Skylights and Smee turn some heavy-looking cranks as the biggest sail on the ship rises and begins to catch the wind.
“Shove!” Hook cries.
The crew all grunt with effort as they push against the hull.
“One more good one, lads! On my count!”
Hook loops his arm around my waist, the pine tar and ocean scent of him enveloping me. He pulls me tightly to his side as he barks out a countdown. Flicking his gaze to the wind filling the mainsail, he barks out. “Shove!”
This time, the crew groans even louder as they push the Jolly Roger from the shore. I can feel the moment the ship leaves land, the entire thing taking on a buoyancy you’d never notice unless you’d felt it rooted to the sand only moments before.
“Get to swimming!” he calls.
A whoop goes up from the crew as they all splash toward the Jolly Roger.
“The seals are holding, Cap’n,” Cookson calls from below. “Bilge is pumping.”
Sailors hop over the side and onto the deck from where they’ve climbed the rope ladders. Before long, the entire ship is humming again as if it was never beached at all.
Anne climbs onto the deck, her sharp gaze raking the ship.
“You made her help?” I ask.
“Might as well get some use out of her before I put her to the sword.” Hook shrugs.
“You still want to kill her?”
“Aye, lass. She threatened you. I know you don’t want any more killing, but having her on the ship is a risk. She could be a danger to you. I’ll not allow it.” He reaches for his cutlass. “I’ll do it rightnow, and I’ll even make it quick if that’s what you want.” His tone makes it clear that quick isnotwhat he wants.
“No.” I put my hand over his. “Not necessary.”
He looks down at me, those blue eyes like my own personal ocean. “This is who I am, Moira. I will strike down anyone who even thinks to harm you. There’s no other way for me. I’ll do it with a smile on my face, lass. And I’ll keep doing it until all your enemies’ heads are stacked at your feet.”
I can’t with this man. He’s utterly brutal, but worse than that—he’s absolutely devoted. To me. I put my hand to his chest over his heart. It beats strong and fearless. “Let her live, all right?”
His eyes start to narrow.
“For now,” I add quickly. “For now. She might come in handy or something. Might be useful to me. Okay?”
He sighs and lets go of the hilt of his sword. “Only because you asked, lass. Though I’m going to be expecting something in return to slake my bloodlust.” He lets his gaze rake down my body.
I press my thighs together when a tingle ignites between them.
“Once the Spinner heals you, lass.” He makes a deep growl in his chest. “I’m going to eat you alive and leave nothing for seconds.”
Hot. Fucking. Flash.
He turns his head. “Bill, escort Anne to the brig. Feel free to kick her in the ribs after you throw her in, then lock her cage and forget about her.”
“Aye, Captain!” He takes her by the arm and drags her away, but not before she sneers at Hook and swipes her hand beneath her chin in a ‘fuck you’ gesture.
Once she’s out of sight, I can sense some of the tension leaving Hook, his body relaxing as he turns the wheel with a lazy sort of confidence that speaks of familiarity and years of knowledge.
“We’re on our way.” He kisses my crown, his gruffness fading a little, though still present in the way he keeps a tight grip on me.
“What about the spawning kraken?” I peer at the dark water as we ease away from the island.
“We’re going to hew closer to the shoreline, lass. They don’t care for shallower water. It’ll slow us down a bit, but we won’t have to fight them and waste more time.” He glances up at the moon as it sits low on the horizon. “Two more moonrises before we get to the Fairy Village. Two more until the moon is full.” He shakes his head. “But there’s nothing for it.”
