Ginna pulls me into a hug, and I realize again how terrible of a friend I was when I can’t remember the last time this happened.
“And look.” She releases me from the embrace, one hand still on my shoulder, and stares toward the path Elia took. “I am happy for you and Elia. Honestly. I’m glad you’ve moved on from Rafe, and I like her a lot.”
“I’m waiting for the ‘but’,” I state pointedly.
Ginna glares at me. “But, I want to make sure you’re being honest with her.”
“I am honest with her.” Her expression says otherwise. “Honestly!” The back of my neck is warm, and I try to hide my fidgeting hands behind my back.
“Omitting information is the same as lying, Cal. I get the sense that she doesn’t really knowyou,or what you do, or did.”
“I’m a Hunter.” I hurriedly rush to finish. “And that’s the truth.”
Ginna makes an exasperated sound. “It’satruth. But –”
A loud thud cuts Ginna off, and the planks under our feet vibrate, jostling us.
“What was that?” I ask at the exact same time I hear someone in the crew yell.
“PIRATES! WE’RE BEING ATTACKED!”
And all hell breaks loose.
Ginna immediately draws her sword, racing to the opposite side where the noise came from. I don’t have time to return to my room for my own sword, and I swear under my breath. Ginna was right – I should have been in uniform.
I doubt she’ll ever let me live this down now.
I remove my dagger from its holster and dig my small knife out from the inside of my boot. They’re both small, but better than nothing.
Another explosion rocks the boat, and I scan the deck, searching for the dark brown hair and a flash of rainbow eyes.
“ELIA!” I shout through the rising smoke, weaving my way through the chaos on deck.
I find the first mate and grab him by the shoulders roughly. “What’s happening?”
There’s blood on the side of his head from a nasty blow. “Pirates are boarding from the bow, sir. They’ve thrown two explosives so far.”
I scan the seas to find their home base, but the fog is thick, and I can’t see more than twenty feet. They’ve chosen the perfect time to attack.
“Where are they coming from?”
“Captain said starboard side, sir.”
“Okay, keep the ship headed in the opposite direction. We don’t want to be in range for cannons.”
He nods. “And the ones in the small boat boarding?” A yell comes from the direction Ginna had headed, and I assume they’ve breached our deck already.
“I’ll take care of them.”
I sprint to catch up with Ginna, trying to catch a glimpse of Elia on the way. Panic creeps into me, but I will myself to remain steady. Elia said she was going to help the quartermaster, which is floors below. I have to assume she’s safe. My first job is to clear the ship of these damned pirates.
The sound of steel clashing and the smell of copper greets me as I reach the front of the ship. Ginna is fighting with a burly man, at least a foot taller than her in height and width. I take a quick survey. There’s three bloodied bodies lying motionless on deck, and five pirates approaching. Six in total counting the one Ginna’s currently attacking.
The only good sign is that I don’t see Elia amongst the battle.
I take half a second for myself to close my eyes and breathe. I tug on the other side of myself, the one I try to bury deep. When I open them, all my ruthless training is at the foreground of my mind and body. My vision is red.
Hurt.
