Chapter Two
TALLY
Blood drips over my skin, thick and tacky. Drying uncomfortably as I help the crew of the Burnt Bones and the other pirates gather up the enemy bastards that still live.
They’ll be divided between the pirates that helped us today, before meeting their untimely demise. What a shame they chose the wrong side to fight on.
I watch as Cyrus and another pirate, Harry or Henri orfucking something, carry their battered and bruised Captain off the deck. Their little captive trailing along behind, complexion pale as a ghost but a determined look upon her features.
She doesn’t hold my attention long, my gaze slips past her to land on Cyrus.
The most stunning woman I’ve ever seen.
Even covered in blood and her skin ashen, she’s stunning.
Many times I’ve flirted with her whilst the Burnt Bones has been docked, yet every time she has turned me down. But she’s always been kind, even with her statue appearance. She has a pull to her that screams she needs someone, even if it’s only as a friend. I’d settled with that long ago, only throwing in a hint of flirting. A girl's got to have some fun.
Watching her now stirs an unknown feeling in my gut. One that pulls on me to follow her. To stay close, to protect her.
Obviously I follow that instinct.
Climbing down the plank to the dock, I watch as they load their Captain onto the back of a cart, her lover curling up with her. Cyrus gets onto the horse before they’re off, heading towards my tavern that's dubbing as a make shift hospital for the night.
Grabbing another horse, I follow behind. Sticking to the shadows far enough back that the sounds of my horses hooves aren't so obvious.
I’m not doing this to keep an eye on them, or to exploit their weaknesses.
Okay, maybe slightly to keep an eye on them. They are on my turf after all. But something tells me Cyrus will need someone, and I don’t think she has anyone other than the person currently unconscious. Yes she has a band of pirates around her, but she’s a closed off book that shows so very little, I doubt anyone would even bother to check on her.
But she’ll have me.
Even if it’s only as a friend.
The horse and cart halt outside my tavern as their resident doctor comes out to assist.
I’ll watch and wait till Cyrus needs me. Then I’ll be whatever the hell she needs.
Chapter Three
CYRUS
My heart is pounding beneath my rib cage.
My mind is a riot of chaos; fear unlike any I’ve known before freezing within my bones.
Yet my face stays the same stony expression it always does. I can’t allow myself to break yet. Not in front of everyone here. I can’t let anyone believe that my stony exterior can sometimes crack.Often cracks.
Amara is still unconscious, Doc having done everything to keep her stable. As stable as she can be in this state. Her body is a mass of cuts and bruises. No skin is unmarred. Mabel’s silent cries fill the room as others silently fall in, requiring attention and stealing away Doc’s attention. But none as bad as Amara.
Nothing compares to the swollen eye, arm bent at the wrong angle, body black with bruises and deep lacerations that have needed more stitches than I can count.
“We’ll leave her here for now, so I can keep a close eye whilst I treat everyone else. We’ll move her to a bed later. Mabel, Cyrus, go get some rest. The crews handling things, everything else can wait till later.” Doc’s warm voice has mywalls crumbling further. I want to stay, but I need to get out of here.
Mabel lets out a wounded choking sound, before pulling up a chair and sitting beside Amara, letting her forehead rest on Amara’s.
“Thanks Doc.” I croak out, as my eyes well.
Spinning on my heel before the tears can fall. I head towards the back, where the stairs lead to the rooms many of us will occupy tonight.
