Page 9 of Vengeance of the Pirate Queen

“Definitely,” I stress. “He cleaned himself up. He stopped drinking. He started exercising. Hechanged, Alosa.”

“Those are good things,” she points out.

“Not if he thinks those changes entitle him tome. I’m not some sort of reward for good behavior.”

At that, Alosa straightens. “Has he laid a finger on you?”

“No.”

“Has he made any suggestive or lewd comments?”

“No.”

“Do you have any reason to believe you’re in any sort of danger from him?”

I pause, giving the words serious thought. “No.”

She cocks her head to one side. “Then what’s the problem?”

I finally drop my carefully composed features. I never can seem to manage my stoicism long around her. “I’m not like you, Alosa. I’m not used to men looking at me and wanting me. I like to hide. I like to be unseen. I don’t want people thinking about me at all. But Kearan? He sees me. He always seems to find where I’m hiding.”

Knocking comes at the door, but Alosa doesn’t move to open it. “It’s been over a year since he quit drinking on our trip to the Isla de Canta. Now that he’s been sober so long, he’s really come into his own.”

I just stare at her.

She shrugs. “He’s actually funny and smart and trustworthy. Besides, he likely doesn’t even think about you anymore. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.”

I don’t even blink.

She sighs. “Have you ever considered that maybe it’s time for you to stop hiding?”

The knock comes again, and Alosa leaves me to ponder that while she answers the door.

Stophiding?Ludicrous. I’m an assassin. Hiding is what I do. It’s how I stay good at my job. I have to keep sharp if I’m to remain useful to Alosa.

She admits none other than Kearan into the room.

My walls go back up immediately.

When he sees me, he freezes, before a smile graces his lips. “You’re back.”

“Obviously,” I say.

He gives me a once-over, but there’s nothing heated in the gesture. It’s almost like he’s … looking for injuries. Either way, I look pointedly at Alosa.See?

“Kearan,” she says, succeeding in taking his gaze off me.

“You sent for me?” he asks, and I realize that must have been what Alosa whispered to Riden.

“I have a job for you. I’m assembling a crew led by Captain Sorinda Veshtas to find a missing ship, and I’d like you to be the sailing master for the voyage.”

There’s a pause in which I feel Kearan’s gaze shift to me briefly before resettling on Alosa. I don’t let a single muscle on my face twitch.

“If Captain Veshtas is amenable, I am happy to serve,” Kearan says.

Of course he’shappy to. I want to scowl, but I remain strong.

Alosa turns to me. “Are youamenable, Captain?”

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