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And this was exactly why I had spent months planning. After being kept in a cage for so long,anythingelse seemed exciting.
“Ship approaching portside!”
One of the crew screamed, followed by a slew of other yells. Leon lifted me around the waist and ran up the last few steps to the main deck.
“Hey!” I squeaked.
“Sorry, love,” he said before hastily putting me down. “No time to be a gentleman.”
“Captain!” Declan ran over, pointing behind us. “She’s approaching fast.”
Leon took out his spyglass, turning the brass object. “They must’ve followed us through the storm.”
“Pirates?” I asked, leaning against the railing, and holding a hand over my eyes to shield them from the sun, but the distance was too far to see anything clearly.
“No, worse.” Leon shoved the spyglass into his vest pocket and headed toward the helm.
“What’s worse than pirates?” I chased after him. “Are you going to fight them? Will they attack us? Can we outrun them?”
Leon spun around as Havoc approached his right and whispered something in his ear. Leon’s gaze narrowed, and he nodded, then moved to me. I backed up against the nearby mast, wondering why he looked angry.
“Go below deck and stay there.” He slipped a key in my hand. “If you hear men on this ship, go to the storage room near the stern and lock yourself in there until I come and get you.”
“But, Captain.” Declan’s eyes went wide, and I didn’t like how pale he had turned.
“Shut it!” Leon pointed a finger at Declan. “Get to your post,now.”
Declan’s shoulders sagged. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
Before I could ask why he yelled at Declan, Leon grabbed my arm and began walking me back to the stairs. “Do as I say, and you may survive this.”
“Survive?”
The smooth-talking sailor disappeared, and Leon’s eyes glowed with a violence that could only be found from someone who had killed many times before. “Let me make something very clear, Havana. My ship and my crew are two of the most important things in my life. I will always protect them first.”
Though his words were callous, I could understand them. As a princess, my people came first and, like Leon, I would do anything to keep them safe. “I understand. I’ll do as you say. Be safe.”
His face softened for a moment, and I rushed down the stairs, eager to get to my cabin and wait out the danger.
It was only when I shut my door that I panicked.
Pacing back and forth, I bit my thumbnail.
What’s worse than pirates?
My mind raced through various possibilities. Even though I had planned on things going wrong, I somehow didn’t picture the ship I’d be riding on getting attacked.
I also didn’t think I’d be foolish enough to board a ship with pirates.
Dust flew from the ceiling as the floorboards creaked with a thunder of footsteps. I climbed on to the bed to peek out the window, but there was no ship to be seen on the starboard side.
TheRavagerrocked, and I flew forward, slamming my chin on the windowsill. “Ouch!” I grabbed my face, my jaw throbbing.
More shouts and I knew I needed to move.
Running out of my cabin, I grabbed the wall as the ship rocked again and thuds hit the portside. Taking the key out of my pocket, I ran toward the stern, far to the back. There were no lanterns in this area, but once inside the storage room, I could use my magic without anyone seeing.
A chorus of yells and orders sounded from above as I shoved the key into the lock, twisting the knob and entering the dank room. Locking the door, I leaned my head against the wood, breathing deeply.
