Page 74 of Of Magic and Rum
“And did you think on your feet? Took care of it?” Brushing her hair away from her neck, gazing at the bare skin, I kiss her there.
“Yes. I mean, Mary did.”
“No,youdid. Because Mary wouldn’t have started dicing up sea folk out of respect for you.” I poke a finger between her breasts. “She did it because you asked.”
“Damn right I did.” Mary saunters to our sides, wiping her cutlass blade on her sleeve, ridding it of Siren blood. “And Anne, darling, anytime you want me to take on a horde of evil sea creatures, just say the word.” A flash of white blazes between her lips, brightened more by the dark speckles on her cheeks.
“What in the ever-loving hell? Who can say they’ve been attacked by Sirens not only once but twice and not remember a fucking thing?” Red is nearby talking to Glog, and both men drag hands over their faces, taking turns to snap a quick look at the water and ensuring they’re gone.
The fog has lifted, and blue skies return, the wind picking up precisely where we need it to continue northeast. I pat Anne’s thigh, setting her back to the deck, and take her hand, leading us to the helm. But I pause, spotting a scared imp clinging to an equally terrified Truffles, shaking like leaves in a stern breeze.Squatting, I pick up Truffles, and the imp comes with him because he won’t let go of his fur.
“You’re strangely calm about all of this, Jack.” Anne curls her arm with mine.
I take the steps to the wheel, resting Truffles and the imp in his cat bed in the corner. “Don’t see much of a point dwelling on it. We’ve quite a bigger fish to deal with, and I mean that metaphorically as much as I do in the literal sense. We’re all alive, and I’ve no scratch on me.”
“They can return, but I still can’t do anything.” Anne strokes one of the wheel’s pegs, and the sight turns my dick into granite.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I force my eyes away and squint at the horizon. “If they’re stupid enough to return and succumb to Mary Read’s wrath again, then theydeserveto die.”
“How do you always know the right thing to say?” Anne’s smile rivals any fire guiding sailors home.
“Life, Annie. Life.” I turn the wheel enough to make the sails catch the wind and let it take over.
“Considering all we’ve dealt with already, there’s no way it can get any worse,” Glog says, chuckling and receiving death glares from the surrounding crew.
My grip tightens on the wheel. “Glog, I know I’m not superstitious, but what did I say shan’t ever be spoken on my ship?”
Glog’s gulp is so profound you can see his throat bob. “Never say never?”
“That’s right. Don’t repeat it, or I’ll dangle you from the plank as shark bait.” It’s a hollow threat, as I’d never demand such a punishment for a simple word, but it’d certainly make me feel better.
I do not believe in jinxes. I don’t. But to sail to Greece, we’ll need to pass through the place that hunts pirates, which I leftbehind without looking back. We’ll need to sail waters crawling with Navy ships—England.
After the seemingly unending string of incidents, it’s been days of blissful quiet on the seas. As much as I love adventure, the rare moments you can breathe and simplybeare most appreciated. There have been times, much like now, when I sit on a barrel, watching Jack in his element. He rests his hands on the wheel, running his thumbs over the wood, and lifts his chin when a stronger breeze graces the deck. He’ll tilt his head toward the sun when the clouds part and never fails to gaze at the water when dolphin pods breach the surface. Jack Rackham is one of the most fascinating mortals I’ve ever met. And I get to call himmine.
Truffles has been spending more time on deck lately, and we have Laust to thank for this. The two of them have become nearly inseparable except when they wish to nap and fight overthe prime spot, also known as mylap. Laust won today and curled himself into a ball atop my thighs. His tail wraps around his torso, and his hands are tucked into his chest to keep his claws from accidentally scratching me.
As usual, Aranck keeps to himself in a corner, mixing and organizing his herbs. It dawns on me that I’ve never had the chance to introduce myself to him formally, let alone have an entire conversation. Carefully cradling Laust in the crook of my arm, I approach Aranck and nudge my chin at his stone bowl. “May I ask what you’re making?”
Aranck lifts his dark eyes to mine, a familiarity settling there like we’ve talked numerous times before this. “A mix of ashwagandha and turmeric. I am using what I have left from my supplies to make a healing salve. I get the feeling we will need it.”
One of Laust’s legs falls, his hoof dangling from my arm. “That’s a bit ominous.”
“Perhaps, but the odds are against us. We have no choice but to enter English waters, and there is a great chance we will fight for our lives.” Aranck’s squared jaw tightens as he grinds the herbs with extra force.
It astonishes me that Aranck hasn’t even glanced at the imp snoring in my arms. His intense fixation on tasks impresses me.
“Not that I’m not thankful for your talents aboard the ship, but I’ve been curious why you chose a pirate crew?” I continue to watch him working with the herbs, dusting his hands on his trousers before grabbing something different. The way he moves so meticulously is mesmerizing.
A smile cracks his usual stoic face, and Aranck nudges his head behind me. “Jack is the biggest reason, honestly.”
“Jack?” My brows launch skyward, and I point at the ship’s wheel. “Jack Rackham?”
The grin continues, and Aranck pauses what he’s doing, resting his palms on the barrel he’s been using as a table. “Yes.Before he earned the title of captain, he spent some time with my people, the Cayuga. He had been sailing for months searching for a crew and docked at the first land he came across—our land.”
As much as I know about Jack, this extra information makes me feel even more for him. I steal glances at the pirate captain during Aranck’s story.
“We became quick friends, and I told him I desired to see more than the same lands. I wished to see oceans, seas, and beyond, and that is when he offered to take me on as part of his crew. I gave him the ink markings on his left arm in gratitude.”
