AllFreeNovel
Share Us
People were running from various buildings, yet where we had landed appeared to be on the outskirts an adequate distance away, that their screams were lessened.
I peered over at Killian as he took in the sight within our direct vicinity. I hadn’t a clue what I was supposed to do next. Not in the slightest. And this pirate had trusted me and plunged down a death-trap rope ladder only because I’d had a gut feeling.
Lord save us all.
Killian eyed the length of me, waiting for something.
Shifting my gaze, I could feel the heat burning and crawling up my cheeks. But this time, it was not from the excitement that Killian typically brought out in me. No. This time, the heat rising within me was from nerves knotting in my gut. Had I been wrong in coming here?
“Come on,” I said, much more confidently than I felt. Before I could move too far, Killian gently grabbed my arm.
“Do you have a plan, love?” he questioned, his voice low.
Those tentacles of nerves crawled and felt as if they skittered across my skin, but I did not back down. Instead, I desperately called for the magic Hattie had given me. Tossed at me? For a feeling that this was right, that this was where we needed to be. A flicker, though deep under the anxiety battling to rule, gave me hope.
“I will know it when I find it.” I met Killian’s gaze and shrugged. “Besides, where is your sense of adventure, Captain?”
His indignant smirk was all the reminder I needed that this man trusted me for some reason, a reason I had yet to understand, beyond his words of love. Ones I had not returned, mind you. But trust. That was something I rarely witnessed in society. Rarely witnessed growing up, save for my parents and Jackson. And yet, there it was, clearly written on his handsome face.
“I could get someone to draw up a picture for you, mi’lady. It may save you time from staring so often.”
My gawking was cut off immediately.
Killian moved forward, darting ahead of me quickly enough to leave my “Stupid pirate” comments behind.
Running, I caught up to him as he swiftly led us into the burning city. Tears pricked my eyes from the pungent smoke the farther we trekked into Highvein.
Scanning our surroundings once again, my heart went out to the residents of what remained of this crumbling township. “Why has the Royal Navy not arrived to help these people?” I questioned Killian, leaning in closely to try to prevent anyone from hearing. Not that they could above the cries and overall havoc around us.
His grunt should have been answer enough. “Bash owns the Royal Navy. If this is his doing—why would they come to their aid?”
Killian’s eyes held a sadness within their dark-blue depths, and I recalled what he had told me. Of how he had been sent on these sorts of missions. I prayed my eyes did not reveal pity. I knew him well enough to know that would be the last thing he wanted. Yet, I could not avoid the ache I felt for him. For his past.
“My baby!” A scream sounded from my left, sending tremors of unease racing up my spine.
I ran in the direction of the shouting, and a woman was holding one child, pointing to the second floor of a building where another stood, hacking, coughing, and crying.
Killian grabbed two men who were running by and ordered them to fill buckets with water.
“I don’t think that will be enough, Killian,” I hissed.
He shook his head as he unfastened his leather vest. “No, it won’t. But it will do something. I hope.”
I clutched his arm, fear evident in my gaze. “What are you doing?”
He looked at me, kissed my cheek, and ran inside the burning building.
“Killian!” I shouted, unable to see him through the thick black smoke billowing out of the front door.
Not safe. Not Safe.
Calling on my powers in the open would be idiotic. And I had no idea if my storm would bring the rain needed to save the town in time, let alone the child.
Tilting my head in the direction the men had gone to fetch water—I ran. They were slowly sloshing the pails along, and I yanked them from their arms.
“Get more,” I shouted. “A child’s life is in danger!”
“Lady, all our children’s lives are in danger.” I heard the statement shouted at me as I continued running, and I assumed that the men would no longer be of assistance.
