Page 125 of Crossbones
The men all share a look between themselves.
“He did it for my son,” Anders says.
I’m about to ask who that could possibly be, when another familiar voice calls out from the doorway. A voice I’ve known intimately for years.
“Did I miss the party?”
“Caspian, Blackwell,” Anders grins. “Allow me to introduce my son and the new King—Carter Draevorn.”
CASPIAN
ONE WEEK LATER
“Fuck, you pulled your stitches again,” I grumble. “I told you not to lift that last chest.”
I go to touch James’ line of stitches that have split and are now gently bleeding, but he bats my hand away.
“You’re insufferable. I’m fine,” he says gruffly. “You can fix me later—just let me lay here—”
I suppress a grumble of protest and collapse back in the damp sand above the tideline. The beach is deserted, although the black sails of theTempestare visible where she’s anchored in the cove. We’ve just finished loading up some of the gold from where Blackwell had stashed it on his return trip to De’Vero—on a tiny rocky island that isn’t even on the maps.
We’re both exhausted—still very much bruised and beaten from the recent coup. I think I’m finally over the shock of everything that was revealed to us in the throne room, but every so often I’ll find myself shaking my head in disbelief.
Carter. King of De’Vero—no, King of Draevorn.
He’s to be crowned at the end of the month and Blackwell and I are both invited. Things are certainly going to be different, and for that I’m grateful. Change was needed and I can think of no better person to repair a broken kingdom than Carter.
I lift my head and see Harrison rowing back to shore and groan.
“Blondie is on his way back.” I heave myself up and plant one hand on the other side of James, looming over him. “That means, I only have time to either kiss youor berate you.”
His eyes darken and a small smirk pulls at his lips. He lunges up onto his elbow, catching me by surprise. My hand lands on his thigh and we’re so close my gaze drops to his mouth.
“I can already tell which one you’ve decided on,” he rumbles.
“Am I that easy to read?” I look back up at him with a smirk of my own.
“Yes,” James breathes. “Because you’re mine.”
“That is what your letter said,” I tease.
“It took the letter for you to realize it?” His gaze drops to my lips, purposefully inching closer so I can feel his breath across my face.
“No, I was yours way before that, Captain.” My voice is raspy, deepening with desire. “And I’ll be yours long after this.”
“Are you going to say it?” His lips brush mine, briefly enough to send chills across my skin.
“Say what?” I feign ignorance but the smile in my voice gives me away.
He pulls away just slightly so our eyes can meet better; amusement sparkles in the dark depths.
“This is you getting back at me for telling you in a letter, isn’t it?” He says dryly. “The fact that was a week ago and you still haven’t said it—”
I huff a laugh and run my thumb over his bottom lip. “I’ve said it, haven’t I?”
James shakes his head. “No—”
“Are you salty about that, Captain?” I tease. “To be fair, you haven’t actually said it to me either—” I see his mouth open. “Out loud. Don’t get me started on that letter, we don’t have time.”
