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Tell Karri I loved her.
“Rian,” I say. My chest is tight.
“It wasn’t for ransom,” he says to me. “Truly.” He grabs hold of Corrick’s arm and hauls him upright with enough force that the prince moans and his eyes flicker open.
Corrick sees who has him and tries to jerk away.
Rian gives him a good shake. “Walk,” he snaps. Then he looks at me. “At least it wasn’tsupposedto be for ransom. But now …” He sighs. “Now, it’s going to have to be.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Corrick
My thoughts are hazy as we approach the main deck, and I can’t tell if we’ve ventured into rougher waters, or if I simply can’t keep my balance. Rian keeps jerking me upright, and I do nothing to help him. Only some of that is deliberate. I don’t know who hit me, but I’d bet good money it was Sablo, because his fist caught me in the face with enough force that I’m wondering if my jaw is broken. It wasn’t long ago that I was standing on this deck, issuing threats to Captain Blakemore.
And now we’re all trapped.
I didn’t hear much from the girl from the locked room aside from enraged screams, but it’s obvious she was a prisoner. Her limbs are frail, and she seems malnourished and pale.
Rian drags me to the main mast.
“I knew this was all a ruse,” I say to him.
“It wasn’t a ruse.” He all but shoves me to the deck.
My head spins, but I glare up at him. “Of course not. This all feels very diplomatic, Captain Blakemore.”
He ignores me. Sablo carries the unconscious girl to the next mast, then ties her to the wooden beam securely. Marchon tethers Rocco to the same one.
Gwyn ties Tessa two beams away, facing away from me.
That feels very deliberate. At least she’s unharmed. I want to negotiate to keep her safe, but I don’t want to give them more leverage over me than they already have.
I never should have let her do this.
Every time I swallow, I taste blood. There’s an ache in my side that won’t let up. I glare at Rian. “I should have had Rocco throw you over the railing.”
“You still wouldn’t have overtaken my crew. We had you outnumbered.”
“On purpose.”
“Well. Yes.” He kneels beside me to tie my bound hands to the mast.
“Harristan will never negotiate with you,” I say.
“He will if he wants his brother back.”
“He’s the king,” I snap. “Why would he negotiate for anything with you? You’re not in a position of power.”
He gives a humorless laugh, then tugs at the ropes. “Oh, that’s right. I’m just here to sail the ship.” He draws back to meet my eyes. “King Harristan very specifically told me he expects you to return unharmed.”
“He’s not going to yield anything to a man who’s little more than a pirate.” Rian doesn’t move, so I add, “Who’s the other young woman? Why did you keep her locked in that room?”
“It’s not important.”
“You have me tied to a mast,” I say. “You killed one of my guards. You’ve taken me hostage.” Anger is building in my chest, and my head pounds. I have to take a steadying breath. “It feels rather important.”
“You could have just stayed civil until we reached Ostriary. None of this had to happen.”
