Page 126 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

We gained our feet as the Stone of Destiny split up the middle. Inside glowed the King’s key. Instead of a single moonstone, the key was a golden armor large enough to fit a king the size of Rowan. It lay nestled in a bed of blue moon diamonds.

“Whoa.” Max raised his hands like he’d scored a goal. His hair stood straight up on his head from the static in the lightning. “That was awesome!”

I’d have to speak to Ace about the words he shared with Max.

Rowan smoothed his hair as he and Max gathered with us around the key.

We marveled at it like admiring parents at a newborn baby. An Ancalite crest covered the sternum. At the level of each rib, the armor had indentions, each with a sign corresponding to our keys.

“These are the grooves that hold our keys.” I ran a finger across the indention with my mark.

Rowan held up a blue diamond the size of his thumb. “Magnificent.”

“That’s the most beautiful diamond I’ve ever seen.” I glanced down at the smaller ones glowing with an azure light that seeped a warmth under my skin and traveled straight to my soul. We’d found it.

And then a cold sense of dread squeezed the warmth of victory from me.

“Won’t Mahlia be angry that you let us have the King’s key?” I asked Mortas.

His mouth twisted into an almost smile. “Yes, furious, but I’ll have fun trying to steal it from you.”

“And I’ll have fun taking your key.” I reached to tap his key, and he jumped away. His hand covered his key in case I tried to snag it from him.

Sasha bounded out of the pit and onto the ledge. She swiped the pink diamond from its niche in her family crest and dropped it in her pocket. “I’ll keep the eye. In case we need it to locate the King’s vessel.”

“I should keep the eye; you’ve had it long enough.” Marco didn’t climb out of the pit quite as gracefully as Sasha.

“Try and take it from me.” Sasha quirked her lips, dodged Marco, and fled from the cavern.

Max spread his arms wide. “Family feuding, jest like the pirates. I think I’ll feel right at home.”

Forty-One

Once we were positive Woodes Rogers or Charles Vane weren’t lurking around the bend, we worked through the night. We loaded the King’s key and the rest of the treasure into the cargo hold of theSea Storm. Overjoyed to tears, the crew sang as they carried the massive chests filled with Spanish treasure.

“We need to get moving.” Caiyan glanced up at the full moon.

I agreed. We only had a few hours to jump, or we’d be stuck in 1718.

“We don’t have a flag,” Black Bard pointed out as if it was a crime to sail without a flag. “’Tis unlucky.”

“I’ve got all the luck you need.” Ace hiked a thumb at himself. “Give me a minute.”

A few minutes later, we had a flag. Black Bard hoisted Ace’s white boxers with lucky green shamrocks up the front mast. A unanimous cheer erupted, and Max made a lateral jump toCayo Hueso.

After the crew recovered from the jump, we offloaded half of the treasure, and Max said his good-byes, explaining he wanted to spend a few years in dry dock.

“I thought ye might like these returned to ye.” Shrug held up my red stilettos. “Although they no look easy to wear.”

“Thank you, Shrug.” I pulled him into a hug, and he teared up.

“Good riddance, witch.” Shrug thrust his rifle at me. “For your protection, seein’ as I’ll no be here.” I accepted his kind gesture but planned to toss it overboard once we were out of sight.

He flat out bawled like a baby when he said good-bye to Max and Rowan.

I replaced the pointy-toed shoes with my stilettos and breathed out a sigh of relief. The familiar feeling of home warmed my feet.

Max hoisted the sails with our small crew, now consisting of Rowan, Caiyan, Marco, Sasha, Ace, and me. As we sailed away fromCayo Hueso, I looked back on the crew that would turn it into the bustling tourist destination of Key West.

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