Page 121 of Crossbones
We run through the hallways of the castle, heading towards the throne room. The need to see James alive is an incessant urge driving me forward. I don’t think I’ll believe it until I see him for myself. I round a corner and just barely miss colliding with two De’Vero soldiers.
I quickly draw my cutlass and drive the blade through one’s stomach while Harrison snaps the neck of the other.
“Stop!” A shout from behind us has us sprinting down the hall.
A gun goes off, the marble cracking next to my head as we turn another corner. There’s two guards standing on either side of the back entrance to the throne room. They rush us, but again, Harrison and I dispatch them easily.
“We make a pretty good team,” I pant. “Even when I’m drunk.”
“Fuck off,” Harrison grumbles.
I chuckle breathlessly—doing this under the influence is not as easy as I’d hoped. I grab the two spears the guards had and open the door. Once Harrison is through, I slide the weapons through the door handles.
I hear voices as I walk through the columns and see the main floor of the throne room come into view. Aldric is sitting on the throne—I notice he’s taken all of the others away so there’s only one—pretentious fucker.
Soldiers line both sides of the dais and Thaddeus stands on the first step, hands clasped behind his back watching Aldric speak to a few advisors. I’m about to step out of the shadows when the muffled boom of a cannon echoes from the bay. I look at Harrison.
“Is that theTempest?” I whisper.
Harrison shakes his head, looking just as confused. “TheTempestisn’t in the bay.”
Instead of revealing myself, I move towards the open balcony along one side of the open hall that overlooks the water. There are three ships—all flying the Black.
“Those are Anders’ colors,” Harrison says.
Another boom of a cannon and we watch as the two other ships fire at the walls in quick succession. We hear shouts behind us; Aldric giving orders by the sound of it. I head back into the hall, ready to end this, when the crash of the massive double doors of the main entrance thunder through the space. Every eye turns towards the figure striding purposefully through them.
Blackwell.
My heart jumps into my throat. It’s apparent he’s fought his way here. He’s splattered with red, hair recklessly tied back and sword dripping blood onto the marble. He looks every inch a pirate Captain—theStormbreaker—and the way it takes my breath away is criminal. The blaze in his eyes as they focus on Aldric sets a wildfire loose in my veins.
The soldiers have moved into a defensive position on the dais steps, watching apprehensively as Blackwell approaches. The surprise on Aldric’s face should be comical, but I can’t find the breath to laugh.
“Blackwell—” Aldric growls. “Why are you alive?”
He looks over at Thaddeus who is calmly appraising Blackwell, his hands still clasped behind his back. He’s the only one, besides Aldric who doesn’t have his sword drawn.
Blackwell gives Aldric a humorless smirk but before he can reply, I step from the shadows.
“Come now, brother, don’t you know he’s allergic to the noose?”
My words are for Aldric but I can’t seem to tear my eyes from Blackwell who’s attention fixes on me with a hunger I can feel. His attention caresses me with that intensity I’m so familiar with. I see his jaw clench and can’t help the small smirk that tugs at my lips, knowing he’s annoyed that I’m here and not on theTempestlike his letter requested.
His eyes flicker to Harrison who shrugs. “I tried, okay? He wouldn’t listen.”
“Like I would miss this,” I scoff. “Besides, you know there’s only one place you can give me orders.” I wink at Blackwell.
Harrison groans quietly.
Blackwell frowns at me. “Are you drunk?”
I huff a laugh. “Didn’t you hear? I’m supposed to get married tonight—” My words are slurring slightly and dripping with sarcasm as my focus shifts to Aldric. “Thought I’d start the celebrations early.”
There’s another boom of a cannon.
“I didn’t know you had friends, Blackwell,” Aldric growls.
“Those aren’t mine.”
