody knew who you were. Somebody who paid a considerable amount for you.”

  “Should it matter to me?”

  “They want you even more now – a lady pirate, a Captain, you’re worth substantially more as that.”

  “If you’re trying to intimidate me then you’ll have to do better than that.”

  “Still don’t believe me – well, let’s see. What was that name – the other girl they purchased? Yyvone, Gina, Giana? Yes that’s right isn’t it, Giana.”

  Her voice went dull, she barely recognised it as he
r own. It felt like her head was underwater. “She is dead, and so is the girl called Lily that they bought all those years ago. If they truly do want to claim me, then they can bloody well try.”

  “The man you are dealing with is not one to share his toys Lily.”

  She gripped her hands into fists and let the anger boil over. “He has no idea of what he is dealing with.” In reality her mind was spinning. Lily had considered what she would do if she ever found out the identity of the man who had claimed to be her master – not really believing there was even a possibility that she’d even find out who he was, and now she was being handed his name on a platter. He was the reason she had been on that ship, the reason Giana had died.

  One thing she was certain of, she would take her time making him pay. “Tell me his name.”

  “I tell you what, I’ll make a deal with you.” Lily rolled her eyes. She was already sick of his ‘deals’. Merek leered at her, as if he could read her mind. “You tell me something I don’t know – and I’ll tell you the identity of the man who bought you.”

  “You think I’ll trust you then?”

  “As I said, perhaps it will start us upon the right path. I will warn you though; you’ll be hard pressed to tell me something I don’t know.”

  Lily pursed her lips, and looked at Tristan. His expression was warning, wary. She thought for a moment, then looked back at the Pirate Lord, taking in the huge octopus displayed on his chest, the tentacle that wrapped around his throat, the colour of his skin, the way his golden hair caught the light, the shape of his face. Her eyes found the Pirate Lord’s once more. Those honey eyes. She cocked her head, “Your son is alive.”

  The way Merek froze told her she’d guessed correctly. She was gratified to see the way he opened his mouth a couple of times before managing to speak. Even Roselyn hissed under her breath.

  “What?”

  Lily repeated herself word for word, louder now, more confident. She stared down Merek as he frowned at her from the throne. Out of the corner of her eye Lily could see Tristan looking at Merek, his eyes widening as he saw what she had seen upon first meeting the Pirate Lord. She grinned cockily at the Pirate Lord. “What do you say to that?”