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“It’s sincerely not dangerous. They’ll take a small silver dagger, made of pearl and black ocean stone, and put a tiny nick in your arm. Right here.” He tapped on the meaty part of my arm between my wrist and elbow. “Henrik will say a few words, you’ll drip some blood on a candle, and the candle will explode and open up the spirit world.”
I stiffened.
“You want to say that last part again?”
He shook his head at me as if he were calming an anxious child. “You’re a hostage, dove, but you’re not in any real danger. I’ll protect you. You have my word.”
“Why don’t you protect me by preventing me from getting cut open and opening up the spirit realm? I’d rather not do either one, you know.”
He took both my hands and shook them warmly. “I wish I could, dove. I really do.”
“Why can’t—”
He shoved two large bottles of alcohol into my arms.
“Take this up to the captain,” he said with a smile. “Let him drink his fill tonight. He may not have the chance to drink properly after tomorrow night.”
Luc turned me around and shoved me back up the stairs.
“Why does everyone keep forcing me to walk back and forth from the kitchen?” I complained. “Just tell me to go. I can walk. Both you and the captain, I swear…”
I muttered to myself as I went back up the stairs, handing out the bottles of alcohol. The men took it eagerly, thanking me and bantering as they filled their cups to the brim.
“Always good to see a bottle of rum and a pair of beautiful eyes,” one of the crew said to me, raising his bottle in thanks.
“Enough of your nonsense, Christian,” I replied.
“I prefer the rum,” another said with a cackle, nodding at me bitterly. “It doesn’t have a pair of lips to tell me to pick up my laundry.”
“Or to point out the way you smell,” I added with a twisted face.
The men at the table chuckled in response.
“Esmeralda!” Adrian barked from the other side of the table. “Come here.”
I rolled my eyes and put a hand on my hip as I walked over to him, awaiting another one of his orders. He waved two fingers at me to come closer. I didn’t. He waved two fingers again, sharper. I huffed, walking over to meet him.
“Can I help you?” I asked, standing next to him.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me into his lap, wrapping an arm around me. I squirmed, annoyed at the arrogant grin on his face.
“What are you doing!” I yelled in his face. “Let me go at once!”
“You still have a submission problem,” he replied, not releasing me. “You’re going to sit here until you understand how that works.”
The men laughed as Adrian wrapped a second arm around me, bringing me in close to him.
“Atta boy, Captain!”
“Show her who’s boss!”
“Lucky bastard has all the fun!”
I put a hand in his face, pushing his greasy smile away from me.
“Have some manners!” I growled.
He pulled my hand away, his arrogant smile now replaced by an irritated scowl.
