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Silverthorne clapped and a huge grin spread across his face. “That’s my daughter. See that, men?” He gazed around at their gaping faces. “Never underestimate the power of a woman, especially a Silverthorne woman.”
Ainsley’s eyes widened for a moment, and then she shook her head, returning to my side.
I leaned in and whispered in her ear, “May we speak in private for a minute?”
She nodded, and just as we began to move to the aft of the ship, we were intercepted, halting us immediately.
“Now, as for you, Killian Flynn.” Silverthorne narrowed his gray eyes on me. “Royalty or no, you are not good enough for my daughter.”
“Ah, shit,” I muttered under my breath.
“What? Royalty?” Ainsley stared at me in shock. “Is this true?”
Silverthorne came to stand between us, removing his daughter’s hand from mine. I inhaled sharply so as to not lose my temper, first at being outed of my true heritage, and also, of his removing her hand.
He crossed his arms and stared me down. “Tell her who you truly are, Killian. You may have given up your life to become a pirate.” He shook his head and erupted into laughter. “But royalty you remain. I dare say, you have deceived my daughter. And that is something I’ll not tolerate.” His tone grew serious and his face hardened at his last words.
“I—”
“Enough!” Ainsley shouted, shoving her hands at our chests to separate us. “I will do as I please. You”—She pointed a slender finger at her father—“have no right whatsoever to demand anything of Killian. He has done nothing but help me…find you! And assist me in battle! Protect me and teach me to harness my unruly powers I had no idea I even had! While you were hidden away, no matter how important that may be. So, you do not have such rights to tell me who is good enough for me.”
My heart swelled in my chest at her words, but then she turned her ire on me, fire blazing in her ice-blue gaze.
“And you, Killian. How many secrets are there between us? Huh? How many? Because I am damn well tired, and I have had enough secrets to last me a lifetime.”
“I promise you, Ainsley, I will explain everything, if only you will give me a chance.”
Silverthorne snorted, and Ainsley snapped her gaze toward him. “I said enough. Now, because we”—She pointed a finger between the three of us—“share a common enemy and a common goal, I say we partner up, or whatever it is you pirates call it. We will be stronger together as a united front.”
“No way. Not happening.” Silverthorne moved back and shook his head. “I love you, Ainsley, but that, I will not do. Absolutely not. We work alone.”
Rek cleared his throat and came to stand at my side. “It’s not a bad idea.”
Turning to my first mate in shock, I opened my mouth to protest, but Ainsley held up her hand.
“No. We must pair up if we are to defeat Bash and his men. You have no idea what he has planned. But I do. And once I explain, you will have no choice but to concede to my wishes.” She grinned between us all.
Bloody hell, this woman was something. And I loved it.
“And if I refuse?” Silverthorne crossed his arms over his chest, staring her down.
“Oh, honestly, Dad. Come on. Stop being ridiculous and acting like a stubborn-headed jackass.” She stomped her foot, and lightning cracked across the sky.
All of our mouths dropped to the deck. Ainsley had never spoken in such a way, and I bloody well liked it. I smirked at my woman.
Silverthorne had yet to recover, gawking at his daughter with a mixture of bewilderment and pride. “Did you just call me a jackass?”
“Yes, yes, I did.” She mirrored his folded-armed stance.
Ainsley was most definitely his daughter.
